Just Started Ballet?
So, first off, I am no authority on Ballet. In fact, I’m the complete opposite – a beginner.
But that means I know what you’re going through. If you’re just about to start Ballet (especially if you’re a guy) then I know a lot of the questions, concerns and fears going through your head – because the same ones went through my head before my first class.
So here is a list of posts on this site that I think will help:
- First off, check out Why I’m Trying Ballet – this will let you know all about why I’m trying Ballet, and hopefully make you think about why you’re doing it too.
- Next up, if you’re a guy, check out Buying Ballet Apparel - this is about my first trip to buy some Ballet apparel, and hopefully give you the courage to go out and buy some yourself.
- Before you take your first class I recommend Questions You Wish You Had Asked… - where some of my readers talk about the stuff they wish they had asked before their first ever class.
- And finally, read all about my First Day Of Class - how I found it, what I learned, and what I did next.
After that – have a browse through my site, there’s posts about classes I’ve taken (and the different teaching styles I’ve encountered), there’s reviews of Ballets, there’s video clips of dancers I admire, there’s lists of Ballet items you might want to purchase – and if you leave me a comment I can do a post on a topic of your request! Maybe you want to know more about a certain aspect of class, what to do in certain situations, or something else entirely; if you ask, I will try my best to write about it!
As always, if you have any questions you can reach me at info@davetriesballet.com and good luck (or as they say in the Ballet world: Merde!) on your journey into Ballet. Hope you have as much fun as I’m having!
David
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Hello,
I’ve been wanting to start ballet for a good five or six years now, ever since I played in the orchestra for a performance of Sylvia at fifteen. Somehow I always seemed to give up on the idea just before joining a class. I don’t know if it was just too daunting to be both a boy and such a late starter, or if it was something to do with the lack of support and information available (particularly to male dancers). Perhaps both.
I can happily say that, having found your blog and the other great resources you list, I’m now quite determined to start dancing as soon as I’m back at university this spring. I’ve already checked and there are beginners’ classes for adults put on by the University and I can’t wait to get started. Your blog has been instrumental in helping me pluck up the courage to start ballet – it just looks too fun not to try!
Many thanks!
I thought I’d give you a bit of an update. I went back to university and found my workload made getting to the classes each week a little tricky, but a couple of friends in my college are dancers and we had our own little ballet class a couple of times a week. I’m now home for the holidays and taking a RAD class twice a week.
They threw me in at the deep end, but I’m now working towards my RAD Intermediate level and getting on quite well. I think it helped that I had a decent level of flexibility to begin with, but there’s still lots of room for improvement. I’m now far too hooked on ballet to let my workload stop me from going to the classes back at university.
P.S. – Following you on Twitter!
That’s awesome that you’re taking RAD classes! I took some at the start of this summer (also RAD Intermediate) and loved them – although the classes stopped for summer two weeks after I started
I’m looking at taking some RAD classes when I start at Bath in September, who knows we might see each other at an exam!
Glad to hear you’ll be keeping the Ballet up at uni – it can be hard to fit everything in, but I find Ballet is such a stress-reliever for me, there’s no way I won’t be doing it!
Keep dancing!
Dave
Great blog! At the age of 33 going on 34, I am finally going back to basics and planning to take a beginning ballet workshop soon. I danced in high school and college (mostly jazz and musical-theater styles), so some basic ballet steps/positions are familiar to me, but I’ve always wanted to take proper ballet classes. Best, and keep dancing and blogging!
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