Dance Diary | 2nd Midweek Ballet Class

Surprise a 2nd midweek dance diary! My classes got canceled because of a massive power outage on campus leaving us no choice to cancel. So with that good news I decided to go to the 7pm ballet class. I can't go on Wednesdays or Fridays because my class usually ends at 6 and the studio I go to is an hour away from campus and 2 hours away from where I live so when I get a chance to go to a ballet class I jump for it!

I went to class in the morning and nearly died from the heat and when they canceled I rushed home to rest and get dressed. I left the house at quarter to 2 and then got there before 4. And since I had so many hours left I went up to the Cutural Center's library to do some reserch about my thesis topic. there were so many books their about the arts and I struck gold because I found a book that was exactly what I was looing for and was so happy. I stayed there until 5 and then headed towards the basement to the studios.

In my 2 hour waiting I read the book I am currently reading which was Becca Fitzatrick's Finale. I didnt fisnish it because I decided to do some strecthing. The hallways on a weekday are quieter and no kids running around and thelights were semi-off so it was dark and a little scary I do admit I was a little scared.

Now for the class, I didn't have the same classmates as I did on Saturdays but I did see only 1 familar face and we got to share a barre together. The rest of the girls were maybe a little younger and then there were some that were much older which i guess was a relief. I did feel a little nervous and shy but as soon as the cass started it melted away.

The teacher was not my regular teacher nor was it the teacher I had last tie I took class on Wednesday so I felt a little intimidated because it was another company member and if you remember the last time the company member was the teacher it was far to fast and not like I was used to. But good news, I loved her and class! It was amazing and I cannot describe how fun and how much I enjoyed the class1

So we did barre excersises and they werent those simple ones we do on Saturday lasses. This company member did some new steps and made it a little difficult but I loved the challenge and pushing myeself in my regular cass it's like the teacher treats us like we are new and do the same step that is like it is for kids. This class was just so rejuvanating and made me do things I didnt do before.

We did the standard plies and tendus but we did extras with it and we even did some arabesque excersises and she lifted my leg higher than ever and straightened my upper body and for a split second when i looked in the mirror I saw myself do an arbasque nd it looked lovely. That was my first time doing it and it ade me feel lovely. we did splits and I still can't get it but I almost do. We did some piques and more balancing and I am still practicing my balance and I cracked both my ankles good so I am giving them a rest but they didn't hurt that much after.

After barre we did center and this was one of my favorite parts in class. We did some pirouette exercises and the lead up to the actually turning and then we actually did pirouettes. And guess what, I did one flawlessly and spotted and everything. It was perfect but after that I couldn't get one anymore but i was so happy. I need to work on it but I am getting there and I can see so much improvement in my dancing then when I first started so yay for progress! We did more center work and I was doing the leaps freely and at first I was embrassed like I said but now I just go with it and smile and have fun.

Now during across the room was by far my favorite part of the class. I know I love it in the first place but we dd staeps I used to love during which made it more special. We started off ith glissade and jetes and did a round of those. The next was tenleves. i love those so much and I really gave my effort to perfect those and relly getting up and jumping high and perfecting the arms nd head. I do this move at my house and use it to transport myelf in the halls. Instead of skipping you can see me doing this step through long hllways or across my room. I love this step so much so doing it in class really made it for me. And then we did turns, first pique and then regular ones across the first corner. When she demonstarted it she made it look so effortless and so flawless. I had them before but doing them again was kind of new so I stumbled my balance but I got a good set in. So I know next time what to practice and try to get better at. For the warm down we did some middle spits and side strecthes and I am afr from laying on the floor to be flat. It was a great session and I wish I could do that class again every day.

So I know this is long and I'm sorry for ballbing on but clss just made me so happy today I had to share every detail about it. I know I shouldnt compare but she was an amzing teacher because she did steps that were the level we were at and she didnt forget to correct the students. If I see her in the hall I will defiently thank her and would tell her she defiently deserves that spot in the company because she diefinetly made my day and even if i got home left and feeling so tired I am still grateful of doing it.

I hope to see you on Saturday's dance diary! No other posts are going up this wee but I can try if I have time.

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Dance Diary | My First Class!

I did it! I actually did it! I took my first dance class again after 5 years!

I am over the moon right now and just so happy. I cannot believe I did it though.

So the night before I couldn't really sleep and I knew that was bad for me because for one I had to get up early to head to the dance company for my internship and two because the class was at 3 in the afternoon and that would be the time I start losing it and feel the most tired. But I did get a good night sleep in the end and woke up refreshed. When I did get up fully I started having a stomach ache and I have no idea why. I didnt eat or drink coffee and just left after I got everything together.

If you didnt know I work for a ballet company. I am an intern there and that inspired me to get back into dance and most importantly ballet. So when I got there I went up to my best friend who is also the registrar of the dance school. She was the first friend I made there. I enrolled myself and she was so happy for me because I finally did after all these months I've been complaining to her that I miss it. SHe was the one who really convinced me and I really thank her for it. After I got all signed up, I had to work with her in the dance shop. SInce it was the 2nd week of the new dance school year a lot of moms were buying their daughters leotards and tights. I handled that 'till about 12:30 until I went for lunch.

I was counting down the hours 'till class and I kept asking Jacque (we have the same name which is so funny and cool) questions about the class and was helping her enroll more students. I kept listening in to see if any of my classmates were going to be coming to the front desk but there was no luck. I kept busy until 2:30 and tried to keep my mind on maintaing the dance shop.

When it was time for me to get dressed I got to use the artistic director's dressing room because I was an empolyee there which was great because I didn't have to travel 2 flights of stairs to get to a changing room. Once I put everything on I remembered how hard it was to put tights on and to get it to fit perfectly and how you want it on your body. After I got that done I was all dressed and I felt amazing to be dressed as a ballerina again. Words cannot describe how good and confident I felt when I was dressed like that.

When it was time for class that is when my nervousness and fear came back. I didn't feel ready and felt so shy and scared unlike my previous happy state I was a few minutes ago. Jacque talked me through it pushed me but the public relation guy came down and requested me to plan an event for the upcoming production the company was having. I was glad that Jacque told him I had class and I would do it next Saturday or email him the details during the week. I was also glad he wasn't mad and encouraged me to do it.

I knew the teacher because I have been working there for a couple of months. The worst part was that she was the school principal of the whole dance school and was very strict. I was even more nervous when I found out she was going to be teaching the class permenently. I sucked it up though and hugged Jacque for good luck.

I put on my ballet shoes and took deep breaths. We warmed up for about 5 minutes because we are now advised to be warmed up and limber before her class which will be hard for me since I don't have much time before the class because I am working there also. Next time though I am definitely taking the hour off to get ready and warmed up.

We did most things at the barre which was good because I always liked the barre routines. When she taught the steps I was glad I got them right away. I really thought I was going to do terriable and I prepared myself for it but I shouldn't really think negatively like I do cause it turned out fine. I did have a hard time with my ankle a couple times but it didn't bother me much when I started to move it more.

The proudest thing though was I didn't get many corrections to straighten out my foot or anything. I really thought I would be the one always getting yelled at for doing something wrong but it was the girl in front of me. I also got complmented of my turnout and I have good arches. I was told when I was going to start pointe at 11 that I had "Flinstone Feet" and I could never go en pointe. I was probably too young and my arches weren't formed that well yet. If the teacher had told me I was too young then I would have understood. But when our teacher said that I had pretty good arches that made me so excited that maybe one day I could reach my dream and go en pointe.

The class was pretty simple and I actually enjoyed being back. I know they say don't worry and it will be fine in the end and I can say it is true. It was a good hour workout and I was surprised I wasn't out of breath so easily. I actually did it and wasnt a bag full of sweat. I was sweaty but I was worried I would just be pouring buckets but I didnt and I was so glad. It is a good workout for me and I'll continue.

After class I headed back to the office with the teacher and she asked if I was going to continue and I said yes. I am sticking with this no matter what. Once in the office the staff were asking if I took a class and I nodded and it felt good saying that I took a class and was back to dancing. 

So overall my class was good and I am glad to be back. I know why I quit a few years back because it is so displined and strict but since I have background I know I won't quit so easily anymore. I am going to stick through this and I will get to my dream of going en pointe and becoming a ballerina again.

I hope you enjoyed my story of my first ballet class. Also please tell me if you were nervous to like I was so I don't feel like such a loser for being so worried. I'll update about my class again next week. 

xo 

Jackie