Yesterday's Class
On Sunday morning I take an open level ballet class at a local studio. It's intermediate-advanced level, and sometimes challenging for me. The class makeup is about 50% adults and 50% company members from the studio's pre-pro performance program. These girls are really talented dancers, and sometimes I am intimidated by them since I'm no longer at their level.
Yesterday I felt like I was doing well; I received a compliment during center, which is rare coming from my instructor. When it came time to go across the floor, he called me by name and asked me to demonstrate. In that moment I was shocked, nervous, and excited - he usually calls on the younger girls to demonstrate. I took my position in the corner and danced the steps as he dictated them to me - pique turns, chaines for 4 counts, chasse arabesque, balance, hop backwards en arabesque for 8 counts, releve, balance, chaine 4 counts, chasse arabesque, balance, DONE!* I surprised myself with how well I held my balance in arabesque, and I received another compliment. I demonstrated the combination again when the music started.
* What does this mean? Here is a dictionary of ballet terms
It may not seem like much, but my confidence as a dancer has greatly increased. Maybe I will actually perform again some day...
Yesterday I felt like I was doing well; I received a compliment during center, which is rare coming from my instructor. When it came time to go across the floor, he called me by name and asked me to demonstrate. In that moment I was shocked, nervous, and excited - he usually calls on the younger girls to demonstrate. I took my position in the corner and danced the steps as he dictated them to me - pique turns, chaines for 4 counts, chasse arabesque, balance, hop backwards en arabesque for 8 counts, releve, balance, chaine 4 counts, chasse arabesque, balance, DONE!* I surprised myself with how well I held my balance in arabesque, and I received another compliment. I demonstrated the combination again when the music started.
* What does this mean? Here is a dictionary of ballet terms
It may not seem like much, but my confidence as a dancer has greatly increased. Maybe I will actually perform again some day...