Once a Dancer...Always a Dancer

So I've been told by many students over the years about their love for jazz, lyrical and contemporary.  These are the students who remind me that they are not in ballet because they love ballet, but because they want to be better at the other forms of dance.  While this is a valid reason to take ballet classes,  I am always surprised.  I am in that studio hours each week, shaping and molding these young dancers into ballet dancers.  We work together for 6-9 hours each week in some cases for years.  I cannot be convinced they work this hard because they "kinda like it".  Whether they admit it or not, I know they love it...somewhere deep in their gut, in a part of their soul they just haven't tapped into yet.
I remember it in myself, years ago.  I've always loved ballet, but I have not always wanted to work hard. (by the way, that was my problem - not one of most of my current or previous students).  Throughout junior high and high school I buried myself in so many activities I never really learned what it  meant to work at something.  I didn't really have the time.  In college stopped dancing to pursue my music career (Violin performance).  It was without a doubt, the most depressing time in my life!  I lost self confidence, doubting myself even in academics or in friendships.  I didn't feel like myself.  I wasn't myself! 
When I went back to ballet (a short 18 months later), it was like breathing again.  I felt whole again, even though I hadn't realized part of me was missing.  Suddenly all the corrections and pedagogy of the ballet class made sense.  My love was renewed, and I once again undertsood my place in the art and in my life. 
When a young dancer stops dance for college, or for outside pursuits I always tell them "You'll be back.  Once a dancer...always a dancer!", and I wish them the best, hoping they will come back to it sooner than later.  Either way, they'll be back.

Smile and Pointe your toes!
Jenni

Finding a Balance

Being a ballet teacher is hard!  It's hard in many ways, but today's ballet teacher faces many issues that weren't around 100 years ago.  I could list here all the distractions, advancements that have "changed the face of society", but really... I think we all know what I mean!  I am really talking about our young dancers; impatient to do the "fancy stuff".  You know, the pirouettes, the leaps and the grandiose combinations across the floor.  This is difficult for many different reasons.  It is hard to watch dancers complete exercises and techniques they are not ready for.  It’s hard on young egos when they know enough to know it’s not correct, but don’t have the ability to fix it.  Working on the “tricks” in dance distracts from the overall picture; the ENTIRE DANCER.

On the other hand, I don’t know a 7 or 8 year old who wants to stand at the barre for an hour working on how to stand tall. This concept could literally take hours!  Last night we talked for 15 minutes in my Ballet 3 /4 class on how the hand should be shaped.  This does seem excessive on paper, I know, but it’s necessary.  An ill placed finger can ruin an otherwise beautiful arabesque.

Other issues are jazz classes.  We love jazz…however, a typical jazz curriculum introduces pirouettes in a level 1 class, while a traditional ballet curriculum introduces pirouettes much later.  We don’t want the dancers to develop incorrect habits, but at the same time learning to turn young often helps them to be natural turners, not to mention more eager to try new things.

 At Loveland Dance Academy, we work find the right balance.  In my earlier ballet classes, we work on the components of the pirouette; the passé (retire), spotting, balancing and maintaining a high releve. I use many different types of exercises to teach 1 concept.  Most importantly I try to make a personal connection with each student.  I hope to develop a strong trust.  This way when they say “It’s too hard!”  or “I can’t do that”, they believe me when I say “It’s okay!  I am here to teach you how!” and my favorite, “we are here to PRACTICE” J

Wishing you balance and patience to find it.  Keep practicing!

Smile and pointe your toes!

Jenni

Bonded for life

Today when I was out for a drive to run an errand (and to get my little stinker to sleep), the cloudy weather made me feel a bit nostalgic.  I was listening to music I used to play with the band I was a part of for many years.  I miss being a part of that type of group.  Between music and dance, I've been part of many!  It got me thinking about the bond created among artists who perform together.

Over the years I have created friendships, acquaintances and colleagues through music and dance.  And even though we have moved on and created our lives, (which may or may not include music or dance) we share a bond that is unlike any other.  When you perform together, create art together, you are connected forever.  You've created, sacrificed, and taken risks for a common goal.  We may not have all been the best of friends, or shared our deepest, darkest secrets with each other, but the bond is there.

One of the best things about my job is to watch that same bond being formed between the students at Loveland Dance Academy.  They are sisters and brothers in dance.  They may not all be best friends, but they are a family.  They look out for one another.  They reminisce about the members they've lost, (those who have moved, or stopped dancing) and take care of ones who need it.  They fight at times and they get upset with each other, but when it comes down to it, they are in it together. 

So here's to the musicians and dancers I've performed with; I hope you are well!

Smile and Pointe your toes!
Jenni

Beautiful!

I guess I will start with where we are right now.  In my Ballet 3/4 class (levels 3 and 4 combined), we are working on adding the "sparkle" in their dancing.  The epaulement; head, upper body and arm placement.  I've worked so hard to train "thinking" dancers.  These dancers know what they are doing and why they are doing it.  They know each movement fits in with the picture as a whole.  The problem is that somewhere along the way we lost what it means to be beautiful, to dance with inspiration, to draw the audience and give the gift.  This thought is changing the way i am teaching.  By adding a few choice words in my classes across all levels, I now have even my youngest dancing as if they feel beautiful.  I LOVE IT!

Right now in my ballet classes, we are learning exerpts from the Nutcracker.  It is super exciting because we are planning on producing our first full length ballet of the Nutcracker in December 2011!  It's a great vehicle to put all of our great technique to work while stretching our performance abilities.  FUN FUN FUN!

Pointe your toes and Smile! :)

Jenni