Month: June 2016

End of Term

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Ballet_MemorizeBalletBarreCombos_02Yesterday I schlepped along to Covent Garden to my final class of the 12 week Ballet at the Barre course. I was so tired and a bit stressed from a lot of restructure chaos at work that I wasn’t in the mood for physical exertion, concentration or recalling stuff from last week, but I got there and REALLY ENJOYED IT. There were only 6 or 7 of us, plus our teacher and it was a great class! I decided on my way there to throw myself into it. Remember turnout, engaged core, toes pointed, use the floor, pull up….Dance!

Along with a fellow classmate, I got to perform a sequence on demi-pointe! OMG.

At the end we had time to stretch and fill out our course evaluations. I spoke to my teacher individually and he asked what I was intending to do next. He recommended Ballet Improvers, which I would love to do, but it finishes too late for my one hour journey home to the suburbs afterwards. He also asked if I’ve ever done any Jazz! A little bit, but I’d LOVE to do more. Anyway, he said I can try out the brand new Street Jazz course for free in July if I’m interested, and then that will run properly in September.

I’m really confused because I promised myself I would return to Rhythm Tap at Morley in September (and I’m obsessing over getting those Jason Samuels Smith shoes), but now I don’t want to stop Ballet, but Improvers Ballet at City Lit is too late, and then there’s a new Afro-Contemporary course starting (WOW!!!). What to do?!?!?

In the meantime I start Floor Barre in July for 5 weeks with a one-off Rhythm Tap General class in the middle! 🙂

Dance Magazines

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I recently subscribed to Pointe Magazine to immerse myself in the world of ballet and dance. I used to get the Dancing Times/Dance Today a bit, but then I came across the US dance magazines and they looked more interesting and less elitist. Plus, I’m really not interested in Ballroom dance, which takes up the last part of the magazine.

I actually wanted to subscribe to Dance Magazine, one of Pointe’s sister magazines, but it doesn’t seem to be available to purchase in the UK 🙁

Pointe Dance Mag

Week 11 (of 12)

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Dancewear1

I was back at Ballet at the Barre last week after a week away in amazing Tenerife! Anyway, missing a week really didn’t help because I felt like I was a bit behind on everything, but it was ok. This week the class was a bit smaller as quite a few people were absent, so I was on a barre…on my own! Everyone else was at the mirror or at the wall, where as I prefer to be by the window as I’m always hot in dance classes!

Anyway, my points for improvement this week are to keep my legs straight and press my feet into the floor when I bring them back from a tendu. For some reason I arch my foot, or want to stick my toes in the air! Although this is probably due to the fact I had a silent DVT some years back following a looooong coach trip home from Germany and my right foot tends to swell slightly (especially after a day at a desk, and in warm weather) and gets easily tired. Towards the end of the class, I could hardly feel my feet! I tend to wear compression socks before and after on dance day, but didn’t have a clean pair this week. (I have since added 2 new pairs to my collection!) Anyway, I think I’ll have a go at some band stretching exercises to increase my foot and toe flexibility. I realise I rely heavily on my big toes as they are my longest toes, so the big toe joint tends to suffer at times.

On a fashion note, I decided to treat myself in the sales and ordered Capezio’s LIMITED EDITION floral ballet leggings (although these weren’t on sale) and a pink ballet wrap cardigan with thumb loops from Revolution, via Dance Direct.

Alvin Ailey

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AileyOMG I am SOOOO excited to have received my Alvin Ailey Dance Theater tickets through the post! I’m going to see them for the second time ever in September at Sadlers Wells in London. The last time I saw them was in 2010, and I’ve been waiting for them to return ever since! They are such an inspiration with their sheer athleticism and musicality. If you look at their website and publicity, the photographs of the dancers are stunning! They actually made me want to start to learn ballet after I realised it wasn’t just for one body type.