Aretia's Tribe

ballet dancing beginners
Is ballet really hard to learn?

I’m taking a beginners ballet class next semester in college. I think it looks fun but, some people are trying to persuade me not to take it because it is really hard dance to learn. Is this true? Is ballet hard to learn? Why?

1.) DO NOT listen when people tell you not to take something, it is not their choice. If you would like to take a ballet class, then by all means do, I would.

2.) Yes, ballet is one of the most difficult form of dance to learn.

3.) It is difficult because you need to mix artestry with perfection. In other words, ballet requires every step you do to be technically perfect, but you also have to make it look really easy. In a beginner class you will most likely be learning the basics. Be prepared to do them over and over again. Repatition does not imply that you are stupid, but it helps you to learn well. In ballet, a class will always start with a barre. This is a selection of steps that warm up all part of your body. It normally lasts about half an hour. You might get frustarated because you are doing the same things over and over, but even people who dance for a living do a barre.

4.) If you really want to dance…DO NOT GIVE UP. It will be tempting after a few months to stop. This is beacuse if goes from learning the basics to turning them into more complex things. This is very hard to do. As stated before hand, you need to make it look good, but also do it well. Sometimes it might even be painful. If after a time you go en pointe (dancing on your toes) you will need to adjust to the change, and that can hurt.

5.) I assume you have seen a ballet (since your intrest for it must have grown from somewhere) If not I highly recomend that you see one. It is the holiday season, so almost all cities have a ‘Nutcracker’ You should go see it. Pay attention to how the dancers tell the story with their movements, and conveys emotion. Also think of how fun it would be to perform. These observations can give you motivation when your feeling that it is to hard.

6.) Don’t give up, or not do it at all. It is all worthwhile in the end. You will know this the very first show that you have when you experiance the joy in dancing for others.

7.) Lots and lots and lots of luck. You will have a lot of fun, you will just need to work. Check out www.ballettalk.com and www. abt.org The former is a chat site where you can learn a little more about ballet, and even where to go to see one. The later is the site of a famous ballet company, they have pictures. If you go under ‘education’ and then ‘dictionary’ it has examples of major steps from ballet as well as how to do them, so you can see what you will be up to.

Where can i find good beginner ballet classes in London,England?

I want to learn to dance ballet in London, England. I would like to know where it’s a good place.

Not done it myself, but I know people who have started learning in Morley College’s ballet classes and been told its a smooth introduction. At the end of the year, they do a designated course which has a stage performance at the end of it, but people of all levels can take part so if you do feel able to take part, don’t be scared.

Neoclassical Ballet Steps for Beginners : The Degage Step in Ballet Dancing