My Spiel about Ballet

Hmmm, let's see where should I start...

I've always had a love/hate relationship with ballet.  I remember loving it when everything came easily and sank into my brain quickly.  But I also remember hating it... would rather have banged my head against the wall than do one more combo at the barre that I just wasn't getting.  I think most people probably feel that way about anything that takes some time learning.

I went to the Boulder Jazz Dace Festival in Colorado and absolutely loved it because well, the emphasis was jazz, but in every class I realized I was lacking because I just hadn't been taken my ballet education seriously and I knew I needed a swift kick in the backside.  Back home, I spent hours in the studio and took privates with a ballet teacher to better prepare myself before the college audition/placements at ECU.

I went in that intimating, mirrored studio a little more confident because of my hard work and low-and-behold I placed into level III ballet... something I wasn't expecting to do.   I came out with a wide smile and even wider shoulders because I was proud of what I had accomplished.  Even still in collegiate ballet classes with Joe Carow and Galina Panova, I found ballet to be... mundane, rigid, very structured and... I came to love the feeling of it in my body.  I mean, I didn't love ballet, this I knew, but I found comfort in the routine of it all.  And I also knew all this labor would pay off in other dance classes.  I would have much rather been tapping, jazzing it up, or almost anything else than one more degage but I knew it was what I had to do.

I push ballet and technique so much because I want my students to know its the fast track to understanding dance better and pushing to the next level.  I don't expect prima ballerinas or principle dancers to walk out of my doors but I do want them to one day smile just as big of a smile as I did that audition day.  Remember, whatever you put in, you get back in return... even if it does seem dull, slow, or tedious.  One day you'll be shining, proud, and exciting to watch on stage.

And we're starting off on a great foot here at Legacy... our Petite Ballet class is currently closed as is our Ballet I class due to full enrollment.  There is still some space in Ballet II, Ballet III, and Pre-Pointe/Pointe.  And that's so exciting! To know were spreading the love of tutus, tendus, and technique to a younger generation of dancers.  If you are interested in joining any of those ballet classes or any other genre of dance, request our schedule here or call 919-738-3772.  Remember, this is the last week to join so get your requests in before the registration window closes for good this 2017 year!

Until next time,

Megan

LDP