Late 10 Things Tuesday ~

Then Things Tuesday Ummm Thursday ~

Sorry I missed 10 Things Tuesday this week so better late than never!

Ten Things We Can Learn From Vintage Ballerinas:

1. Sometimes the simplest positions look the best in pictures.
       - See Anna Pavlova on releve with her arms crossed as Odette.

2. It's better to dance a role with purpose/character/feeling rather than for the sake of pure dancing.
       - See Gelsey Kirkland's book Dancing On My Grave ( I will review this book in a post later)

3. The number of pirouettes one can do sometimes depends on how much money they can make. :)
      - See White Nights

4. Sometimes it's just as beautiful to have a 90 degree arabesque as above.
    - See Margot Fonteyn

5. Speaking of Margot Fonteyn: what are considered bad feet are arguable.
     - Is being right on your box really that "bad"? (I think not).

6. Vintage motivational ballet posters are awesome. I'll post some I have here this evening.

7. Tapered Pointe shoes make your feet look sleek and your legs look longer, if your foot shape can tolerate them.
   - See Olga Spessivtseva

8. Costumes should usually be magnificent. There were some interesting and spectacular costumes for ballets, especially in the 1920's.
   - See early Ballet Russe photos

9. When we find the perfect (red) pointe shoes, we never want to take them off and wish to continue to dance and dance and dance in them; but it can be taken too far.
   - See the Red Shoes (esp. featuring Moira Shearer).

10. Ballet is hard, but fun.
    - See Lucille Ball in her ballet episode.

~ Ok this ten things was a little lackluster, but don't forget about the ballerinas that came before us, they have a lot to show and a lot to be learned from! A personal note, I fancy the tighter attitude of fifties and earlier ballet dancers, as personal preference. Find little things to inspire you while you're dancing/researching. I also really find emotive and actress ballerinas exceptional, I think the ballerinas of yesteryear are the best examples of this. It's not always about how high you can get your legs or how many turns you can do on pointe, sometimes it's how well you can express your character. The audience should feel something! Be it amazement of your spectacular extension or your character portrayal's perfection. What have you learned from previous ballerinas?

Ten Things Tuesday 2 ~

Ten Things That Probably Frustrate Every Dancer ~

1. Bad Turn Days

Is the momentum off and you have enough force to do ten pirouettes on your triple or is your center off kilter? What's going on with bad turn days? Sometimes we just can't turn properly. 

2. Speaking of center, The Adagi-no More Pretty Please

Please don't make us do adagio in the center again, we've already done it three times. Ok, maybe the fourth time I'll get that grande plié perfectly...

3. The Pointe Shoe That's Gone From Perfectly Broken In To - Banana Foot

A lot of dancers love what I call the banana foot over the dead box and super dead/taken out shank, but to me it just looks well, banana foot. 

4. The Dreaded Missed Rehearsal

What did I miss? Oh, I'm on the other side and must reverse everything? Ok, my brain loves reversing, oh we're facing the wall now too... Cool. 😉

5. The Super Star 

Yes, some of you may be the super star, but the rest of us will be working on all those fine details we've been given throughout the day's lesson and we'll look fabulous next class. To quote the amazing Barishnikov, "I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself". I love this quote, it inspires me to delve within during class and pay less attention to what other's are doing and focus on how to improve my own dancing (without giving up thinking I'll never dance as good as them).

6. The Pointe Shoe That Doesn't Quite Ever Wear In Correctly

There's the banana foot dead shoe then there's the pair of pointe shoes that never quite wears in. I have had a few pairs that the shank was pliable in but never really formed to the foot, and a pair that the box stayed super, super hard (barely able to demi pointe, yes even after dampening it) on both pairs the platform still died. These shoes will forever remain mysteriously stiff.

7. How About The Ill Fitted Shoes In General

They feel lovely in the store, these will work out nicely you think to yourself... And then you get them to class. Oh boy, something is not right, and it is aweful. Trying to focus on combinations while your feet are odd or in pain is the absolute worst! I also enjoy the canvas slippers whose lining balls up under the ball of the foot, so nice, haha!

8. The New Tights That While Stretching At Barre Snag

No further explanation need. 😒

9. The I Didn't Know It Would Be This Dangerously Low Cut Leo

Well endowed or not, this can be an issue, I'll just take my backbend as slight as possible today...I have accidentally flashed my pas de Deux class many years ago due to this very issue. No sweetheart or v-cut leotards at pas anymore. 😳

10. Being Unable To Dance Due To Any Factors

The absolute most frustrating annoyance is being unable to dance. Be it that day, month, months or most terrifyingly years. There is nothing worse than not dancing! So, take all the frustrations of dance and remember the joy that dance brings. The next class you take be sure to enjoy yourself and remember that you are blessed to able to dance. Make the movements count, work on corrections, take constructive criticism as a positive (the teacher wants you to be the best dancer you can be, and telling you what to fix will do just that) and don't forget to smile. 

Ten Things Tuesday ~

10 Things Tuesday:

Ok, I'm making this a thing! Haha, hopefully I keep up with it :)

** I'll add funny photos when I get a chance this weekend. **

First ten things Tuesday will be: 

You know you're probably a ballet dancer when:

1. You wear your knit warmup pants the way everyone else wears yoga pants. Errands, housework, etc. (After class I'll run errands in my leo & warmups too, haha!)

2. You get caught taking pictures of your pointed foot in random places. 

3. When you're looking for something to watch, you'll look for something dance related first.

4. When there's a clear hallway, you use it to practice piqués and grand battements. Or if you're feeling exceptionally sassy chaines!

5. If you've been away from ballet for a while, you wear more black and pink combinations; subconsciously or consciously missing it. 

6. People are always complimenting your posture.

7. When you're standing around, you look down and your feet are in a position (usually first or fourth).

8. When your friends go to borrow your iPod they ask why there's soooooo much classical?!

9. Every pair of tights you own have become adaptatoe so you can get to your finicky feet throughout the day. 

10. In your spare time, you research variations, famous ballerinas throughout history, pointe shoe facts (and pointe shoe myths ;)) or all of the above. 

I hope you enjoyed my first ten things Tuesday, have a wonderful day and keep dancing! 

Welcome To My Ballet Blog ~

Hello ~

I've decided to start a ballet blog because I was (ok, am probably still going to a little bit) over sharing my ballet experiences and findings on my Facebook page and rather than overload my non-ballet loving friends, I am bringing the ballet chat to a blog. I hope to keep up with it often and bring up interesting and fun ballet topics as I go. If you love ballet as much as I do than this blog is for you!

A little about me - yes, I love death rock music, hence the name. I dance with a little studio that performs two ballets a year. I like to mix whimsy and darkness and would say my style is one that certainly reflects that. I am trying desperately to increase my flexibility, love pointe work and am ever on the hunt for the perfect pointe shoes for my feet (hey, take my poll). 

Ballet is a big passion in my life. When I dance I am free, I am whole, I am alive and I am finally happy. 

Thanks for reading, I can't wait to delve into this blog all about ballet!