I am 12 and am going to start ballet next year. I haven't danced ballet since i was 6 and I really loved it. I don't remember anyting! Can you help me?? Any tips to practice before I start next year?
2007-02-24 05:38:22 · 12 answers · asked by Dancin' HOTTIE!! 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Dancing
At 12, you're still pretty young and therefore have time to improve and develop muscles, so don't stress out too much. I'm sure that if you're taking a beginning ballet class it won't be too bad that you don't remember anything. Just keep in mind of the basics like posture (make a straight line with your body--look at your profile in the mirror and be aware of your pelvis, chest, and head being in line) and form (lift up during plies, careful of how you point your toes--don't curl them). Once you start classes, things will start seeming more familiar. So don't worry. Good luck!
2007-02-24 16:14:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
oh girl! you have a LOT to learn well year are some things you can learn id also recomend picking up some books as well!
the 5 positions:
The first of the ballet positions for feet places the heels together. The toes are turned out with the goal being the ballet dancer achieving a 180° angle. Achieving this turnout takes work, and requires the ballet dancer to utilize the hips. It is not a natural standing position, but all good ballet dancers must master turnout to be considered for positions in ballet companies. When turnout is perfect, the knees are literally back-to-back.
For arms the first of the ballet positions is curved arms, with hands close together in right in front of the lower pelvis. The palms point upward and the fingers provide a gentle curve. The elbows are also slightly bent.
The second of the ballet positions for feet maintains the 180° turnout, but the feet are spaced approximately a foot (.30 m) apart. The arms maintain their curved position, but the hands are now slightly further apart. Each hand is in front of the top of each thigh.
In the third position for feet, the right foot maintains the 180° turnout. The left foot comes forward with the heel against the right toe. The left foot should form an almost 90° angle with the right foot. The left arm points straight out from the shoulder with the hand flat and palm down. The right arm is raised and curved above the head, with palm facing the top of the head.
Fourth position represents only a slight movement of the left foot. Instead of the heel being lined up with the toe of the right foot, the heel is now up against the middle of the foot. The right arm remains the same as in third position, but the left arm curls toward the body, forming a half circle right in front of the chest.
Fifth position moves both feet. The goal is to maintain the 180° angle, with the left foot forward. The heel of one foot lines up with the toe of the other. Both arms are now above the head in a curved position. The left arm is positioned exactly as the right arm is positioned in ballet positions three and four.
From each of the ballet positions, a student learns to take balances on toe shoes, do knee-bends, and bends forward and back of the upper body. Such work usually takes place at the barre during ballet class. The positions are then repeatedly applied in choreography.
um what's yur email? tell me at jezx2006aol.com
i can help you a whole lot more!
and if you live anywhere near melrose mas i suggest coming to my school : ) jk just send me yur email
p.s. i go to this studio: www.centerstagestudio.org
can't lend out any more info bout mi srry!
2007-02-24 13:53:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't worry! I'm sure your teacher will be able to help you work back up to an apporpriate level. Just do some simple stretches in the weeks before the class so you can build up your muscles a little bit more. It may also help to reveiw these steps:
At the bar:
-Plies
-Tondues
-Jetes
-Ront de jambes (petit and grande
-Frappes
-Battements (petit and grande)
-Fondues
Some turns:
-Pirouettes
-Chaînés
-Piqués
Some jumps:
-Changement
-Glissade
-Assemblé
-Jetes (including grande jetes)
If you don't know a lot of these steps, don't worry, I'm sure you'll be able to catch on very quickly. You probably won't be expected to know all these terms, but it's probably not a bad idea to have heard of these terms before. Here's an online ballet dictionary that can help you: http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/index.html . It has a few videos on there as well, so maybe this will refresh your memory. Oh, it's probably a good idea to wear your hair in a bun and to wear a black leotard and pink tights depending on how strict your studio is. Don't stress out about it at all though, I'm sure everything will be fine. Good luck!
2007-02-26 11:41:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Stretch out alot and work out if your muscles are strong and lean and you are really flexible then it will be alot easier to learn the steps,also I would try going into a begining and a more advanced class in the begining to jog your memory of the old steps that you knew and then you are also doing more difficult and demanding steps as well, mostly talk to your teachers, they will be understanding that you are a bit rusty as long as you have a clear work out plan to get back into tip top shape then they should help you with it and maybe even give you some extra help in the begining.
2007-02-24 13:49:03 · answer #4 · answered by Cute Dancer 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a couple years ago i had a 2-year break off dance classes and to get back into them again, I gave myself a little "intensive" where I worked on everything I could think of to build up leg strength, allover flexibility, and regain technique. i researched online all kinds of stuff- try dance.net for good tips in the ballet section of the discussions. its got some amazing help.
just remember that while it will be tough to get your body back into dancing shape and used to the steps again, "dance smarter, not harder". think about everything you do right down to your toes- detail and real technique become more important in the years you missed out on. but in the meantime, practice hard, too- you can do it. your teachers will understand, but show them your efforts and theyll realy appreciate you for that. i went on pointe for the first time within months of restarting dance because I proved my technique and strength. youre still young- you can get back there and farther. go for it and enjoy it! congrats on getting back into dance, too :)
2007-02-24 23:02:06 · answer #5 · answered by C.R. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
um. stretch before class. make sure that your leotard and shoes fit nicely. try to make friends with other girls before class and ask them questions so that you don't get so lost during class. don't worry is your the youngest one because you had the long break and you will probably learn quickly so you can move up a few levels. also, be patient. do not take the teachers corrections as a bad thing, it is actually very good because you will learn from it. also, use your stomach muscles and stay on the balls of your feet. stretch your toes as much as you can. don't worry. just have fun.
2007-02-26 01:29:35 · answer #6 · answered by myo11795 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i was the same way but i went 10 years without dancing ballet just stretch a lot.
2007-02-24 13:53:35 · answer #7 · answered by MonyB 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that you don't need to remember anything if you're starting from the beginning. but maybe you could do something for condition (strength), or for your muscles (esp. on the back) and for your ankles (there are some rubber things which help you with that). try to stretch as much as you can.
2007-02-24 13:54:30 · answer #8 · answered by deana m 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should practice...
-All the positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)
-Plié
-Pirouette
-Relevé
-Arabesque
-Assemblé
-Attitude
-Chassé
-Tendu
-Developpe
-Effacé
-Demi plié
-Grand plié
-Passé
That's just a few. But here's a website if you need any help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_ballet_terms#top
2007-02-24 14:59:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
build up your feet and leg muscles. a lot. also, work on the muscles involved in arabeque (back, legs). stretch out every day and keep fit. really focus on your turn out. :)
2007-02-24 13:46:06 · answer #10 · answered by Forrest Ashley 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋