~Weniki's Helpful Hints~
Here are
some helpful hints in ballet. They are
mostly just suggestions. I got them out of a
book!
Grooming |
Classroom Etiquette | Nutrition |
Posture |
Injuries |
Turnout |
Performance |
Buying Shoes |
On Pointe |
Patience
Good
grooming and proper attire are part of the
self-discipline of ballet training itself.
Girls should wear their hair in a bun to give
a good line to their head and neck. No
bangs! Boys should wear their hair short.
Always follow your school's dress code, and
remember -- jewelry, watches, and wristbands
should never be worn during class.
Always stand
tall. Never slouch. If you have to yawn,
disguise it! At the end of class, always
remember to curtsy (girls) or bow (boys)
before your teacher and thank him/her for the
lesson. In ballet, this is known as a
révérence.
Smart ballet dancers eat
regularly and properly. To help avoid
cramping during a class, eat your pre-class
meal 2 to 3 hours before you dance. Good
pre-class foods are carbohydrates such as
potatoes, rice, whole-grain breads, corn,
cereals, and pasta; vegetables such as
carrots, peas, green beans, and broccoli; and
meats such as chicken, fish, and lean cuts of
beef. Don't eat a lot of concentrated
sweets. Save desserts until after class.
When
standing properly as a
dancer, your ears should be over your
shoulders, which should be over your hips,
which should be over your toes. Your weight
should be evenly distributed over your feet,
with your toes on the floor, and your arches
and ankles lifted. (Don't worry, this one
confuses me too.)
If
you injure yourself
while dancing or performing any other
activity, stop what you are doing! Tell your
family and your teacher about your injury and
take appropiate healing measures. For twists
and sprains these include elevating the
injured area, putting ice to reduce swelling,
using an elastic bandage if necessary to
stabilize the area, and, finally, resting it.
If pain is severe, see a doctor!
The
better a dancer's
turnout, the better the dancer. When
working on your turnout, try to turn your
legs from the hip, rotating your thighs
outward. Don't just point your toes out. At
all times keep your body straight and your
shoulders down.
If you can, take an
easy class the day of a performance, and,
before you go onstage, be sure your body is
properly stretched and warmed up. While
waiting in the wings do tendus to
keep your legs limber and ready to go.
Some
regular shoe
stores stock ballet slippers and
pointe shoes, but it is best to buy
from a specialist shop. Ballet shoes must be
fitted properly and should feel like a second
skin on your feet. Never buy shoes that are
too bug -- they'll interfere with your
dancing and might cause injury.
To go
on pointe
you
should first be able to hold your turnout on
demi pointe, and you should be
attending at least three ballet classes a
week. No dancer should attempt to go on
pointe before she is 10 years old, and
some dancers are not ready until the are 12.
If you wonder whether or not you are ready
for pointe work, ask your teacher and
trust their judgement.
You
must be patient as a
dacner -- dancing is hard work! Every dancer
develops at her own rate, and sometimes the
dancer who developed slowly, step by step,
progresses farther than the one who, at
first, was the class star. Be attentive in
class. Love what you are doing. Remember:
practice makes perfect.
Email:
weniki7@yahoo.com
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