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Question: How to become a really good ballerina!?
I've performed all my life but only recently took up ballet when I was 18-years-old!. I'm now 19 and am on pointe!.
Here's the thing, I want to be REALLY good!. I'm naturally athletic, tall, and have been told I look like a ballerina (Even before I began dancing)!. But, as any ballerina knows, dance is NOT EASY!.!.!.!.and it's a lifestyle!.
I know it's much harder for me because I'm so old but I DO work twice as hard!. I'm very dedicated, and I don't want to stop improving!.
Does anyone have some helpful hints, exercises, or tricks that I can do either on the dance floor or at home, or any where really!? (Example: How I can improve turnout, strength, grace, flexibility, my arch, flow, spotting, etc!.)
Thank you!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Can't see what you're doing wrong or right, but here are things you can work on:
It's all about proper techniques, and the kinetic of them!.
Turnouts: ALWAYS - the knee is aligned to your middle foot/toe - if you can't see your foot, you to turn your knees out more; if you see past the middle toe, then you need to turn out more!.
Strength comes from your stomach - any time you let go (doesn't mean you have to force it), you lose your strength, center/balance
Grace - stomach muscle plus the five strings - top of your head, elbows, and knees - elbows and knees are the point that starts movement with your arms and legs especially on porte bras and develope - breathing is part of it, using it in sync with your movements!. Relaxing without letting go of your muscles!. Think of images like you are underwater - it's almost like your are carving through water when you move!. Imageries will help a lot - imageries of what are graceful!.
Arch, back and sideways, common mistake I see is that when dancers are not lifting their upper torso when doing the arch - it has to feel the same way as when you are upright (you are lifting - strings on top of the head) - don't "fall/flop to where you bend; still holding on to that stomach muscle!.
Spotting - a teacher of mind said that a good spotter can spot anywhere - front, back or side, and all three anytime in a chane!. Practice your chane, and this will help you with your spotting - however, you have to do the chane correctly, too!. In one of my classes, we are not allowed to do 50 chane when it should take a hundred thus, we have to do it all over again!. My teacher pushed the advance students - we have to go around the slow students while doing chane so, we have to be able to spot anywhere at anytime!.
Turns - secret, I tell those who need helps; for a double, think one first, then one more - for triple, two first, then one more - see the pattern!. I've only gone as many as 8, before my injury, but that helped me a lot!. Think - plus one more; or plus one more then plus one more!. Of course you are holding the right muscle - on fourth position hold something heavy for awhile, feel what muscle you are using it from preventing it from moving - stomach, diaphragm, back muscles!.
A clean techniques and lines are the key to dance!. Beginning ballet classes is a good place to clean and work your techniques!. Kinetic - try blindfolded, do some barre work slowly, so you can see in your head, and feel the relationships of your body in space!.
You want it bad enough, you will work harder for it - I started late, so I worked four times harder, always in a beginning class working my techniques even as an advanced student!.
Listen to your body!. If it hurt, you must be doing something wrong - correct it right away!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
You will get better!. It takes time!. You've only been dancing for a year!. Practice makes perfect!. You have more 2 learn so don't worry about being perfect right now because as you live you learn and as you learn you grow! Apply that to dancing!. Think about dancing and compare it to a job!. Ex: not a manager, 2!. assistant manager!. 3!. manager!. You get it!? You're still like a freshman!. Remember practice makes perfect!! P!.S!. Get involved in plays and anything that has to do with being a ballerina!. Do ballerina things outside of class!. Good luck!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Well, i am a hip-hop dancer but i have an idea:
Be graceful-Smooth and beautiful like your gliding in the water
Be soft- Here and there put a gentle smile on your face
Practice- Practice once a day for like how ever long you want, and be gentle and its just like yoga; beautiful and relaxing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Practice and stretch every day!. Take classes from different teachers to learn different techniques!. Audition for any openings!. Keep an updated resume and a positive attitude!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
practice makes perfect!!! also try and see as many ballets and companies that come out your way!. and try to find movies of the great ballet dancers like fonteyn, baryshnikov, nureyev, alicia alonso, ulanova, etc!. these will help inspire you and help you see what you can become!. and get books on ballet technique!. "inside ballet technique" by valerie greg is a great book!.
and lastly, DON'T STOP!! it may seem hard, but if it's really something you want to do, it's worth it!.
Turnout: DON'T FORCE IT!! use your thighs to initiate your turnout!. don't twist from the the knee down!. you'll just injure yourself if you do!.
strength: do flat irons (that's when you plie on pointe, don't grip your ankle too much though when you do it though), and also releves
flexibility: take your time!. gently stretch!. and stretch slowly, while you are warm (NOT when you are cold)
turns: pull up out of your shoes, hips, back and neck!. chin up, shoulders down!.
everything else (that you listed) will come w/ time and practice!. keep going!! remember that all dreams are worth the work!. you just have to decide whether or not you want it badly enough!.
HOPE THIS HELPS!!!
p!.s!. do you want to get into a company!?!?Www@QuestionHome@Com