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Ballet/Questions Answered by Expert Dianne M. Buxton
| Subject | Date Asked |
| associate ballet | 2/8/2012 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me with my associate ballet please. I know i need to learn all ... A: I have not been through the kind of process myself, so searching, I found this site: www.idta.co.uk ... | |
| Weight... sure you here this one a lot... a few other things | 1/27/2012 |
| Q: I'm thirteen and I just started taking my dancing seriously. Next to the other girls in my class, ... A: Since you are still growing, it is hard to know what your weight should be. Rather than count ... | |
| Ingrown tonail pain on pointe . | 1/19/2012 |
| Q: , So I have a slight ingrown toenail on my left big toe and its been very difficult to dance in ... A: If you can,try to lift up the point that is hurting you and trim it or file it into a more rounded ... | |
| Ballet rotation and turnout | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I've been dancing since i was 13 and am now 17 but i was a competitive gymnast for about 11 years. ... A: You can ease out the tension in your rotator muscles with a Pinkie Ball. ... | |
| flexability | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: i wrote too you some time ago about my daughter her ballet teacher gave her stretches to do and it ... A: It's too bad your daughter hates the Front Splits Fast routine. It takes a lot of patience, and also ... | |
| Too much and too late? | 12/29/2011 |
| Q: I am a fairly busy and rather nonathletic 16-year old girl. I love ballet-- but from a large ... A: I cannot answer your questions since I can't see you, or see you dance, but here's my ... | |
| Tapered feet and Grishko pointe shoes. | 12/8/2011 |
| Q: iknow I may sound a bit dumb, but what do dancers mean when they say tapered feet. And is there a ... A: Below is a link to an article about a certain foot type that you may have, and it recommends a ... | |
| Help with the splits? | 12/7/2011 |
| Q: So I've been trying to do the splits lately but I haven't been able to yet but I don't know why, I ... A: I can't see you so I can't say specifically what you may be doing wrong. Doing the splits requires ... | |
| Starting Ballet at 15 | 12/6/2011 |
| Q: I have been toying with the idea of starting ballet now, sadly I am 15 and I do understand that this ... A: I couldn't tell you at this point if you could get onto pointe in two years. I recommend that when ... | |
| Plie | 11/20/2011 |
| Q: I am taking an Anatomy and Kinesiology class right now. I will be presenting about the muscles used ... A: "I am taking an Anatomy and Kinesiology class right now. I will be presenting about the muscles ... | |
| pre pointe | 11/10/2011 |
| Q: im starting pre pointe in a few months would like to know an estimate of time ill be in that class. ... A: m. I can't give you an estimate but your ballet teacher could, being familiar with your strength and ... | |
| Foot/tendon pain? | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: I'm 16 and I've been doing ballet for a few months. just for the past few weeks I've been having ... A: I recommend that you see a podiatrist, chiropractor or physiotherapist and have this problem seen ... | |
| Turn out problems | 10/22/2011 |
| Q: I have big problem with my turn out and I don't know how to improve it. The problem is that my left ... A: Your lateral rotator muscles are your prime turnout muscles, specifically: Piriformis;Obturator ... | |
| Dance Schedule? | 10/20/2011 |
| Q: I am fifteen and I am a level seven dancer at a pre-professional school. I was wondering if you ... A: It sounds to me like this is a good schedule with a well-rounded style variety. Your muscles need ... | |
| Too old and wrong body type for recreational ballet? | 10/20/2011 |
| Q: I just started ballet a month ago, mostly for fun and as an interesting way to get some exercise, ... A: I think this is entirely subjective. It is an enjoyable challenge, or it's not. Ballet is difficult ... | |
| Too old and wrong body type for recreational ballet? | 10/20/2011 |
| Q: I just started ballet a month ago, mostly for fun and as an interesting way to get some exercise, ... A: If you enjoy the ballet classes then carry on! You seem to have a very realistic idea of how you ... | |
| personality | 10/8/2011 |
| Q: My 11 year old daughter has a full scholarship to a residential classical ballet school. She has ... A: It sounds like your daughter has a wonderful quality to her dancing that is unique to her. Anyone ... | |
| Pes Cavus | 10/5/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you have had any experience with people with "too high arches" (pes cavus)? when ... A: Here is an excerpt from an article I wrote about releasing muscle tension in the calves and feet: ... | |
| Big toe pain | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: I have Grishko Fouette pointe shoes, and no matter what I do, my big toe always hurts! I have lambs ... A: Since I can't see your feet in the shoes, and tell whether they truly fit well or not, I can only ... | |
| How can I become a better dancer? | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: Hey(: Okay well, I want to become a better dancer. I should go on Pointe next year, but I've only ... A: Here is some information that will help you. http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/ You ... | |
| ballet | 9/1/2011 |
| Q: my daughter who is 12 has been doing grade 6 ballet for 1 year twice a week for 3 hours and loved it ... A: I could not know for sure not being able to see your daughter dance. You just have to go with her ... | |
| HELP! | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: i used to do ballet for about a year until i was 6. i want to get back into it now, but im worried ... A: 110 lbs and 5'3" is not fat, or too heavy for ballet. Sounds just about right. Once you get into ... | |
| Extensions | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: I'm a young contemporary dancer that is looking for a little extra advice on improving extensions. ... A: Here is an article on arabesque - ... | |
| Help with my turnout and demi-pointe! | 8/3/2011 |
| Q: I have many small problems related to ballet like my turnout that I'm working with(advices for ... A: Here is an article that will help you with your foot muscles: ... | |
| Home-Learnt Ballet?? | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: I did ballet when I was 3 for about 2 years but stopped but i started primary school. Since then I ... A: I truly do not recommend practicing ballet without a class, however, here are the best sources I can ... | |
| ingery info | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: " not only did it not go away it got worse until I fell in a pot hole and noticed the next day that ... A: Sorry to hear about your injury. I recommend that you do Pilates mat work to keep your muscles ... | |
| Feet | 7/22/2011 |
| Q: I have been trying to get my toes to touch the ground whilst sitting down with my legs extended ... A: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-create-more-flexibility-in-ankle.html ... | |
| flexibility | 7/22/2011 |
| Q: (Ihave a bunch of questions to ask) I am very flexible (the most flexible in all my ballet class)i ... A: There is a simple exercise for this, to do after a barre or even more warm up: Do a developpe to ... | |
| Feet | 7/22/2011 |
| Q: I have been trying to get my toes to touch the ground whilst sitting down with my legs extended ... A: I would advise you not to do this. Your arches look fine for ballet. Very few people can touch their ... | |
| ballet | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: hi my daughter is a lovely dancer and is trying to get flexible she will be doing her exam in the ... A: I previously sent you this answer: " Hi Sam. The best stretching DVD I know of can be ordered from ... | |
| POINTES | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: ..again. :) well, I have this new problem, as you know I got my pointes about 3 weeks ago, and I ... A: It is typical that one of our feet is more flexible, and weaker in some way than the other foot. In ... | |
| POINTES | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: Hey there, I've just gotten my pointes and I have been practicing every day, and what I would like ... A: Truly, the only way you know how strong you are in pointe shoes is to learn the self assessments and ... | |
| Develope side and front | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: I'm a ballet student who has been dancing for at least eight years now (I'm thirteen). I'm getting ... A: Here is a link to a video showing a psoas, or hip flexor strengthening exercise. The psoas is a ... | |
| starting pointe | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: Well I've always loved dance and now I'm at the point where I would LOVE to begin pointe. I don't ... A: You have two options in determining whether you are ready to dance ballet in pointe shoes. One, is ... | |
| ballet | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: hi my daughter has found a fantastic ballet teacher and is trying to get flexible she has private ... A: The best stretching DVD I know of can be ordered from http://squidoo.com/ultimatestretchingguide/ ... | |
| Improve Turn Out | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I really need to improve my en dehor turn out, so I wanted to know if you can give me some good ... A: Here is a good exercise for strengthening turnout: "lie down on the floor on your back, feet in ... | |
| Ballet Training | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: I am 18 and starting beginner's ballet in the fall. I have never danced ballet before but have ... A: There are some things you can do to get ready for ballet classes. A Pilates class would be a ... | |
| Going back to ballet... | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: I'm 15 and used to take an open ballet class for a year or two and then had to quit. I've been ... A: I can recommend two professional training guides to help you get in shape for ballet, both DVD's. ... | |
| Ballet 2011 season | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: I love ballet and this year I've decided to arrange my vacation around must see opera and ballet ... A: here's a link to performance festivals in Europe, mostly opera, but includes dance. You can check ... | |
| Leg Lengthenings | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: I'm having problems strecthing my calf muscles. Whenever I'm in a rise or en pointe for a long time, ... A: Below are 2 articles I've written regarding muscle tension and mineral intake. I hope that ... | |
| Ballet | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: "Hi i am a ballerina and i would like to now how i can gain more turn-out and flexibility" A: Below are the links to two sites which give you information about turnout, how to get more flexible. ... | |
| made to fit pointe shoes | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: When I was 17 my teacher had me send an outline of my foot with marked location of metatarsals to a ... A: http://www.the-perfect-pointe.com/SpecialOrderingPointes.html http://www.grishko.com/custom.cfm ... | |
| Ballet | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: I already know quite a lot of ballet and ever since I moved I've practiced my dancing in my room and ... A: I'm not sure what your question is here. If it is how to practice ballet at home on your own, the ... | |
| Starting ballet at the age of sixteen. | 4/10/2011 |
| Q: Dianne! I am sixteen, and I never had ballet classes before. Plus, I am not very flexible, which is ... A: Certainly you can start ballet now. Concentrate on learning the details of classical technique for a ... | |
| Trying to start a school | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: I want to open a ballet studio in my hometown. My problem is that my old studio is there which ... A: I haven't had any experience with this situation myself. It sounds like you are from a small town - ... | |
| Chances to become Professional | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: Dianne. I started ballet long ago, but I decided I wanted to be professional at 13. I didn't have ... A: That is a lovely picture you posted here. I have known a few ballet dancers who came from training ... | |
| Diet | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: my daughter is 13 years old and she does ballet 3 times a week, she has been in pointed shoes since ... A: For a growing ballet dancer, I recommend that junk food be kept to a minimum, and fresh foods are ... | |
| ballet | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: ANSWER: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2007/05/myths-about-working-our-muscles.html ... A: If your daughter doesn't understand the above articles, then perhaps some classes in Pilates would ... | |
| ballet | 3/20/2011 |
| Q: my daughter is 11 she has been dancing from 4, all dance styles she does 2 ballet classes a week i ... A: The general guideline for preparing to dance in pointe shoes is three ballet classes a week for the ... | |
| ballet | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: hi could you recomend a dvd for flexability as she does ballet and has tight hamstrings and front ... A: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2007/05/myths-about-working-our-muscles.html for ... | |
| Learning ballet at 16 | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: I have been interested in ballet for quite a while and was wondering weather it was too late for me ... A: 16 is not too late to start ballet. You may not catch up to the earlier starters and go ... | |
| ballet | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: reason my daughter could not do the class is the parents would not be happy and also my daughters ... A: I think all the Syllabus styles have something to offer a dance student. If your daughter is happier ... | |
| How can I push my tailbone in without compromising my turnout? | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: Firstly, I'm 15 and I've been doing ballet for 7 years. I have always had a problem with my ... A: Stefana you describe this so perfectly - you clearly understand how turnout DOESN'T work. The spine ... | |
| Pointe Shoe Help | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: I recently contacted you on Ballet Shoes and Pointe Shoes...Make it Easier blog. You had said to ... A: I'm sorry I just saw this question for the first time. As you can see your email doesn't show ... | |
| foot problems | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: Well, I've just recently watched a vidoe on youtube called "the dreaded hooking big toe" and I have ... A: Kiz, I'm glad your teacher is having your class' feet checked before putting you all on pointe. ... | |
| Spotting | 2/26/2011 |
| Q: I have been dancing for 5 years, and, try as I might, I cannot spot my turns. I practice all the ... A: You seem to understand your problem with spotting. You under-spot, or over-spot. Either this is ... | |
| Ankle strengthening | 2/26/2011 |
| Q: I am preparing to start pointe classes, and my instructor wants me to build ankle strength. What are ... A: I recommend a dancers guide which you can review here: http://balletpointeshoes.info It costs ... | |
| Exercises for pointe | 2/25/2011 |
| Q: I am considering starting pointe my senior year of high school (2012). I know that's a long way ... A: The Perfect Pointe Book is excellent. Here are a couple of references for you, about pre pointe ... | |
| dance | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: out of curiosity, what should be the diet of a dancer? (what NOT to eat, what TO eat) thankyou! A: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2010/12/whey-protein-is-useful-for-building.html ... | |
| pas de deux continued... | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: well, our local dance studio does not do summer classes...neither do any other studios that I've ... A: You will need training in pas de deux before you'll be ready to audition for a company. It sounds ... | |
| ballet classes | 2/22/2011 |
| Q: I was taking ballet for 5 years and stopped for about 7 years. I am 15 years old and would love to ... A: You are 15, haven't taken ballet for 7 years, since you were 8? If you have chosen, or soon choose ... | |
| Auditions! | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: I need advice I'm 13 and I have my first ballet audition in 2 weeks. I've done dance auditions ... A: Don't worry about perfecting everything, but staying relaxed enough to do your best. The teachers at ... | |
| high arches | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: I have been a teacher of ballet & pointe for 20 years. I have danced professionally in a ballet ... A: I'm not sure what you mean by "her foot arches in the wrong place". At the ankle joint? At the ... | |
| jazz ballet | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: cual debe ser el esquema para una clase de jazz danza de principiantes como debe ser el ... A: I believe you are asking: What should be the outline for a Jazz Ballet class for beginners, as it ... | |
| auditions | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: ..what are judges looking for in an audition? i am going to audition for a ballet company in june, ... A: I will answer generally since I don't know which ballet company you are auditioning for. As well as ... | |
| Classes | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: a quick question...how many classes a week (and how many hours) should a 14 yr old ballet dancer be ... A: For most people two to three ballet classes a week would be needed to progress into teaching ballet. ... | |
| The New Haven Ballet | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a 14 year old son who has been training at a pre-professional level for 4 years. He has been ... A: I am not personally familiar with this dance faculty. I have never heard anything negative about the ... | |
| Injury recovery and strengthening | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: I am a fifteen year old student coming out of Ballet Lubbock. The artistic director there is Yvonne ... A: Firstly, some exercises for the feet and ankles: ... | |
| Dance training | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: What are some of the best methods for training to become a better dancer in terms of eating right, ... A: It would take me a year to answer this question so I will refer to what has already been written: ... | |
| Summer Intensive Results | 2/7/2011 |
| Q: My daughter is 13 and was accepted to San Francisco and SAB summer intensives. She is leaning ... A: I truly don't know if your daughter is risking that or not. I hope she can choose according to her ... | |
| ballet | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: ANSWER: Hi Sarah. I am not sure I can really help you with this but I will give you my feedback: It ... A: You and your daughter are certainly entitled to do exactly as you wish, and your business is no one ... | |
| ballet | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: hi my daughter is 12 and has been doing intermediate foundation since she was nine but we had to ... A: I am not sure I can really help you with this but I will give you my feedback: It seems like your ... | |
| summer intensives | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: I have been invited to three ballet intensives.Ballet Chicago.ABT in Austin andKaatsbaan.Presently ... A: Congratulations for your being accepted into three amazing dance academies! I must give you an ... | |
| recovery after physical exertion | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: I am dancing from 9.30 am to 9 pm everyday with 3 hours break in the afternoon. I'm not aching but I ... A: Here is some information that I think will help you... ... | |
| back strength for arabesque | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: I need to improve the STRENGTH of my back in all the ways so I can have a much better arabesque than ... A: Here are some exercises you can do, from an article I have written about this. ... | |
| Pain near sit bone ( ischial tuberosity) | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: I have had a pain where the left sit bone (ischial tuberosity) is for 6 months, and have been ... A: I found this: http://somatics.com/hamstrings-and-knees.htm at this post: ... | |
| Is it to late! | 1/27/2011 |
| Q: I am 20 years old and was wondering if it was to late for me to become a professional ballet dancer. ... A: While I always maintain that nothing is impossible, this is unlikely. Why? Dancers competing for ... | |
| Knee pain follow up | 1/24/2011 |
| Q: Diane- I'm hoping you can help me figure out if the person named Bertram who you previously ... A: I have no access to email addresses through this site - no personal data at all, except the name as ... | |
| Knee pain follow up | 1/24/2011 |
| Q: Diane- I'm hoping you can help me figure out if the person named Bertram who you previously ... A: No, I did not hear from Bertram again. ... | |
| Me and Ballet | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I'm really looking for advice and HELP, I hope you can assist me on this. thank you so much in ... A: The best thing you could do is go a dance studio and take a few classes. Explain to the teacher that ... | |
| Pointe Shoe Padding | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: I am a young adult advanced ballet student and I dance on pointe about ten hours a week. When I was ... A: Is there any chance the box of the shoe is a bit wide for you? I see you have experience with pointe ... | |
| My ballet training | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: Well, I want to ask you a few questions about ballet...first of all: I'm not sure if I want to ... A: I can't see you dance, so I'm not sure what I can say...however - here are some tips about ... | |
| Spotting | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: I have been dancing for 5 years, and have been trying to learn to spot, but I can't do it! I've ... A: It sounds like you (as you are aware of) overshoot the spot - maybe you are just trying too hard? ... | |
| When the potential doesn't match the passion | 12/31/2010 |
| Q: I am a late starter in ballet, I started taking lessons when I was about 13 years old. I'm 17 ... A: Coincidentally, I had just reviewed this blog post because someone had left a comment there. Then I ... | |
| im actually a lyrical/jazz dancer | 12/27/2010 |
| Q: I'm 15 years old and haven't had a lot of dance class/instruction, I've mostly taught myself using ... A: I just did a google search for dance competitions and there are many you can register for. Take a ... | |
| Too late ? | 12/23/2010 |
| Q: ) well, i did ballet as well as other dances since i was little. so from the age of about 3 till 12. ... A: If I understand you correctly, you have been away from dancing for about 4 years. It is not too late ... | |
| Torn Ligament | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. I recently tore my ligament in my right foot. How long do I need to wait ... A: I cannot answer your exact questions, and you need to ask them of your health care practitioner you ... | |
| Realistic expectations as a late starter | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: I started ballet in april 2010 (7 months ago) at the age of 19 without any dance or gymnastics ... A: I cannot answer your questions completely, since I cannot see you dance. You could audition for a ... | |
| Pain on the ball of left foot | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: com. I am constantly learning from them. I have a question about my foot problem. Maybe starting ... A: You are so welcome and I'm glad I have been helpful! Regarding your foot pain, I recommend you see ... | |
| Pointe Shoes | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: I've had a hard time finding a kind of pointe shoes I really like. I have wide feet and high ... A: Gaynor Minden pointe shoes could be a good choice for you. Try some on, and you'll just have to ... | |
| Strength Training for Ballet Student (age 13) | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: My daughter, (age 13, 5'2" 100 lbs.) has 4-5 years experience with ballet. She recently danced ... A: I think your daughter would benefit best from Pilates. It is a ballet based training that emphasizes ... | |
| Lean Muscles | 11/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a question involving leg muscles. My teahcer has told me that ballet dancers should have very ... A: Nichelle Strzepek, another dance writer, wrote: "In classes, I’ve heard teachers talk about a ... | |
| Starting a Dance Troupe? | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: I am thinking of starting an adult dance troupe, with a Classical Ballet focus and some Modern ... A: Most dance companies are non-profit organizations. They have a board of directors, supportive local ... | |
| BOW LEGS | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: I have read in a book that bow legs can be corrected with exercises that help turn the hip out? ... A: I am not aware that bowed legs can be fixed with exercise. As for turnout, the best manual I am ... | |
| Is there hope for me? | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: My name is Koreena and I am fifteen years old. I have been dancing since I was 13, in mostly ... A: The link to your video didn't come up properly, so I haven't seen you dance. Here's my response, ... | |
| Will I ever be able to go professional? | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: I'm turning 14 this up coming March the 1st and I want to become a professional ballerina. I used to ... A: http://www.nbs-enb.ca/professional/audition/default.aspx Toronto ... | |
| Bruised toenails | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I am a professional dancer and I have a reoccurring problem with bruised toenails. I have had ... A: Sorry about the delay. Once in a while something goes wrong with getting emails....sorry it was ... | |
| Pointe strength and side splits | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 questions. The first one is about pointe. What muscles are used in slow rises on to pointe ... A: First, for the muscles that strengthen your feet for pointe work: ... | |
| help! | 9/18/2010 |
| Q: I got pointe shoes about a year ago, and ive been practising like mad, but I have really weak ... A: Here is an article describing foot exercises that will give you strength and control in pointe ... | |
| andrew kelley | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: can you provide an or link to andrew kelley in budapest hungary? he left a message here.stating if ... A: For Andrew Kelley in Budapest: info@mtf.hu Hungarian Dance Academy Address: H-1145 Budapest, ... | |
| Pointe Shoe Adjustment | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: Buxton! Does the width of a shoe affect the taper of the box, and if so, how? Specifically, will ... A: " Many dancers choose to harden up their boxes by using shellac or something called Jet Glue ... | |
| Pointe Shoe Adjustment | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: Buxton! Does the width of a shoe affect the taper of the box, and if so, how? Specifically, will ... A: It will not make much difference to the tapering to go wider since the tapering is the style of that ... | |
| Pointe pain | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: I have danced en pointe for around 2 years and i have always had pain, but only in my big toes. At ... A: I'm assuming that the pain is at the end of the big toes, since that is where you have increased the ... | |
| Ballet Attire | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I have been searching dance studios for my 4 & 6 year old daughters. I visited a studio today while ... A: I guess in a jazz studio requirements for dance wear could be lax. In a ballet studio you would be ... | |
| Auditions | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: I'm going to be audition for the Australian Ballet School in a few weeks. I was wondering if you ... A: in ballet full time. The teachers will also be noticing your power of concentration, and how quickly ... | |
| weight limits on pointe dancing | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a 16 year old daughter who loves pointe and looks great when she is up - something about her ... A: Breaking the boxes on pointe shoes is typical for those with over-extended arches, or hyper-mobile ... | |
| Will I make it? | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: My name is Sara I'm 15 , I really want to be a professional ballerina , but I'm a late starter I ... A: I recommend that you get some feed back from your teachers at the end of the ballet summer ... | |
| wanna- be performer | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: I just turned 16 and have been dancing on and off for 15 years. I have been close to going on pointe ... A: To be honest, I cannot offer my opinion, since I can't see you dance. If you are healthy now and ... | |
| Strengthing | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a problem with my legs and my abs. When I lift my legs, I always end up using the quads. As I ... A: Here are two articles which will help you: ... | |
| ballet | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: my daughter is 11 and did grade 5 and 6 rad then intermediate foundation and just started ... A: If I'm understanding correctly, your daughter has done classes in Gr 5 and 6, but did not do the ... | |
| 15 year old ballet beginner - "en pointe"? | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: My whole life I've wanted to do ballet. As a toddler/young child, I did take lessons, and apparently ... A: Certainly your dream to dance in pointe shoes is possible, and you seem willing to do what it takes ... | |
| Did I over break-in my pointe shoes? | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I got my first pair of pointe shoes at the end of May, and they are Russian Pointe Entradas. When I ... A: It sounds like you may have over-done the breaking in. New pointe shoes can feel very awkward and it ... | |
| Weight | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I am a 14 year old ballet student. I don't consider myself fat, but I am trying to keep my weight ... A: If you want to lose a little weight, I recommend that you cut back on all the empty carbs you may be ... | |
| fitting pointe shoes | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I'm starting pointe work soon and I have to buy my first pair of pointe shoes, but I have absolutely ... A: There is a whole book about pointe shoes, and much about fitting, which you can purchase and ... | |
| back pain in a 15 yo dancer | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: my daughter is a very serious dancer. she dances at a local studio and at a high school for the ... A: I recommend that you call the chiropractor, or go in with your daughter and get your questions ... | |
| Can I start dancing? | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I have always wanted to dance because I like the feel of it. I am 18 years old I have done swimming, ... A: The link below is a mini site I made about adults starting ballet. Of course you can! ... | |
| Ballet tips for Ballroom dancers, Waltz Head Position. | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I'd like to better demonstrate and teach ladies advanced ballroom waltz head position and have had ... A: http://www.thedancestoreonline.com/ballroom-dance-instruction/ballroom-basics.htm is one place you ... | |
| Cecchetti and RAD exams - Ballet | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: My daughter is just about to take Grade 5 Cecchetti Ballet. We are considering a move to another ... A: I doubt that the two Grades would be considered comparable - they are stylistically so different. ... | |
| Becoming a Professional | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: So it appears that I will have a good chance of getting my question answered here. I have read other ... A: While I cannot see you dance and give any opinion as to whether you could make the professional ... | |
| Getting the Ballet Shape | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: i am a 15 year old ballerina who has wider hips compared to other girls. And this has caused me to ... A: Since I cannot see your training I can't answer you as to the cause of the shape you have developed. ... | |
| toe pain | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I am a beginning ballet student. I am not on pointe. Iwas wondering if it is normal to have ... A: You should not be having any toe pain doing bourees on demi pointe..... If the pain is at the end ... | |
| 13 year old wants to quit dance | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: My daughter has been taking tap, hip hop, jazz, and ballet since first grade. She is now wanting to ... A: I think it is up to your daughter's teachers to give her some strategic guidance in extra exercises ... | |
| Too early for pointe? | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I started teen beginner ballet in September, I had just turned 13, then I did it until december, and ... A: I cannot really answer you for certain, but I can tell you how to test yourself so that you know ... | |
| Flexibility | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: I am a 13 year old girl %26 I am VERY serious about dance. I have good technique, but my turnout %26 ... A: There is a book called "Tune Up Your Turnout" by Deborah Vogel, a dance medicine specialist. You ... | |
| I want to get better at ballet | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I just started ballet this January when I was fourteen, now fifteen I am really loving my time ... A: Ballet is an extremely healthy activity in many ways. It strengthens both the lower and upper body ... | |
| Ballet muscles | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: I am an Asian and my ballet teachers told me that Asian people usually have less open pelvis than ... A: Here are some articles which I have written that may help you to work more towards longer leaner ... | |
| too old for professional?? | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: )i'm so happy that i found an expert to ask.....i'm 19 years old and started ballet this ... A: Aleli that's wonderful that you have found a school. You might ask the school if they have any work ... | |
| too old for professional?? | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: )i'm so happy that i found an expert to ask.....i'm 19 years old and started ballet this ... A: I can't see you dance, so I can't have an opinion about how much more you could do in ballet. I will ... | |
| ballet at home | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: I want to learn ballet very badly, but my parents can't send me to a class because they cannot ... A: You need a class to learn ballet. I do not know how old you are, but if you're old enough maybe you ... | |
| Back prolems and pointe shoes | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I am not on pointe yet. Do you think i will have problems trying to achieve dance funding for ... A: Competition for scholarships exists! The Dance Spirit runs a list of all the colleges with dance ... | |
| ballet | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: my daughter is 11 next week and has just got her pointe shows can you recommend exersies for turn ... A: I cannot answer your question properly since I cannot see your daughter dance. Her teacher should be ... | |
| Hip Turnout | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I naturally have less-than-flexible hips, meaning I can't do the center splits or froggy stretches ... A: The link below is a blog of mine where I write about a lot of ballet technique issues. ... | |
| Male Ballet Dancer | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I am a 20 year old male dancer who has been dancing for almost two years now. I never danced when i ... A: Josh, it's exciting just to read about everything you're already doing! If you can keep it all up ... | |
| ballet head and eye | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: Hi I'm 14 and a late starter my problem is that when I'm doing something like Grande battement or ... A: You might ask your teacher, because most teachers have a certain pattern of head movements that they ... | |
| Developpes | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: I have relatively good flexibility and my grande battements aren't too bad, but my developpes are ... A: Below is a link to a post from my blog, which refers to a very detailed article (with a clickable ... | |
| class discussion question | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: I am currently a BFA student at AAU in San Francisco taking a Human Anatomy drawing class. My ... A: A good example would be a retire. In ballet technique, the foot leaves fifth position, points, ... | |
| URgent Letter of Appeal | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: 199 9th Street Cresskill, New Jersey 07626 Dear Ms. Buxton, My name is Ivan Salinas ... A: You can send me your proposal at: dianne@theballetstore.com If it is appropriate I will publish it ... | |
| Jazz Dance Exam | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: Can you please tell if we have a national exam or test, like the one for the piano level, for both ... A: I just did a twenty minute google search for jazz teaching credentials. It seems that some ... | |
| Balance | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: A: Yes, you go 'down, up, down' and rise on the "AND" count in the music so you can go "down' on the ... | |
| help | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I am a 1.93 m tall man and I want to know if I weighting acctually 119 kg, could get to lear ballet ... A: Anyone can learn ballet if they are healthy. Find the best studio you can with an adult ballet ... | |
| What can this be? - big toe pain | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Yes, I saw your answer a bit ago but my question and pain is slightly different. For about a week or ... A: No, this is not typical of changing shoe brands. I recommend that you see a chiropractor who can ... | |
| I'm 41 years of Age and have a Ballet Question | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I noticed many people basically asking the same questions over and over. I scaled through to see if ... A: You do not need to have a college or teaching degree if you are qualified and can find a dance ... | |
| Diet | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I love ballet, and am planning on continuing it as a career. But i always here that i have teh wrong ... A: I can't be specific with someone I do not teach personally, however the guidelines for diet are ... | |
| Can I still learn pointe? Am I too old? | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if 29 is too old to learn pointe. I studied ballet as a child but quit foolishly ... A: It is not unrealistic to strive to do some ballet on pointe, if you are prepared to do the years of ... | |
| resistence and flexibility | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: i am 20 years old and i want to star taking ballet classes i just afraid i am unable to maintain the ... A: If you were to take ballet 4 days a week, you would build the strength necessary to do it. ... | |
| Can I still do ballet and will parents allow me? | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: I'm fifteen and I really (really) want to start up on ballet. I did it when I was younger but quit ... A: Just go ahead and ask your parents. Aside from you loving ballet, you can tell them it is a great ... | |
| Pointe Shoe Pain--Is it me or the fit? | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: I am a 40+ adult who has been doing light pointe work for the last several months. I was forewarned ... A: No, dancing in pointe shoes should not hurt the way you are describing. It does seem that your ... | |
| ballet croise | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: hi im confused with croise i know what it means crossed but this is my problem im not always sure ... A: Picture your legs from the audience viewpoint: If you have your right leg in front in fifth, you ... | |
| Summer Intensives | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: My child is 13 and has been accepted into the ABT Michigan and the Bolshoi Summer Intensive. She ... A: I really understand about being nervous at sending your daughter away for so long. All of the ... | |
| Re-starting Ballet | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I started doing ballet when I was 3 but quit in grade 5 when I was 10 because I was the oldest in my ... A: I recommend that you ask your teacher. Tell her/him that you are willing to do whatever is best in ... | |
| Is ballet for me? | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I am very interested in learning ballet. I have wanted to attend ballet classes all of my life, it ... A: I can't actually answer you, yet I can suggest that you ask your teacher, when you begin ballet ... | |
| classes | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: How many children (beginners) would you recommend or is recommended to a class. Thank you. A: In my experience, and I'm specifically referring to classical ballet training, 15 children per class ... | |
| A i to old to start ballet, and lead to a career!?! | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: i LOVE ballet. I love everything about it, the grace, the beauty, the control. I danced a bit when i ... A: You may be too old to become a professional ballet dancer. I can't see you dance, so I cannot say ... | |
| Ballet progress | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: I'm Madeline. I am 12 years old and very tall, about 5 foot 7. My mom was a dancer in ballet and ... A: I think that at this point, having enough years ahead of you to train, it would mostly depend on the ... | |
| Is It Too Late To Try Ballet Again? | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I've just turned 14 , I've previously done ballet classes when i was about 7/8 I didn't stick at it ... A: Maybe you can find a really nice way of phrasing it to your mom that normal 7 year olds don't have ... | |
| I want to get into ballet after i heal from my injuries | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I'm 14 going 15 and i want to start ballet. However, i haven't had to guts to ask my mom for lessons ... A: It seems there is a chance you could become good at ballet. You have learned to work hard with ... | |
| Getting back into dance | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I am 21 years old and a college student. I have danced on and off most of my life...most recently ... A: I think that what you want to do is realistic, although it will depend on scheduling possibilities. ... | |
| pointe shoes - suggestions to stretch the shoe? | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: My daughter recently purchased her first pointe shoes. Her dance teacher checked the fit before we ... A: I have known dancers to open the back heel seam of the pointe shoe about one quarter inch, and sew ... | |
| Ballet & Pointe | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: I am 15 years old and want to start ballet next year. I'm trying to build up my skills so I will be ... A: It may be too late for you to study ballet with a professional career in mind. I cannot say for ... | |
| Getting back into Ballet | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I took ballet classes from the age of 6 to 12. At that point I had a plethera of interests and ... A: At this time, for you, I would recommend a Classical Stretch DVD called "Full Body Workout", and ... | |
| ankle laxity and injury prevention | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: Hey, I am a 15 year old dancer and have had quite a few serious injuries. I have broken my right ... A: I've selected a passage from one of articles about strengthening for pointe work. This action with a ... | |
| Dance School | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: I live in Canada and I'm 19. I just started ballet in september and I'm taking my grade 4 exam in ... A: Do a web search for universities with dance departments and check their audition schedules. Some of ... | |
| ballet technique slippers | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: Was wondering if you could give me some ideas on how to make my technique slippers a bit more ... A: I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you. Marley floors are just what they are. Unless you can glue ... | |
| Pointe Ballet | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm currently 14 years old and starting ballet in January. Here's the deal..... I started ballet ... A: I really can't make an estimate for you, however I think I can help you out in a different way. Go ... | |
| Professional Career | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: I'm really willing to be a professional dancer, but I don't know where to start it. I'm Brazilian, I ... A: You are beginning a huge project here - but what an adventure.... You can web search all the ... | |
| rond de jambe | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I really want to know the technique of " grand rond de jambe a terre jete" ( the movement done ... A: I will describe this movement to you, tho in text it may be awkward to picture. Here goes: - right ... | |
| Ballet!! | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: um I'm 18 and i quit dancing because i was doing bad in my schooling. my parent say i can start if i ... A: Ashlii I already answered your questions about foods with the blog posts. It sounds like you really ... | |
| Ballet!! | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: um I'm 18 and i quit dancing because i was doing bad in my schooling. my parent say i can start if i ... A: You can lose weight by taking ballet, to begin with. Just start! The following are some articles ... | |
| ballet extensions | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: I wanted to ask how to improve ballet extensions,to get a develope more than 90 degrees and whether ... A: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2008/02/ultimate-ballet-line-arabesque-and.html is a ... | |
| Men's Training | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: Buxton, I'm a 17 about to be 18 year old guy. I have been interested in ballet for a long time, but ... A: I assume you mean exercise other than ballet, so here's some ideas. Pilates - an excellent system ... | |
| INFO | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: .thank you very much A: You need to find the best teacher you can and just keep dancing. Use the internet to discover all ... | |
| Classes | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I write to you beacause I'm a bit confused. I'm 15 years old and I have been danceing for 4 months ... A: I cannot see you dance, but can imagine that if you are slim and flexible, it is very easy for you ... | |
| should i give up on adult beginner ballet | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I am a 29yo female and have just started an adult beginner's ballet class. Out of the 5 people in ... A: I don't think you should give up. The part of the class where you have to memorize combinations is ... | |
| Pain in big toe en pointe | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I am 13 years old and have been a ballet dancer for 8 years. I have started pointe 2 months ago. I ... A: I recommend that you see a chiropractor who can both examine your foot for misalignment in the big ... | |
| Ballet wear | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I am just getting back into ballet after 25 years. I am 43 and I have a child, so I don't exactly ... A: I'm not sure what you mean by yoga pants - loose fitting I assume. The point is whether you feel ... | |
| could i get into it again? | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: i did ballet from age 5 to age 11..but since i moved so much i stopped after that, I'm 15 now and i ... A: It's not too late to dance ballet again. Get the best teacher that you can, and while it may take ... | |
| muscles in plies | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: I would just like to know if you are allowed to use the gluteus maximus muscles when doing plies? ... A: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2007/07/ballet-shoes-and-pointe-shoes-and-more_22.html ... | |
| toe pain | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a student that is double jointed in her toes and is suffering pain while on pointe. She ... A: Your student is hyper-mobile in the toe joints. What about her other joints? Is she hyper-mobile all ... | |
| starting pointe | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: How old should a girl be before starting pointe? Her teacher would like her to start pre pointe to ... A: I get this question almost everyday, so below are two of my answers - but first, 12 years old is the ... | |
| Summer Intensives: What are they? | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I was hoping if you could help answer these questions on summer intensives. What are they? What do ... A: Rocio. Just google /search ballet summer intensives. You'll get an idea of how many there are! It's ... | |
| ballet | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: Okay... here it goes. I love to dance ballet and I'm starting beginning pointe but I can afford only ... A: One thing you can do is to go to the studio owner and ask if there is any clerical/promotional/admin ... | |
| Finis Jhung? | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: i have recently started taking ballet at a small studio near my hme.im 19 yearsold and this is the ... A: Your determination and efforts are admirable! I think that Finis Jhung is a good choice, but I have ... | |
| 20 year old total beginner | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: "Hi :) I'm a twenty year old who's never been very athletic. Literally, never. From lack of ... A: There is no reason why you shouldn't do a dance class. There will be other adult beginners who also ... | |
| Ballet as a career. Am I too old? And tips for a higher arabesque. | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I am 15 and have been dancing since for 10 years now. The studio that I dance at is in a little town ... A: To pursue ballet as a career, you would need to get into classes at a professional school. There is ... | |
| im 12 never danced but would like to | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: im 12 and have never dance in ballet but would like to start.I am not sure im am able. A: 12 is not too late to start ballet. Not at all.... It will be challenging - but get into a ballet ... | |
| going en pointe | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: My daughter just turned 11 3 weeks ago, she finished her RAD grade 5 ballet and is at the cross road ... A: I appreciate your concern. Normally, an 11 year old who is not in a professional ballet school would ... | |
| pilates | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I am 13 and am a new student at ballet and I want to also take up pilates. Will pilates make my ... A: Pilates will not make your thighs bulky. In fact, Pilates is known for developing long lean muscles, ... | |
| Am I too old? | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I have danced since I was 4 years old. I have had ballet training, but nothing too rigorous. I quit ... A: It is not likely that someone with interrupted training could become a professional ballet dancer. ... | |
| What standard are ballet schools looking for in auditions? | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: Ok so I'm 15 (16 in December) and I am thinking of applying to English National Ballet School, ... A: I recommend that you audition for any or all of the ballet schools you mentioned as soon as you can. ... | |
| running for ballet dancers | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I love to go for a run every day for cardio as an addition to my ballet classes, but my teacher has ... A: I'm going to answer you with a myth-buster: running or any other kind of "aerobic" activity does not ... | |
| Ballet questions from a teacher | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I was trained to engage my Lats, press my shoulders down, close my ribs and keep my abs tight for ... A: You're welcome April, as far as getting back to you... The scapulae are not supposed to be pulled ... | |
| Teaching | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I completed my exams up to advanced when I was 16 and decided not to go to a ballet school to ... A: I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with your area. See if there are studios near you that teach the ... | |
| Ballet questions from a teacher | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I was trained to engage my Lats, press my shoulders down, close my ribs and keep my abs tight for ... A: Yes, you are right about the temps de fleche. The support for spinal posture is in the lower abs. ... | |
| Classes! Less or more? | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I came back to ask you about classes. I was supposed to take just one class of ballet, but then my ... A: To become professional in ballet you need to take more classes now, not in high school. Also you ... | |
| Ballet | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: why is proper body alignment so important to maintain during the duration of class A: Neglecting proper posture and alignments in ballet positions will create chronic wear and tear on ... | |
| ballet diet | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: Hey Dianne, i was just wondering if you could tell me about the diet of a ballerina, what they can ... A: Like any other athlete, ballet dancers weight and nutritional needs will be relative to their ... | |
| teaching after 15 year gap | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I had ballet teaching qualifications before I had my family and am considering taking this up again ... A: I would contact all the studios near you and see if any of them teach the syllabus you qualified in ... | |
| Ballet dream! | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm a sixteen year old boy just starting ballet because I never had the chance when I was younger ... A: here is an interview I was asked to give at at http://www.balletconnections.com/DianneBuxton which ... | |
| I'm scared . . . | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I an retaking ballet classes since I stopped about two years ago. I am really glad to be coming ... A: All dance injuries can be avoided with correct technique. True understanding of anatomy and how your ... | |
| pro ballerina | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I know that at age 12 its a little early to be thinking about the future but.. I want to go to ... A: It's not too early to be thinking about this. Pro ballet dancers are working while their peers go to ... | |
| ballet | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: im rachel and i know you can pretty much start ballet at any age but i was wondering if its okay to ... A: Rachel, use google to find the studios in your area (which you didn't tell me so I couldn't look for ... | |
| ballet | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: im rachel and i know you can pretty much start ballet at any age but i was wondering if its okay to ... A: I'm not sure if I'm talking to a child or a young adult here. However, start with the information in ... | |
| technique | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: my teacher said that I'd be a really good ballet dancer if i was confident in myself and got more ... A: Wow. I sure don't know exactly what she means - but I would guess that you're a better dancer than ... | |
| Men's Ballet Uniform | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: My son is taking a beginning ballet course (as a required class for musical theatre) and needs to ... A: Most brands of men's ballet shoes are very similar so it doesn't matter really. They should fit ... | |
| pirouettes | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: why hello again i was wondering if you had any tips in doing pirouettes( is that how you spell it?) ... A: Go to my ballet blog http://wwww.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/ Down the left sidebar, ... | |
| Dance | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: My parents aren't allowing me to go to a school that specializes in ballet. Its making me mad that ... A: You are correct in thinking that you need pro training right now if you want to dance ballet ... | |
| Career in Ballet? | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: my name is Stephanie. I'm 14 and I realize it's a little early to know that I want to be a pro ... A: If you want to be a pro ballerina you need to get into a pro ballet school asap. Find out where your ... | |
| Future in Ballet | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: i recently turned 19 i have lived in Korea for about 2 years to teach English. I have always wanted ... A: You most certainly can continue ballet in Australia and become a qualified teacher. I am not ... | |
| Taking Ballet Again | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I am 17 yrs.old and I have had Ballet raining before. i took Ballet from ages 3 to 11. i stopped ... A: Taking ballet at your size is fine, and it will help you lose weight if you eat a healthy diet. ... | |
| Ballet Schools | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I'm a male ballet student just about to start my senior year of high school. I've been dancing ... A: I would recommend that you do both. Find out what ballet schools may possibly be available to you - ... | |
| Royal Ballet School | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: I did Ballet from the age of 6 till 10, then stopped as the school closed down, I am now 15 and have ... A: I couldn't say because acceptance would depends on the competition at the time, as well as your ... | |
| Building too much muscle? Corret cross-training | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I am 5'6" and naturally have a bigger bone structure than the petite ballet dancer. I eat very ... A: It seems to me that your main concern is having fat on your body. And your teacher's concern is that ... | |
| ballet?(pointe) | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: :]] im sixteen (11th grade) and im priitty happy to say i just started ballet classes. i go once a ... A: Getting into pointe shoes by 12th Grade is unrealistic when you're taking one ballet class per week. ... | |
| Starting to dance again | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I danced with an amateur ballet company from the age of 7 steadily until age 18. Currently I am 25. ... A: Here's another exercise that isolates the rotator muscles: Lie on your side, bending the knees but ... | |
| Starting to dance again | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I danced with an amateur ballet company from the age of 7 steadily until age 18. Currently I am 25. ... A: I have a blog, http://www.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com. To make it easier to find ... | |
| How can I get stronger thighs? | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm 12 years old, going to 13. I started dancing since I was 4, and then at the age of 9 stopped for ... A: The link below will take you to an article with some exercises you can do to improve extensions. ... | |
| Male ballet beginer | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I am very nervous about going as i feel i might be terrible. I am 6 foot 6 and i know that most ... A: I would first recommend that you get your knee checked out by a chiropractor to make sure there are ... | |
| (Follow Up) | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I am 13 years old and this fall I am going to begin the most advanced class in my ballet school -- ... A: It sounds like your teacher is describing a quality that you are not showing in your dance, but can ... | |
| The "Next Level"??? | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: I am 13 years old and this fall I am going to begin the most advanced class in my ballet school -- ... A: Their comment is cryptic to me also. Ask them exactly what they mean - more fluidity, eye direction, ... | |
| Strength Training for Duet | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I had a question about what sort of exercises I should do to increase my upper body strength. ... A: You are right that there is a lot more to partnering than brute muscle - but brute muscle helps! ... | |
| Coupé turns and turns in general | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: ok, i have tried and looked up practically everything, but for some reason i just suck at turns. I ... A: I have some articles on ballet turns that may help you. Go to ... | |
| ballet.. | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: what are some muscle lengthening/stretching/exercise/technique i can use to prevent bulky calves? ... A: Just do the exercises exactly as described in the articles on the site I mentioned above (or get The ... | |
| Ribbon and leos | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: I was looking through discount dance magazine and saw 2 different types of ribbons. Bloch elastorib ... A: It's a personal preference whether or not you like ribbons with any elastic or extension quality to ... | |
| ballet.. | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: what are some muscle lengthening/stretching/exercise/technique i can use to prevent bulky calves? ... A: Preventing over use of the calves is easy - you focus on developing the foot muscles! When the ... | |
| too old? | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: heyya so i'm 12 years old and I was wondering if it was too late to start ballet and someday go onto ... A: It do not think it is too old for you to start ballet and eventually get into pointe shoes. The ... | |
| hip hop dancer and wants to go to school for dance | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: ok i just turned 20 not too long ago and i want to attend a performing art college for dance. now is ... A: I definitely get your enthusiasm and your willingness to dedicate some hard work to studying ballet. ... | |
| Too Old to Go For Pointe? | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I am fourteen years old and currently taking a beginner ballet class. I have taken ballet in the ... A: No, it is absolutely not too late to think of getting into pointe shoes one day. It is all a ... | |
| pointers. | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: were can i find cheap pointer shoes in cincinnati and do you know any people that teach lessons in ... A: I am not familiar with the Cincinnati area dance studios, but you can do a google search and I'm ... | |
| stiff feet | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: any alternative ways to help students with stiff feet in placement and control while developing ... A: Below are links to 4 articles I wrote about help for stiff feet, and proper use of foot muscles. ... | |
| Bunions starting on young dancer | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: my daughter is 12 1/2 years old. She takes 8 hours of dance per week, 4 hours of which are ballet, ... A: No, you are not nuts to consider letting your daughter try pointe work. And although the podiatrist ... | |
| Grade 8 | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: I have had a break from ballet class for a number of years. I have always had a passion for ballet ... A: Check the website for RAD, the link is below. Contact them at their 'contact' address, and find out ... | |
| College/classes | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: my name is Ashley and i'm seventeen years old. I've been looking at several different potential ... A: Contact the college where you want to go, and ask them exactly what their program offers. They may ... | |
| Switching schools with break | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: When I was in 3rd grade I auditioned for PNB's Dance Chance program and got it. I had a full ... A: I feel for you. You are in a limbo place because you are now 3 years behind the classes you left at ... | |
| flexibility training | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: I started ballet last year to help me with my agility for football and now I am hooked. One of my ... A: Following is a link to an article about stretching. ... | |
| Pointe shoes, feet and ankles. | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I have been dancing for 7years now, and I have just started pointe. I find it really hard to ride up ... A: here's a link to an article which will give the information you need: ... | |
| Pre-pointe classes for 11 year old | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: My daughter has taken dance since she was 4 years old. She has taken a pre-school ballet/tap class ... A: Your daughter is not too young to be in a pre-pointe class, I don't know exactly what this ... | |
| What is good technique? | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: What does it mean when someone says that you have good technique? Everyone always tells me I do but ... A: Good technique means that someone knows how to do ballet with accurate movements that are aesthetic ... | |
| Ballet Extensions | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: My name is Marvin. I have been dancing for 9 years, and I am 15 right now. I have noticed that I ... A: Your quadriceps muscles do lift your leg - the hamstrings do not. However, if the hamstrings are ... | |
| floor pressure | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I am sixteen and have been learning ballet for about a year. The muscles on my outside thighs have ... A: I'll answer the easiest question first. Here are links to articles about turnout: ... | |
| Am I too old? | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I'm 15 years old and since I was younger I always loved dancing but never got any training. Ive been ... A: You are not too old to take ballet classes. However, you should let your knee heal completely before ... | |
| hyperextended knees | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: i have been dancing for eight years, and i am twelve years old. i have hyperextended knees, and that ... A: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-to-build-strength-for-hyperextended.html ... | |
| dance | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: my daughter has been in grade 3 ballet for 1 year she is 10 her teacher said she is good but wants ... A: but I will encourage you with one thing I saw happen repeatedly in professional ballet schools - ... | |
| Tips | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I need ballet tips for strengthening my ankles in preperation for pointe, a good diet for a twelve ... A: I believe you can get them at Target. Also you can check the Sports stores like Big 5 - they will be ... | |
| what should i do? | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: i want to learn how to do ballet and i never tried before...actually i want to do pointe so do i ... A: Yes, you need to do ballet for 3-4 years, and depending on your age and strength you can begin ... | |
| Help my pirouttess and adage!!! | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: ! I'm preparing to sit my RAD Intermediate exam and am having some problems..i recently just face ... A: All you need to do is find out where your balance goes off. It may be in the demi plie before the ... | |
| Dance= life. Help | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: So, I took dance for years but stopped at age 10 but I started back this past year, and I'm now 15. ... A: You sound like a hard worker looking for more! As far as teaching yourself goes, there is a good ... | |
| Tips | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I need ballet tips for strengthening my ankles in preperation for pointe, a good diet for a twelve ... A: Here are some articles with exercises that will help you. ... | |
| Dangers of wearing worn out point shoes ? | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I got a new pair of pointe shoes about 2 months ago, and backs are totally worn-out (super ... A: I can' t answer this question absolutely accurately because I cannot see your feet in the shoes. If ... | |
| 7 year old | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old that has been dancing for a year. She is doing Primary RAD syllabus, just about ... A: My only long-distance advice for this would be to drill her as much as she will tolerate, putting ... | |
| Technique | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I'm 11 years old and thinking about taking up ballet i have danced before but i have never done ... A: Everyone would learn ballet at their individual pace. Their physique and ability to concentrate ... | |
| ongoing knee problem from ballet | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: Approx 2 years ago I was doing some pointe work practice (centre work not barre) I think they were ... A: I recommend that you see a chiropractor if possible. If you have any misalignments of or around your ... | |
| My Point | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: My teacher says when you point your foot your toes should go in a flat line from the top of your ... A: Basically, your toes stay lengthened. They may follow the curve of your point, but not curl. This ... | |
| none | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: In one of my dances i have a pirouette and nearly every time i do it i fall out of it any tips? ... A: Take a look at this article, which covers the things that can go wrong in a pirouette. You will be ... | |
| my arches in my feet | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: hello i am desperate to improve my arches? how can i get the top arch bigger and make them look more ... A: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-create-more-flexibility-in-ankle.html ... | |
| none | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: In one of my previous ballet classes my teacher said that I have the ideal ballerina's body but I ... A: Professional ballet training should start as soon as possible, if that is what you truly want to do. ... | |
| Training | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I am currently in the process of my grade 5 RAD ballet exam and I am also doing solo classes to get ... A: The best way to become a professional in ballet is to get into a professional school. Once you have ... | |
| Ballet and Weight. | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I'm a sixteen, nearly seventeen year old girl and I want to know if I am too large/heavy to dance ... A: No, 110 lbs. is not too heavy for a ballet dancer. When you get back into ballet, you may even ... | |
| a dancers training diet need help !?!?!? :-) | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: i chose to do dance as im a dancer , i need help with 1.traing diet for a dancers, 2.pre-competion ... A: This is huge bunch of subjects. The best way I can answer you is to direct you to ... | |
| pointe stretches | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: I was just wondering if you could tell me some safe stretches and exercises to increase my pointe ... A: There are two links below. The first one is a short post from my blog that gives a link to some good ... | |
| Can I expect to be able to achieve a career in ballet at my age? | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I am a 35 year old male! I would really like o know your opinion on whether I can expect to find ... A: IN the world of ballet competition is fierce and the job market is small. Persons beginning at age ... | |
| ballet and heights | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: my daughter has been learning ballet since she was five. she is now 9 years old ans was selected to ... A: Believe me, there are many female dancers who grew too tall for ballet despite full time training. ... | |
| grades passed to go on to teach rad | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: My daughter studies balled and has grade 3, but has studied up to grade 6 but never had the chance ... A: http://www.radeducation.org.uk/ Hi Lorraine. I would explore the above link - it is part of the ... | |
| teaching ballet to under 8 yrs old | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: I understand that children's muscles are not ready for serious ballet exercise until 8 or 9 years ... A: Judging from the questions I have received from concerned parents, yes I believe there are ballet ... | |
| strenghtening exercises for pointe shoes | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: Can you recommend exercises that can be done at home to strenghten my daughter's ankles? I have ... A: You are correct in the exercise you mention above. The link below is an article I wrote on my blog ... | |
| types of food for dancers | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: My 12 year old daughter has been dancing for 10 years. Ballet is her favorite. This is her first ... A: If she can eat at least an hour before class that would be best. Muscle weakness showing up in a ... | |
| I need to know that i can still learn to dance. | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: ..i have always admired the artistry and techniches of ballet, but as a young girl, my parents ... A: I'm not sure how you would fit ballet in if you're working part time, and I assume, going to school. ... | |
| health exercise and dancing | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: I'm jesseka. I'm 18 I weigh about 136 about 5'5" and have always had an active lifestyle. I've ... A: http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-ballet-dancers-need-to-understand.html ... | |
| Pointe shoes | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I am 13 and I am taking up ballet again. Now I really want to get into pointe shoes or at least ... A: Since I am not sure how much ballet you did before you started again, I'm not sure when you could ... | |
| core rythem dancing | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have been doing the core rythem vidoes three times a week and then I have been doing ... A: This situation could depend on so many things.... such as what does "eating good" mean, just to ... | |
| volver al ballet | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: hola soy carolina cruz arrieta y despues de 8 años quiero volver a bailar danza clasica, hace 2 ... A: Sorry I didn't reply immediately - I had to get a translation first! I understand that "after 8 ... | |
| Professional dancer | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: i don't know whether you can answer this but i am 14 i do dance lessons and shows, but i would love ... A: My experience in the professional ballet school world is that if you are considered talented and are ... | |
| pointe shoes | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I am a journalism graduate student and I am currently writing an article to be published in a dance ... A: Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I had to think this out. Could you ask again onto this site ... | |
| is it a possibility to become a professional contemporary dancer? | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: I am an 18 year old male and I have been dancing for a year at my high school. my training is not ... A: There is no reason why you shouldn't consider it a possibility. Get the best training you can as ... | |
| pointe shoes. | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I am twelve, and i just started ballet. I want so badly to wear point shoes, but I knwo I am not ... A: The general guide for a ballet student getting into pointe shoes is: after three years of classes, ... | |
| fouettes and point shoes | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: my first question is whats the best way to practice fouettes? my second question is should you ... A: Here's an article on practicing fouettes: ... | |
| career change-fitness | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: I am debating about going into a fitness career due to my constant back pain from working a ... A: You can e-mail sahra@classicalstretch.com and ask her if their certification is good in the US. I ... | |
| Ballet requirements | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: My names Amanda Remlein and i am doing an assingment on sub-goups and i have considered ballet ... A: It certainly has seemed true to me that some are definitely not born to dance ballet, and some ... | |
| Male dance diet | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: I'm a male and have recently gotten into dancing. I should also note that I am 22 and just started ... A: Here's a link to an interview I did on nutrition, if you scroll down to the bottom area, there is a ... | |
| pointe ballet dancing | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: when a ballerina is dancing on pointe are her toes curled under or are they straight my daughter ... A: Here's how it would be correct. On half pointe or three quarter pointe, in soft ballet slippers, ... | |
| Technique help | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I am 15 and I have been dancing classical ballet for almost two years now. Although two years is not ... A: The articles below will answer your questions! It's a fair volume of reading, but you seem dedicated ... | |
| research | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I was very impressed by your profile and would like to ask if you have any info or references with ... A: There is a position in the Cecchetti Syllabus called "efface" or ay-fas-ay. It means "shaded". The ... | |
| injuries | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: At the moment I'm writing my master's thesis about the ballet dancers' injuries. I've already done ... A: Ballet exercises taught and executed correctly prevent dance injuries. I have written many articles ... | |
| returning to ballet | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I am considering returning to ballet at age 40. Several years ago I stopped dancing as I couldnt ... A: There is no reason why you shouldn't return to ballet class. As long as the teacher understands that ... | |
| research | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I was very impressed by your profile and would like to ask if you have any info or references with ... A: This is an interesting question in relation to ballet. Ballet positions are correct if the leg is ... | |
| Point Shoes for 6 year old girl? | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: My 6 1/2 year old daughter takes ballet 3 times/week for one hour/session in Belgrade, Serbia, where ... A: ".....has basically been up to the teacher to decide when each student makes the transition. This ... | |
| I want to be the best dancer I can, can you please help me. | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: I've heard a lot of people saying that using the turn out that you already have is the most ... A: You indeed have a big challenge studying ballet on your own. I have not viewed all the ballet ... | |
| Ballet | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: 4 months ago i broke my pinky toe very bad now i can walk normally and I've been trying my pointies ... A: There is always rehab! Firstly you need to know if the break healed properly. Probably not, since ... | |
| Am I too old and unfit? | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm 22 and I want to take up ballet. I can't dance at all but would like to be able to. I am ... A: Your progress will depend upon whether you take one class a week, or two or three classes a week. ... | |
| Am I too old and unfit? | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I'm 22 and I want to take up ballet. I can't dance at all but would like to be able to. I am ... A: There is no reason for you not to take ballet. It can help you lose weight, while developing muscle ... | |
| Dance team | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: I really want to tryout for my high school dance team this year. I tried out last year and didn't ... A: I'm no expert on dance teams. But yes, I think you should practice all the dance steps you can do. ... | |
| Ballet | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: I've heard a lot of people saying that using the turn out that you already have is the most ... A: Yes, turnout can be increased. Primarily it needs to be strengthened and stabilized. For instance, ... | |
| Auditions to top dance programs | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: my daughter is auditioning for many top programs,especially in New York. To one she was waitlisted ... A: Being molded - kind of a frightening thought isn't it? In ballet, a school will want to train ... | |
| pointe at any age | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I'm 53 years old and I've just gone back to ballet after not having danced ballet for about 30 ... A: Last question first: I've only been told by a few dancers that Gaynor Mindens are difficult, I ... | |
| grand jete en evant | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: From primary to intermediate, can you explain how you would teach the component parts that make up ... A: Starting at the primary level ballet class, it is correct posture combining with an accurate grand ... | |
| re-starter | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: I'm 14, and I did ballet all throughout my elementary years, and then I quit for the 6th and 7th ... A: Try to decide as soon as you can whether or not you want to study dance full time. It's better that ... | |
| am i to fat to do ballet? | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: I'm 15 years old and I'm interested in taking ballet for the first time ( besides a few months when ... A: No, you are not too heavy to do ballet. If you are eating a healthy diet, extra exercise with ballet ... | |
| ballet step | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: Good morning, Ms. Buxton: My niece is trying to accomplish a correct developpe ecarte ( I'm not ... A: How wonderful for your niece that she has such a caring aunt! If she were my student, I would have ... | |
| turnout | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I'm new to ballet and have been trying to learn proper turnout. My teacher says to squeeze your bum ... A: The link below is to an article I wrote explaining turnout. It includes some exercises to help feel ... | |
| summer intensive | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm 16 and I was accepted for both abt summer intensive and sab summer intensive. I don't know wich ... A: There probably isn't "a best" between the two schools. ABT trains toward a broad range of classical ... | |
| Ballet for my daughter | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: My daughter, who is currently 20 years old, danced up to a grade 7 and worked en pointe up until ... A: I'll give you my thoughts on this, but please take into consideration that I don't know what your ... | |
| pre-pointe queries | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: I've just started ballet at age 15 after doing tap and jazz since i was about 4. I was just ... A: I could write a book about how to strengthen for pointe work, literally. And I couldn't explain it ... | |
| Can i start ballet at 15? | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: im interested in ballet but i have never had classes before. I wanted to go at the age of 9 but my ... A: It's more likely that you would not get up to a professional level, but there are always exceptions. ... | |
| summer intensives | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: i am a mother of a daughter who has been dancing for 9 years. her love is classical ballet and she ... A: I have never heard anything negative about these schools - I do not pay any attention to criticism ... | |
| summer intensives | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: i am a mother of a daughter who has been dancing for 9 years. her love is classical ballet and she ... A: I offer a very general guide, but hopefully this will be helpful. If your daughter has been trained ... | |
| Ballet | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I am 43 yrs.old I want to learn ballet there is not a class for adults near my town , so is there a ... A: I really can't recommend that you learn ballet from a DVD. Ballet is too detailed and demanding to ... | |
| ballet | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: why it called ballet ? and for what age we can dance? A: I'm afraid I don't understand exactly what you are asking. Surely with youtube.com and the internet ... | |
| Knees! | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: Ok so I have this awful problem where my knees dont seem to stretch to the fullest. They straighten ... A: No you cannot stretch your knees without using your quads, but you can focus on lengthening and ... | |
| too late to perform? | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: I'm 19 and I've just started learning ballet and I absolutely love it. I really want to perform ... A: Liz, as far as I am aware, it is very difficult to freelance as a ballet dancer. After a few years ... | |
| Ballerina's Diet and Strength. | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I'm here to post another question. Thanks very much on your previous reply on ballet turn outs. ... A: Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I had some computer problems yesterday and today...but ... | |
| has it been too long? | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: I danced (tap, jazz, ballet) for nine years when i was younger but i quit for five years. I've ... A: Whether or not you should attempt working in pointe shoes depends on whether or not you are in ... | |
| Ballet turn out | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: i read your reply to "Rachel" about turn outs and have a question with regards to it. I'm 17 and had ... A: Firstly, I'm sorry but I cannot post an illustration of that on this site. Basically, the above ... | |
| Too old, too late? | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: My name's becky and i'm 16 years old. I started ballet 3 years ago on grade two because i was a ... A: I recommend that you google or otherwise search "summer dance intensives 2009". Lots will show! I ... | |
| Being back in ballet. | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I have been away from ballet for 2-3 years, and I am 13 now. I am wondering if it's too late to jump ... A: If you like jazz, then by all means take a jazz class. Do I understand you correctly that you can't ... | |
| Being back in ballet. | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I have been away from ballet for 2-3 years, and I am 13 now. I am wondering if it's too late to jump ... A: You definitely have the potential to be on pointe before the end of high school. Generally speaking, ... | |
| Trying to lose upperbody weight for ballet | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: Dianne, I am a 19 year old newly wed minoring in folk dance, i have about 4 years of various dance ... A: I see that you eat quite well. I would replace the grains you are eating with a protein - either ... | |
| hamstrings | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: I was just browsing the site when i saw you answered a girls question about her feet. i was hoping ... A: At this point you could add to my previous answer: leg curls. Lying on your stomach, or standing at ... | |
| Ballet Academies and Hours of Lessons | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: When looking at Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, Moscow Choreographic Academy, UFA Ballet School, ... A: I'm not sure how I could enlighten you more on the subject of class hours. Every ballet school may ... | |
| Ballet | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: What are the benefits of teaching Classical Ballet to children? A: You mean for the children? This sounds like a homework question and I would only be able to tell you ... | |
| Pointe after an injury | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: I have been on pointe for almost three years, but recently I got injured and stayed off pointe for a ... A: I recommend that you see a chiropractor who will adjust any misaligned foot joints and help you ... | |
| pointe shoes | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: My daughter did ballet when she was like four but then she took a brake, and now shes doing it again ... A: Most ten year olds are not ready for pointe shoes. The exceptions would generally be: is in a ... | |
| How do I start? | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: I love watching ballet! I'm pretty graceful, and I would like to start. However, it's pretty ... A: I have promoted many home practice DVDs, or ballet manuals but only on the assumption that a student ... | |
| To old to become a professional? | 1/1/2009 |
| Q: I am 20 years old, and very interested in ballet. I danced a lot when I was younger, ages 6-10, and ... A: If you are going to try becoming a professional you need to go to the most professional ballet you ... | |
| To old to become a professional? | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: I am 20 years old, and very interested in ballet. I danced a lot when I was younger, ages 6-10, and ... A: Yes, starting adult ballet classes right away is a good idea. Let the teacher know that are planning ... | |
| Leg Extensions | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: I'm 19 years old, and have been dancing since I was 3 years old. I took ballet and pointe until high ... A: http://teachingsmart.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-11-01T00%3A00%3A00-04%3A00&updated-max=200 ... | |
| Advice for Beginning Dancer | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: I'm currently a college student, and I'm looking into majoring in Dance. I'm 6'1, 175 lbs, and I'm a ... A: Your schedule isn't really a lot, but is concentrated on four days. Ideally, it would be spread out ... | |
| To old to become a professional? | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: I am 20 years old, and very interested in ballet. I danced a lot when I was younger, ages 6-10, and ... A: I can't really give an opinion on this since I don't know what your earlier training was like. In a ... | |
| Did my feet stop growing because of pointe? | 12/30/2008 |
| Q: I used to take pointe at my old dance school. At that school they let most girls start at 10 and 11 ... A: This is not going to be a medical or clinical answer - however, since you have not had injury, pain ... | |
| Pointe and Turnout | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: I'm thirteen and I'm just DYING to dance pointe. My ballet school stopped offering it a few years ... A: Regarding your turnout first: it's really a question of strength. Being able to hold the turnout you ... | |
| Pointe with Double Jointed Toes | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: So I have double jointed big toes, and I am looking to start pointe in 1-2 years, after I complete ... A: Keep working on lengthening your toes - that's good. And basically, every ballet class you take is a ... | |
| Too old to dance? | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I have just turned 26. I know now I want to pursue dance and have the full support of my husband and ... A: If by "pursue" you mean study ballet and dance full time and become a professional, yes, by the ... | |
| Good ballet class? | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: I am 16 and I am trying so hard to find a good ballet class. I've looked online, but I can't ... A: Here is a list I came up with from google. You can call them and visit them and see which ones are ... | |
| What is the proper way to stretch and lift my legs? | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: My thighs tend to pack on a lot of muscle, so I think I must be doing something the wrong way. Are ... A: here are some article links where I've written about stretching and lengthening. ... | |
| Ballet and Bicycling? | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: My daughter, age 11, is in a pre-professional ballet program. She has just started pointe, and is ... A: I would not consider riding the bicycle around the neighborhood or walking in the forest any kind of ... | |
| can i start again? | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I am 14 years old and i really want to start ballet again. I started ballet when i was around 7 and ... A: It seems like it would be fine for you to start dancing ballet again. I'm not sure what kind of ... | |
| teaching salary | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I want to be a professional ballet teacher and I was wondering what the average salary was. I am not ... A: A professional ballet school is one like the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School or The Royal Ballet School ... | |
| Balances de cote | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: I know a balance de cote is some sort of rocking movement but would you be able to give me steps to ... A: I can't teach you a ballet step in a situation like this but you could ask your ballet teacher to ... | |
| teaching salary | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: I want to be a professional ballet teacher and I was wondering what the average salary was. I am not ... A: My experience is only in professional ballet schools, not private dance studios, so I don't really ... | |
| Cechetti VS RAD | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a daughter that will be 12 soon. We will be moving from Michigan to Arizona. My daughter has ... A: Firstly, I don't think Heather will have any problem switching from Cecchetti to RAD. She can be ... | |
| ballet audition | 12/7/2008 |
| Q: i have an audition for a ballet school on the 13th of December and i am a bit worried about the ... A: In the ballet audition interview the goal is for the auditioners to find out, as much as they can, ... | |
| not all that perfect | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: hey there. i am seventeen and i'm looking into taking ballet for the first time. i think it is a ... A: It is certainly not overambitious to study ballet for your own enjoyment. Aspiring to dance ballet ... | |
| Pre-Pointe work | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: I have been dancing for about 10-11 years now. I can eaisly do plies and releves. However, my ... A: I'm not sure from what you've said that you have done a lot of ballet, unless that is what you mean ... | |
| ballet teaching | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I'm 19 and I've just started learning ballet. I really want to be a ballet teacher professionally ... A: I have trained people who started around your age and who went on to teach ballet. If you can get ... | |
| pain with the ball of my foot when I do pirouette. | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I have been taking ballet for years. I fall when I do pirouette, especially multiple pirouette, ... A: While I hate to be the one to tell you, I think you HAVE injured your foot. There is some ... | |
| pointe | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: i want to do pointe and be more serious about ballet, but first, let me explain. I started ballet ... A: I think the best way you can progress is to get The Perfect Pointe Book. The author's link for it is ... | |
| too old? | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: I'm thirteen years old and when I was younger from the ages of 3-7 I took ballet, and then later ... A: Yes, ask your teacher when she thinks you might be ready for pointe shoes, and if there is anything ... | |
| Pre-Pointe | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: I'm taking pre-Pointe at my dance school but I really want to go on Pointe. All my friends are on ... A: Since I can't see you dance I don't know specifically what you need to improve in order for you to ... | |
| question re: osteopenia/ballet | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 57 yr. old reasonably fit breast cancer survivor (IDC stage 1) who is taking an aromatase ... A: I am not an expert in this specifically but let's see what I can find out. Firstly, I have just ... | |
| Padding for pointe shoes | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: I just started danceing in point shoes, but I'm not sure which padding i should use. I'm using wool ... A: One thing you can do is add loose lambs wool into your wool pads. Wool does pack down when used, so ... | |
| Starting Point | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: Im 16 and I have been doing ballet for a couple years but i never wanted to do point untill now, but ... A: Many ballet students start pointe later than 16 years old. It depends on the student's overall ... | |
| Performing Arts High School | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: My daughter will be entering high school next year and has been accepted into National Ballet School ... A: There are many full time ballet schools in North America now. While the National ballet School of ... | |
| Inner Thighs | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I'm 16, been dancing since i was three, but i didn't actually start receiving any real training ... A: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Build-Strength-For-Hyperextended-Knees-Before-You-Dance-In-Pointe-S ... | |
| pointe | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: im 15 years old and have been taking dance classes since i was four, and taking serious ballet ... A: I totally understand that you want to start pointe work. Bear in mind that the stronger you are when ... | |
| Training | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: Im 15 years old and i have been dancing since i was about 10 years old but i really havent had ... A: Since you want to do pointe work, you will need ballet technique classes. You may need a couple of ... | |
| Hips, Turnout, and Weight | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I'm 15 and I've been doing ballet for a long time now. (for about 8-9 years). My school is a nice ... A: Despite your request, and I can understand that question #1 is very important to you, I am going to ... | |
| Pointe Work | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: Just wondering if you could help me out with my pointe technique. my right leg gives me no problem. ... A: Here is a link to an article I wrote about increasing ankle flexibility. ... | |
| Ballet History | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: Hey, I am writing a research paper for my english class, and I need an interview for one of my ... A: I just went to google and searched ballet history - there is a ton of info. I know a lot about ... | |
| Foot pain associated with pointe shoes | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: I'm 21 and danced for 17 years. Since I was 2, all I can remember was about 15-20 hours of ballet, ... A: Your situation seems complicated Staci. Since you have not danced for 3 years, you definitely should ... | |
| pointe shoes | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: Hey Dianne! I just started pointe not too long ago, and it's going really well! I just have onewhen ... A: Here's an article I wrote that goes through some stretchy band exercises. ... | |
| pointe shoes | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: Hey Dianne! I just started pointe not too long ago, and it's going really well! I just have onewhen ... A: Different things work for different people. I used to switch off my soft shoes and pointe shoes, but ... | |
| knee pain in ballet | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: At the begging of this term my right knee started to hurt in ballet. I was at the barre and I fondu ... A: The sooner you get this diagnosed the better. I recommend seeing an activator chiropractor - go to ... | |
| am i too old? | 10/11/2008 |
| Q: i am eighteen years old. I've been dancing for eight years. ballet for 6. i started out as a jazz ... A: No, twenty is not too old to join a company if your training is complete. You can augment your ... | |
| 3 year old dancing on toes | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: I have recently enrolled my 3.5 year old in ballet classes-just this month. For the past year she ... A: Unfortunately, you will have to persuade your daughter to give this up, right away. Being as young ... | |
| starting pointe | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: i'm currently seventeen and am starting up taking ballet classes again becuase a was sick and ahd to ... A: You may need a year or two before you go on to do ballet classes in pointe shoes. Your core ... | |
| Should I start again? | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: I started dancing when I was about 5 and did ballet, tap, and jazz on and off until I was about 16. ... A: My suggestion would be this: get into classes at least twice a week if you can. Go for 6-8 months ... | |
| Performance | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: Some of the music I write seems to have a balletic feel, which made me wonder: during performance, ... A: Actually ballet choreography is written down in Benesh or Laban notation. What area of choreography ... | |
| the age and the feet.. | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: I am 16 i started ballet when i was 10 and stopped before turning 13 . I now want to start again . ... A: No there is no problem with your physique. Starting ballet again might feel different than it did ... | |
| Health | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering what I could do to get in shape (especially my abdominals) for Ballet? A: I'm going to list below some articles I wrote that will give you information about your question. ... | |
| Performance | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: Some of the music I write seems to have a balletic feel, which made me wonder: during performance, ... A: Maybe the sound and visual wasn't synched.....classical ballet traditionally has the steps go with ... | |
| Wanting to begin Ballet at 16 | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: I would really like to start ballet, but I have concerns... one is, is it too late to start? I'll be ... A: Ballet would be a challenge for you starting at 17, even if you were more physically like the ballet ... | |
| Switch turns | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I have been dancing for about eight years now, and I am having some trouble with leaps, such as ... A: A switch leap requires a lot of height and obviously, quick leg work. Since I can't see you dance, I ... | |
| Leaps | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: I have been dancing for about eight years now, and I am having some trouble with leaps, such as ... A: Yes, you are just doing a grand battment, to see where your technical error is. You could releve up ... | |
| Ballet Tutions for a 3year old | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is 3yrs 9months now i wish to know if it is suitable to send her for a Ballet class. ... A: http://www.accessplace.com/moreinfo.htm http://www.accessplace.com/moreinfo.htm Those links are ... | |
| Leaps | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: I have been dancing for about eight years now, and I am having some trouble with leaps, such as ... A: Since I cannot see you dance, I am going to follow logic and see if that helps you. Ballet is ... | |
| diet for 11 year ballet student | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: Diane My eleven yeat old daughter goes to a dance school. She is in the preprofessional program. ... A: This is a big topic, and I hope you don't feel put off if I suggest you look at a place where I've ... | |
| too big to be a ballerina? | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: I'm 17 going on 18 and have danced the Vaganova method of ballet for 12 years.I have lots of ... A: It's true, there is a bias in ballet that rejects most but the long and lithe, meaning skinny. ... | |
| Too early for pointe? | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: Dianne, When is the "best" age to begin pointe work? I think that if you start at too young of an ... A: You are right. The softer parts of the foot bones, the growth plates, do not fully harden until ... | |
| Abdominals and Alignment | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a general alignment question. I know that you're supposed to use your abdominals to maintain ... A: There is a difference between the Pilates description of pulling the bellybutton to the spine, which ... | |
| too much turn out | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: I have been battling with my turn out for months and now I'm being told that I'm over compensating ... A: As I'm sure you already kmow, the required turnout in ballet is anatomically correct for no one. ... | |
| Ballet | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: I'm 14 years old. I have never really been interested in anything until about the last year or so. I ... A: No, it would not be too late to learn ballet. Many people start later than that, in fact it seems to ... | |
| ESSEY QUESTION | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE EFFECTIVE CHOREOGRAPHY IN DANCE? ANY IDEAS, BOOKS, ARTICLES. iM WRITING ... A: Appreciation of art is subjective, as all views about art are. I love the classics in ballet and ... | |
| Increasing flexibility and turn out | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: I'm Bel, I'm 15 years old and I started taking ballet classes almost a year ago to get better at ... A: Here are the the links to some articles I've written on stretching and turnout: ... | |
| Technique and Turnout | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: I'm 15 and in class we are doing leg extensions and it seems that I don't know how to disengage my ... A: Extensions are indeed a challenge in ballet, and here's what I think will help you feel the right ... | |
| Jumps and turnout | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: I'm an adult beginner and I'm having some trouble with my jumps. We are only doing saute jumps in ... A: Yes, there is a very simple exercise that will strengthen your turnout muscles. I got it from ... | |
| ballet class for beginners 6 to 12 years old | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: A: I'm afraid I couldn't begin explaining here, how you teach ballet. If you had a framework like ... | |
| starting pointe | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I began ballet when I was 3 right up to when I was 11, then I quit. I'm 14 now and I started again ... A: I thought I had answered this question before, and maybe somehow it didn't get to you. Sorry about ... | |
| Cross-Training Outside the Studio | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I am a 14 year old ballet dancer and am looking for ways to improve my endurance and conditioning as ... A: By the way, 2 hours of ballet a day is plenty of training. That is what professional students in ... | |
| Adage | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: could you help me improve my adage? 2 years ago I pulled the muscle on the inside of the leg just ... A: http://www.thebodyseries.com/newsletters/2004/08/08_13_04%20Injury.html Above is a link to Deborah ... | |
| Too far over the box! | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I'm an 18 year old pre-professional dancer at the end of her rope! I was blessed with extremely high ... A: Holding your ankle back is a technique that ballerinas use, in specific places in choreography. So ... | |
| An Indianapolis Ballet Studio | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I am 13 and looking for a good ballet class in Downtown Indianapolis or in just in Indianapolis. ... A: http://www.indyballet.org/WHY_ISB.html The faculty above is pretty impressive. I would investigate ... | |
| Me Taking a Ballet Class | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: I am 13 and I am trying to find a good ballet class. It's so hard to find a good one!! I've looked ... A: http://www.indyballet.org/WHY_ISB.html Hi Johnny. I don't know if you looked at this site, but the ... | |
| back to ballet | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: i had to leave ballet at 18 due to an injury(i started at 3), i am now 22, and have been told i can ... A: I have a lot of articles at http://www.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com, on all the above. If ... | |
| Mens Ballet | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: Just have a few questions hope you can answer them. 1. when is too old for men to start ballet? 2. ... A: When is too old for men to start ballet? Any man who is fit to do any kind of exercise, and does not ... | |
| Pointe Questions | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: I am starting pointe on Tuesday and I have a few questions... 1. How should pointe shoes feel? I ... A: Congratulations on starting pointe work! I think you should try on some more shoes. Your toes ... | |
| becoming a dance teacher | 6/16/2008 |
| Q: i have been learning ballet since i was 3 years old, first with RAD, then BBO. I stopped dancing at ... A: www.rad.org.uk www.radusa.org http://www.nationalballetschool.org/pages/teacherprograms/index.html ... | |
| pointe shoes and thighs | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: i have a couple questions to ask.I am getting my pointe shoes in the fall(coming up soon),and i was ... A: You'll be glad to find out that everything you do to strengthen your feet and ankles for pointe ... | |
| pointe shoes and thighs | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: i have a couple questions to ask.I am getting my pointe shoes in the fall(coming up soon),and i was ... A: http://ezinearticles.com/?Build-Strength-For-Long-and-Lean-Ballet-Muscles---Highly-Effective-Tips&id ... | |
| Unequal strength from left to right leg | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: I take a ballet/ beginner pointe class once a week for two hours. I noticed a little before I went ... A: It recommend that you see a chiropractor, and if possible one that does the Activator Method and ... | |
| swan lake | 6/8/2008 |
| Q: i need to discribe the difference between the characters and how they are potrayed from the original ... A: I suggest you rent a couple of the traditional Swan Lakes - maybe a very old one, and a newer one. ... | |
| pionte shoes | 6/6/2008 |
| Q: when buying shoes what should you look for as in the fit A: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Point-of-Getting-Exactly-the-Right-Pointe-Shoe&id=645508 ... | |
| Shoe ribbons | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering how wide ribbons should be on ballet slippers? My pair are leather and size 5 1/2? ... A: If your teacher doesn't specify, it is whatever is comfortable for you. Narrow 1/4 " ribbons might ... | |
| Please Help!!! | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: My question for you is that I am currently a hip-hop dancer and i want to further my dance career by ... A: http://allegroweb.sectorlink.org/orball/SchoolLocations.html Hi Ricky. The link above is the page ... | |
| could i still do ballet | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: i wanted to do ballet from a early age i started a dance school called italia conti and i did a tap ... A: 13 years old is considered not the best age to start ballet if you wanted to become a professional ... | |
| How to get more ankle flexibility | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: I'm 12 years old and have been taking ballet since age 3. I've been on pointe for almost 2 years. My ... A: http://theballetstore.com/content/view/151/1/ is the link to an article at ... | |
| Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical and Fouette turns | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I saw your site and wanted to ask how many years of training of ballet you think would push me up to ... A: Let me ask you the following so maybe I can answer yourHow many years have you studied classical ... | |
| Unable to dance like she use to | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: My daughter was told last year in the mist of mid season dance classes that she should stop all ... A: Wow, this is tough for you and your daughter. Replacing all that dancing is not easy! Has she been ... | |
| guest dancers dancing on opening night | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: i just wanted to know... do international guest dancers or local guests dancers ever dance on the ... A: This happens. A classical ballet company may hire a guest ballerina or premiere danseur to open a ... | |
| Pointe Worries | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I have been training for 11 years in ballet and have been in an advanced ballet class for two years. ... A: Since I cannot see you dance I can't say when you should start dancing in pointe shoes. It does ... | |
| getting into collage | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I'm 19 years old and have been dancing on and off all my life, but never seriously. Lately I've ... A: I do not know what area you are in and what is accessible to you - though it sounds like you are ... | |
| Ballet types | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: what other types of ballet are there? ive forgotten them i know theres the italian version ... A: http://library.thinkquest.org/21702/lite/tech7.html Hi Dazie. The above link is to a short article ... | |
| I am a beginning 27 year old ballet student | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a question what road do i need to go to if i want to become a ballet dancer or modern dancer ... A: Then I would start there and see how it goes after a few months. All you can do is start. At some ... | |
| Cecchetti ballet vs RAD Ballet | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: My son is currently doing Grade 1 RAD ballet (+ jazz & tap and has done contemporary). It looks like ... A: Cecchetti grades work is considered a very good syllabus. The allegro has a lot of Bournonville ... | |
| I am a beginning 27 year old ballet student | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a question what road do i need to go to if i want to become a ballet dancer or modern dancer ... A: I do not know if you can become a professional dancer starting at 27 - I recommend you go to the ... | |
| ballet | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: how do i make pirouettes easier A: I'm going to direct you to http://www.theballetstore.com where I have posted a lot of articles and ... | |
| 9 yr old danseur enpoint | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a gifted nephew who performs at 9. I caught him in his sisters pointe shoes and promised not ... A: I think it is a great idea for boys to do some pointe exercises. It is strengthening and helps them ... | |
| my friends in my class........ | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: My friends in my ballet and point classes are always making fun of the teacher and they will lie to ... A: I don't know how old you all are and what the basis for this behavior is - but if you're getting ... | |
| weight and age | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: ok i have two questions. First I'm 5'1" and i took a break from ballet for a while and put on a lot ... A: I can't give you an exact answer because I don't know what your body type is - however, if you diet ... | |
| role of male dancers | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: Balanchine said,"Ballet is woman." What role does the male dancer play; accessory to the woman or ... A: Hmmm....sounds like a pop quizz. But seriously, of course male dancers are necessary to the dance. ... | |
| Tips for an adult restarter with health issues? | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: Hey! I have just recently restarted ballet after a hiatus of many years (Recently = I have my 3rd ... A: I have two or more articles at http://www.theballetstore.com - on hyper-extended knees.They may not ... | |
| Tips for an adult restarter with health issues? | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: Hey! I have just recently restarted ballet after a hiatus of many years (Recently = I have my 3rd ... A: You are doing everything I would recommend - I think The Perfect Pointe Book is fabulous - I ... | |
| Beginner Ballerina | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: I am 16 years old. I have always been interested in Ballet. I love it actually, I used to be quite ... A: So you are already on the right track and it sounds like everything is ok. That's great! I think ... | |
| Beginner Ballerina | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I am 16 years old. I have always been interested in Ballet. I love it actually, I used to be quite ... A: You are always welcome to ask me any questions... Please let me know about your knees - one is "ok" ... | |
| ballet | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: My Name is Elizabeth and I'm 14 years old.I have been taking dance for about 10 years now (if you ... A: I think that the first thing you should do is ask your teacher. Find out what she thinks about when ... | |
| starting at age 12 | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I'm 12 years old and been doing tap and Jazz for about a 1 year. I also been singing since I've been ... A: You can do any of the strengthening exercises I write about at http://www.theballetstore.com. There ... | |
| Weight/pointe | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: I'm almost 15 years old am about 5'3 and weigh over 170. I take 3 dance classes a week that are all ... A: I recommend you see a medical doctor. Be really honest with your doctor. If you are over-eating, you ... | |
| Ballet Restarter | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I took ballet for eight years and got to intermediate foundation (Vocational equivalent of Grade ... A: After you get back into shape muscle-wise you can start planning to work up to pointe work. If you ... | |
| Pointe | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: I just have a quick question about pointe and if I am able to do it. You see I used to take ballet ... A: I think you should just keep on doing what you're doing. It may be boring, but ballet is YEARS of ... | |
| Pointe | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I just have a quick question about pointe and if I am able to do it. You see I used to take ballet ... A: It's no bother at all to answer your questions. Unfortunately I cannot encourage you to learn ... | |
| Pointe | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I just have a quick question about pointe and if I am able to do it. You see I used to take ballet ... A: No, it is never a good idea to do pointe at home. You need to be assessed by a teacher or a health ... | |
| HELP BALLET | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: my name is Joeanne and i started ballet when i was about to turn 11 . My problems are i am in level ... A: I'm afraid you have to trust your teacher right now. Pointe work depends on strength as well as age ... | |
| Ballet :NOT TALENTED | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: My name is Sarah and i started Ballet when i was 11 i am 12 now .I Really really want to be a ... A: I don't know if you are too old to train for professional ballet or not. I cannot see you or your ... | |
| Breaking in Pointe Ballet Shoes... | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: Hey I'm just recently starting pointe and I was wondering how do you break them in? I've heard so ... A: There is a video at http://www.theballetstore.com, by a dance medicine specialist, showing how to ... | |
| answer please is 4 a home work | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: well hi i am 13 years old and im in Bronx dance academy well i need to know how is dance unique and ... A: On http://www.theballetstore.com there is an article about SAT scores being higher in students who ... | |
| bones | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: Okay, so i have been taking ballet for a long time (8 years) and i am only 12, but since a while ... A: No, that is not a general problem. I recommend that your parents take you to a chiropractor, ... | |
| ballet trouble | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: Are there any online ballet classes that I can use? My ballet teacher said to practice at home, but ... A: There are a many dance DVDs on the internet. I have viewed a few of the best. Unfortunately, the ... | |
| turns | 3/8/2008 |
| Q: I have two questions, the first is I have slightly hyperextended legs, which make it difficult to ... A: Yes, with hyperextended legs, you hold them straight. It is a challenge, and you need to do this all ... | |
| Training exercises Fouette of adage | 3/1/2008 |
| Q: Could you please give me some idea of training exercises for the COMPONENT STEPS that make up ... A: This sounds like a teacher question, so that is how I will answer it. Fouette in adage depends on ... | |
| Another Older Male | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: I am a 44 year old male and have just started taking adult beginner ballet classes (it seems to be a ... A: Good for you for choosing ballet! It's a wonderful way to get more fit. I'm going to make a couple ... | |
| restarting ballet | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: I took many years of different types of dance and was very serious about my studies. I have done ... A: I would recommend a few months of a class or two a week before getting onto pointe - however, I ... | |
| Books on technique | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: I am training on a teaching course at the moment for ballet. A lot of work that needs to be done is ... A: I cannot think of one with a an entire class analysis at the moment, that is professional level ... | |
| Expectations for a Beginner Ballerina | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I decided to start ballet class and had my first class yesterday evening. I felt like I did well for ... A: Good to hear from you. The best bread product I've found to date is a brand called Ezekial - and ... | |
| Expectations for a Beginner Ballerina | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: I decided to start ballet class and had my first class yesterday evening. I felt like I did well for ... A: The following link is an article by a dance medicine specialist, Deborah Vogel, regarding shin ... | |
| Technique in pointe shoes | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: Our daughter typically takes only one or two technique classes on flat. The rest (6 x 90 minutes ... A: It sounds like your daughter works very hard. I cannot answer your question but I can point out some ... | |
| foot pain caused by pointe shoes | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: I'm 15 nearly 16 but i have only been doing pointe work for around a year or so because I went to a ... A: Sarah I'm sorry to keep you waiting for an answer - somehow I didn't get this till today, yet I see ... | |
| extension | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: i know that a strong back is key for extension, what are some exercises i could due to strengthen ... A: A routine exercise for strengthening extension is doing a developpe, lowering the leg 2 inches, and ... | |
| Foutte of Adage en lair | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: I would like to know how to break down the steps and teach the steps of a foutte of adage. A: If you've read any of my articles at http://www.theballetstore.com, you'll see a lot of movement ... | |
| 5th position | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a guy friend who says he can't stand in 5th with straight legs because his thighs are too ... A: Big thighs could be the case. I have seen male dancers who trained and developed very bulky muscles. ... | |
| Chaînés | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: I have been dancing ballet for 20 years I have a BFA in ballet, I am dancing professionally, and I ... A: The most common form of chainees is keeping the legs and heels tightly together, so you would be ... | |
| I want to start NOW | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 20 year old guy, and I want to start learning ballet now. I know it's hard to say whether ... A: You have a lot of choices in NYC. Start calling all the studios nearest to you, or near where you ... | |
| 15 year old male, Too old to start? | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: Recently I've become really interested in learning ballet but don't know whether I'm too old to ... A: First of all, I'll tell you that I taught a young man named Tedd Robinson, and he started at the age ... | |
| Arches | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I'm 16 years old and have been dancing for about four years. My goal is not to be a professional but ... A: There's a wonderful book I recommend that discusses every aspect of strengthening and stretching ... | |
| Pointe work | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: How old should a child be when starting pointe work in ballet is there a set age. My daughter is ... A: Generally the guide is this: a student should have taken three years of ballet, and at least three ... | |
| ballet | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: why is it that i always have an injury in the ankle? is it because of the wrong technique in plie? A: Ankle injuries can occur for various reasons - advancing too quickly with not enough strength and ... | |
| TOO OLD FOR BALLET?? | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: Are you TOO OLD for ballet recital work over 40? None of our local ballet schools do ANY coed ... A: I'd love to get more on the forum at theballetstore.com, re any topic. Would you consider talking ... | |
| pointe shoes and foot health | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: I am concerned about the dangers of permanent damage to my feet, ankles, legs if I go on pointe too ... A: I am siding with the doctors too! You need very accurate and very strong ballet technique to proceed ... | |
| overweight or to skinny? | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: so i'm very self conciouse about my weight. All my friends say im sooooo skinny but when i look into ... A: Most dancers have a different perception of skinny than other people - nothing to do with anorexia. ... | |
| tall dancer | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: I am a very tall, very thin pre-pro dancer needing a strong partner for yagp. Is there anyone over ... A: I'm sorry but I'm not in your area and I can't help with that. The best of luck! Sara, why don't ... | |
| Sports Massage in Ballet | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: Buxton, I am currently researching Sports Massage in its relation to Ballet. For our assignment ... A: http://www.bodyhealing.net/deeptissuemassagenyc.html ... | |
| ballet | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: I need help with my extensions!!! I want them to be much higher. Any tips or excercies? Also how to ... A: I have a lot of strengthening and stretching exercises at http://www.theballetstore.com, both in the ... | |
| Ballet at 42 | 1/9/2008 |
| Q: I'm 42, in good shape. I did 3 years adult training 20 years ago. My passion has been ballet, but ... A: Doing pointe work is possible. It depends on strength, accuracy of technique and flexibility of the ... | |
| I was wondering if I can attend a summer program? | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: My name is Jearim and I am totally in love with ballet, since I first danced I felt like it was the ... A: I cannot answer as to whether you are "fat" at 110 pounds, though I doubt it. It would be relative ... | |
| ballet | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: I'm 15 years old and i'm really interested in ballet it is one of my favortie things. anyway i'm ... A: I noticed this question was addressed to Lisa - I wanted to know if that is a mistake and if you ... | |
| ankle and wrist weights | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is 8 years old and is in Jazz, ballet, tap, 12 hours a week. The studio is requesting ... A: I would say approach with extreme caution! Most pediatricians would say weights for 8 year olds is ... | |
| genre | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: The past few years I danced in the winter/color guard at my high school. I know that I'm dancing ... A: Ballet is ballet whether you use pointe shoes or not. Some people take ballet classes for years and ... | |
| About Starting Ballet | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: Buxton, Now i'm 15 years olds. I never attend a class of ballet but I really love it. Is it too late ... A: Thu. First of all, go to http://www.balletshoesand pointeshoes.blogspot.com. There is, down the left ... | |
| Knee pain | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: I just started ballet a few months ago and I'm working on my flexibility. When I do stretches like ... A: You do not need to stretch the ligaments around your knees. However, if you are working hard at ... | |
| Leg injuries | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: I am training in ballet, and one night just before class I was stretching my left leg to the side, ... A: Rips and tears in muscles create scar tissue, immediately. If that is in fact what happened, and ... | |
| too old for pointe? | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: .. am i too old for that? and i really wanna do the pointe... how long will it take me?... A: You are not too old to start ballet. If you proceed to keep training for two or three years, and ... | |
| foot injury | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: I've been told lots of times that I have very good ballet feet; my arches are extremely high. ... A: India, it seems that my answer did not get sent, I'm sorry that you were kept waiting. You should ... | |
| job | 12/14/2007 |
| Q: Greetings! I search for work! But I do not know where to me will address. I the professional ... A: I regret to say that I am not an expert regarding the hiring policies of companies. Since you have ... | |
| arabesque and pointing feet | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: Any excercises for a higher arabesque/atitude? I am very flexible actually and can bring my leg to ... A: Lack of strength in arabesque could be in your mid back muscles, in your deep abdominal muscles, in ... | |
| I'm 15, am I really too old to start ballet? | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I'm 15 years old and I have really wanted to take ballet since i was small, i tried a few ... A: Any disadvantage taking ballet at your age would be relative to your goals with ballet. If you ... | |
| flexibility in young students and some extra syllabus | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I'm a dance teacher, yet without much experience (I've just finished my BA in dance teaching, and I ... A: It sounds to me like you are doing all that you can do under the conditions you have. Not having a ... | |
| pointe shoes | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: What is your opinion on Gaynor Minden pointe shoes? ANSWER: Hi Rachael. I have never worn Gaynor ... A: This is starting to sound like an interview for a school project....which is fine, I don't mind. ... | |
| pointe shoes | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: What is your opinion on Gaynor Minden pointe shoes? A: I have never worn Gaynor Minden's. I just did a google search and here are 2 different answers I ... | |
| Balance | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: My name is Jessica and I have been doing ISTD Grade 5 ballet (I don't know if that's the same in ... A: First of all, building strength takes time. In ballet you may be advanced to a more difficult level ... | |
| Getting better at ballet | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: This is the first time I'm asking a question, so I'm sorry if this question is poorly asked. I ... A: Good for you! 5 days a week at ballet is great. My best advice to you has to do with both your ... | |
| too old? | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: I'm interested in starting ballet classes, but I'm 19 and have never had any experience in dance at ... A: I recommend you call all your local studios, tell them how old you are, and ask if they have adult ... | |
| pointe | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: I have been dancing 11 years and from pointe my toes are turnin in and the bone on the side of my ... A: It sounds to me like you have bunions. This can be an inherited dispostion, but can also be caused ... | |
| my 3 yr old ballerina | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: my daughter has started ballet 8 weeks behind everyone else and its obvious she needs help but the ... A: I'm not sure what the best thing to do is. If her teachers are not worried about the recital dance, ... | |
| I have a couple of questions | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: Well, i have a few questions well first i was wondering if you can tell be if I'm ready for pointe ... A: Since I cannot see you in class, or see your technical accuracy, I cannot tell if you're ready for ... | |
| Is it too late to try? | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I'm not positive if I'm asking the right person, but it's worth a shot. I used to do ballet when I ... A: I'm sorry you and your mom are fighting about this. She may be trying to protect you from investing ... | |
| fouettés | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: What exercises can I do to strengthen myself for fouettés? A: What a coincidence - someone just asked me about problems with fouettes recently. I ended up writing ... | |
| Too old...? | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: I am Nina and I am 22 years old. I used to take ballet lessons a few years ago - to be more specific ... A: You can definitely go back to ballet now. There is no reason why not, if you can find a good teacher ... | |
| ballet | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: i'm twelve and i would like to begin ballet lessons am i too old? ANSWER: Hi Giulia. You are not ... A: I don't know what your goals are, with ballet. I think you should just start, learn and choose one ... | |
| ballet | 11/23/2007 |
| Q: i'm twelve and i would like to begin ballet lessons am i too old? A: You are not too old to begin ballet, you are at a good age. If you are serious about becoming a ... | |
| andrew kelly | 11/22/2007 |
| Q: I have been trying to find out the age of Andrew Kelly when he starred in the film For a Lost ... A: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voor_een_verloren_soldaat Hi Edward. Above is the link that tells you ... | |
| Turn-Out and Is it Too Late? | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: I started taking ballet when I was 12 and I continued until I was 17. I had a great teacher and I ... A: Regarding the turnout, you can lose flexibility in any muscles by hard work but not enough ... | |
| is it to late | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: Im 15, and I was wandering if it was a good idea to go to ballet, even thought i never had a ... A: It would be difficult for you to catch up in training at a professional level, but for learning and ... | |
| Adult student | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: and thank you for any information you can give me. I am a beginning student of ballet. I am 21 and ... A: Generally, once you've worked up to three classes a week for at least a year, a teacher would be ... | |
| Fouette turns-compensating for a stiff neck | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: I'm on a mission to get fouette turns, so i've started looking on the internet for tips as well, and ... A: Spotting doesn't seem to be your problem, as you've described. In other words if you could spot ... | |
| Starting Ballet at 18 | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: I've read some previous replies, but nothing seemed to fit my need. I'll be 18 this (Australian) ... A: No, you are not too old to learn ballet. Yes, I'm sure you will find a school there on google. Be ... | |
| late starter | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: I started ballet a couple of months before I turned 14. I absolutely love it, and have a passion and ... A: Normally, a professional training schedule for ballet is 1-2 classes a day. I can't see you in ... | |
| 20y/o starting ballet? | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: my name is Jessica and I was wondering if 20 years old was to late to start ballet. I have never ... A: Here's the statistics: pro dancers usually start around the age of nine. The exceptionally gifted ... | |
| Extentions | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: Im 20 years old and an advanced ballet student. Could you give me some advice on how to strengthen ... A: http://www.thebodyseries.com/newsletters/2006/07/07_21_06%20Arabesque.html is a great letter - ... | |
| starting ballet | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: im 17 and iv never done ballet before but iv been told i need it to do musical theatre in the ... A: http://www.dancetheatreireland.ie/pages/classchedule.htm Hi Hannah. Here is a link I found on a ... | |
| never been a skinny girl... but why not? | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: This seems like a silly question... but how late is too late to make the jump, so to speak, to ... A: Since I cannot see you, but you indicate you are heavier now, I would have to go on what your ... | |
| iam 15=[ | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: Well.. I am 15 at the moment and I've been doing bale since March. I really love doing bale. But I ... A: Typically, you would do 3-4 years before doing pointe work. The accuracy of technique and strength ... | |
| When should I start pointe? | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I am Kyra. I am turning 13 this month and have been taking ballet for 7 years. I just started ... A: Kyra I don't think I can help you any further. Your taking classes is dependent on what your parents ... | |
| I want to be dedicated! | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I'm 14 years old and i started ballet about 2 months ago and I LOVE IT! but i only practice 1 hour a ... A: Would it work to go different schools, or take more than one class at the same school? Are you able ... | |
| My age is my concern about starting ballet | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: Before I decided to ask this question I looked to see if anyone asking the related question anywhere ... A: I think you have a dream that can be fulfilled. There are teachers courses at all the major ... | |
| Pro and cons of toe pads | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: My daughter's pointe teacher wants her to give up her toe pads. What are the pros and cons of ... A: I honestly don't know what a teacher means by "feel the floor", in regards to pointe work. Teachers ... | |
| When should I start pointe? | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I am Kyra. I am turning 13 this month and have been taking ballet for 7 years. I just started ... A: I don't know what to say Kyra. Is your teacher approachable enough to talk to further? Every ... | |
| Bad ankles! | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: I've been dancing for about 8 years now, but not until about 2 years ago did I notice my horribly ... A: The actual structure of your foot bones may have more to do with the degree of flexibility you have ... | |
| Ballet .. Helping? | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: I contacted you a while back. Saying how i just started at 13 and is it too late. I am determined to ... A: There are several articles on http://www.theballetstore.com about stretching. Let me know if there ... | |
| max age for pointe? | 10/27/2007 |
| Q: I grew up overseas and did a ton of dancing throughout my teen years. None of which was Ballet. I ... A: If you plan to stick with ballet for a few years, then you will advance according to often you go to ... | |
| Ballet C.D.s with vocal instructions wanted.... | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: I am in the process of trying to find a ballet C.D. with vocal instructions to teach a small class ... A: I don't know of any. Personally, I would recommend Classical Stretch. (DVD) There is one on ... | |
| Getting healthy | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: I want to start getting healthy and get fit - is dancing alone enough to tone up and lose a little ... A: That would depend on how "unfit" you are, and what your background with exercise is. If you have no ... | |
| dancer with back pain | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: I have a new student (from a studio that closed), 16 years old, who wants to go on pointe. I feel ... A: I recommend that this dancer see an Activator chiropractor. Activator because this method does not ... | |
| When should I start pointe? | 10/6/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I am Kyra. I am turning 13 this month and have been taking ballet for 7 years. I just started ... A: I think you should ask your teacher, specifically, when you can go into a pointe class. Also ask her ... | |
| dance??? maybe? maybe not? | 10/5/2007 |
| Q: OK,my name is April. I am 17 years old and am a senior in high school i have been dancing for about ... A: You know, April, sometimes Dance just doesn't let go! And I hope your mom reads this too, because I ... | |
| help!??? | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: hey im mantha! was just wondering... im doing dance at college! and im doing it for 3 yrs!! i love ... A: I don't know anything about student loans - you could ask at your college. If you are the business ... | |
| pointe-am i ready? | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: i'm 14 and i've been takin ballet for 6 yrs. and 2 months. i have strong leg and ankle muscles, my ... A: I can't tell if you're ready for pointe because I can't see you. The best thing to do is ask your ... | |
| Fitting Pointe Shoes | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: Im 19 years old and starting pointe this month I went with my teacher to buy some pointe shoes. We ... A: Yes, that would be normal. The shoe is stiff enough that it would pop off without ribbons and ... | |
| 11yr old daughter | 9/23/2007 |
| Q: I have an 11 year old that has been taking ballet for 3 years seriously. The last two years, she has ... A: There is no formula - and that leaves it up to every teacher to assess correctly, every student. ... | |
| 11yr old daughter | 9/22/2007 |
| Q: I have an 11 year old that has been taking ballet for 3 years seriously. The last two years, she has ... A: My first question is what does your daughter feel about this? Does she feel confident? How long a ... | |
| Fitting Pointe Shoes | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: Im 19 years old and starting pointe this month I went with my teacher to buy some pointe shoes. We ... A: New pointe shoes are not comfortable even when they are exactly the right fit. I could go into a lot ... | |
| Pointe | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: Other dancing schools do not let students go on pointe until they are atleast 12 or 13. Could she be ... A: I can't tell if your daughter is strong enough without seeing her. What I would look for is this: if ... | |
| Too old | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I'm 15 and I know I'm too old to be able to do it professionally but in ballet does your age ... A: Your age doesn't matter. What does matter is your basic technique. It must be correct enough for you ... | |
| Ballet Issues! | 9/17/2007 |
| Q: !! A few questions on ballet... I am very inflexible! I can not do a split for anything, in dance ... A: I'm going to answer the splits stretch and diet part of your question by referring you to ... | |
| Tombee | 9/14/2007 |
| Q: I work at a gym that offers dance and today they gave each coach a dance term to find out what it ... A: I'm going to refer you to the glossary at http://www.theballetstore.com. Tombee means literally, ... | |
| late age? | 9/13/2007 |
| Q: im already 18 can i still develope? cause i feel that im to old for it! and how can i loose weight ... A: Yes, you are too old to train for ballet professionally, but you can still take ballet to enjoy it. ... | |
| To old to go pro? | 9/12/2007 |
| Q: I really love to do it but I was wondering if thirteen is to old to go pro? A: It's really hard for me to tell, since I cannot see you dance. It has been done before, by the ... | |
| TOO OLD FOR BALLET?? | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: Are you TOO OLD for ballet recital work over 40? None of our local ballet schools do ANY coed ... A: The truth is, Danny, that partnering takes a dancer who has as much training as the ballerina he's ... | |
| TOO OLD FOR BALLET?? | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: Are you TOO OLD for ballet recital work over 40? None of our local ballet schools do ANY coed ... A: I think it probably is, Danny. Studios gear the classes toward getting the most students. Partnering ... | |
| Ballet to Help a Gymnast | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: My question is when is the best time for my daughter to get back into ballet given our unique set of ... A: Growth plate injuries do require a very long term follow up. I wouldn't worry about your daughter ... | |
| Pointe | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: Hey! I studied ballet when i was 3, then quit at 7. I am now 13 and am starting again, but i don't ... A: Your first project now is to find the best teacher in your area. http://www.theballetstore.com and ... | |
| aprentice | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: im thinking about becoming a aprentice in a ballet company. on there website it says a aprwentice ... A: Dancers' salaries usually start around $400 per week and go up from there with experience and ... | |
| Pros and Cons | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: What good does ballet do for you? Does ballet make you taller? Does it give you good posture? I'm an ... A: It depends on whether you think you will like it or not. Do you enjoy watching ballet? Ballet is a ... | |
| In-toeing | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: My daughter is 11 & has been dancing since she was 6. She does ballet & Modern Jazz & loves it. I am ... A: That's a hard question to answer. Have you been told if her toeing-in is related more to her thigh, ... | |
| ballet shoes | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a question about ballet shoes. I would like to wear my ballet shoes to a dance at my ... A: I don't think there is such a shoe. However, you could get some satin ribbons and sew them on to any ... | |
| Too old? | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: First thank you for the time you put into all of your answers--they're great! When I was little ... A: I think I have the perfect thing for you. Classical Stretch. If you go to this link: ... | |
| Ballet | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: I am 17 and I have started ballet about six months ago. I really enjoy it. My teacher said that I ... A: Sports can impair your flexibility - as you have already experienced, but it is definitely possible ... | |
| flexibility | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: i am 15 and have been doing ballet since i was 3, i really enjoy it however i am naturally ... A: Here's a couple of exercises that will help: To stretch your lateral rotators, your turnout ... | |
| too big for pointe? | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: I'm 17 and I've been dancing fairly seriously (~10-12hrs/week) for the past year. I'd like to go on ... A: Your teacher will know when you are strong enough to do pointe work. It sounds like you are going to ... | |
| pointe work | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: last year i was at a dance school and they told me i was to go on pointe next year(this year) but ... A: It's possible that the all-ballet academy has stricter technical requirements and they just want to ... | |
| Can I Start....AGAIN? | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: I have taken dance classes from the time I was 2 to until I was about 11. When I was 14 I took a ... A: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Choose-A-Ballet-Teacher&id=239395 ... | |
| ballet | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: i am interested in buying pointe shoes but dont know if i should get some or not. i take dance as a ... A: No, Nikki, it is not normal in that most people cannot do that. And I highly recommend being very ... | |
| ballet | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: i am interested in buying pointe shoes but dont know if i should get some or not. i take dance as a ... A: It sounds like you have a lot of natural strength and ability, but I would say no to getting pointe ... | |
| Pointe work | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: I started doing ballet in 2004 and i continued until May 2006. I am now starting ballet again after ... A: I can't answer that because I don't know how strong you were before and how accurate your technique ... | |
| Am I really Ready?? | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: I have been taking ballet for 4 years in a very serious dance school with a teacher who has been ... A: It depends on how your teacher approaches pointe work. Many teachers only do very basic pointe ... | |
| stretching | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: do you know of any really good ballet stretches for turnouts. my legs are impossible.im sixteen just ... A: To stretch your lateral rotators, your turnout muscles, do the following: lying on your back, bend ... | |
| ballet/ running | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: you know how you need strong feet and legs for point, can you go straight to point if you are a 5 ... A: No Lisa, you can't if you have had no ballet training. You will have some strong muscles from ... | |
| help | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: I have been dancing ballet for the past 4 years so far..my problem is that everytime im on vacation ... A: This everyone's challenge! I guess it depends what you do on vacation - lots of activity or ... | |
| a good turnout | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible to increase your turnout after the age of 11? I read in some ballet exercise book ... A: Kim. You can still stretch your turnout muscles - in fact an eighty-year old could so safely with ... | |
| Ballet! | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: I am doing pointe everyday, and doing rigorous ballet work everyday too. My calf had been bothering ... A: It sounds like you have a strain of the muscle. Stretching is good, but once the muscle is strained ... | |
| Injured knee | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: During my training i have been going to two studios and one where the instructor has really been ... A: I think you should see a chiropractor. Likely, your knee went out of alignment when you first felt ... | |
| Split leaps | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: I'm a dancer and ballet is my favorite. I'm very flexible and can do the splits without stretching ... A: For a split jete, timing is important. Both legs have to reach their height just before the height ... | |
| Turn Out! | 7/25/2007 |
| Q: I read one of the question/answers on turn out, and like all of my teachers and the reply answer ... A: Rachel, would you mind if I forwarded your last question to Deborah Vogel? You can read about her at ... | |
| diet and energy requirements | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: I'm doing a school project on ballet at a professional level. one of the things i need to have is ... A: I have performed some ballet, jazz and modern dance, but not hip-hop nor Latin and ballroom. I'll ... | |
| Turn Out! | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: I read one of the question/answers on turn out, and like all of my teachers and the reply answer ... A: I'm sorry for the delay. I had an answer ready to send last night and when I hit "send" I realized I ... | |
| ballet at 59 with knee problems | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I have studied for the last l l/2 years with a wonderful voganova trained teacher. I am 59 - have ... A: I can't answer your question since I cannot see you or your teacher. It's possible there is ... | |
| Websites | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: Dianne. do yoou know any good websites for ballet? I'd like to know them. Also,How do I lose weight? ... A: Firstly, some web sites: http://www.theballetstore.com has articles, books, DVDs, a store, a full ... | |
Dianne M. Buxton
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about ballet positions, ballet movements and ballet technique, pointe shoes and pre pointe exercise, mens training, ballet diet, general health issues related to dance, artistry, performance, modern dance, rehabilitation from injuries, and teaching ballet. I have taught ballet, choreographed, produced and directed dance companies. For any answers related to health questions I will offer my experience, and give references to information, but I also automatically include "see a professional".
Experience
dancer, ballet and modern, choreographer, dance teacher, artistic director, ballet mistress, producer
Organizations
I.S.T.D. Actra, Actors Equity
Publications
http://ezinearticles.com
http://ballettoeshoes.blogspot.com
http://streetarticles.com
http://balletconnections.com
Education/Credentials
Graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada where I studied Cecchetti, Bournonville, Vaganova and Graham technique. Taught at the National Ballet School of Canada, York University, George Brown College and Harvard University.
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