When I went away to ballet school, I learned a ton and made countless fond memories, but it was a lot to take on. 12-hour days were common; time and energy for the “extras” my teachers suggested, were not. I loved ballet and wanted to keep learning, but sometimes I struggled to keep up.
When I eventually got around to my teachers’ advice, it helped me take better care of my body, understand technique more deeply, and smooth out the cycle of motivation and self-criticism.
I’m taking a wee break to replenish my spoons1 after having a blast leading Intro to Ballet. I’ll be back in action mid-October, but in the meantime I’m sharing some ballet advice my teachers gave me, with bite sized versions that fit into busy lives:
1. Get the Anatomy Colouring Book — Nobody tell Mrs. McIntosh, but I didn’t actually get around to buying this book until I’d graduated 🤭 When I finally did, filling in the pages helped me learn where muscles and bones connect, how they behave, and create colourful visualizations to use in class.
Bite sized version: Spend five minutes image searching muscle groups that are important for ballet, like muscles of the feet or hips. Try to imagine those same brightly coloured muscles moving in your own body.
2. Keep a dance journal — I was actually required to submit 5 pages of my dance journal every semester as part of my high school credits. I wish I’d kept my journals, and I wish I’d written way more.
From tracking corrections and what you feel in your body, to celebrating breakthroughs, to memorizing an exam syllabus or your teacher’s beautifully crafted enchaînments 😉 dance journals can skyrocket your progress and create a precious memento to look back on.
Bite sized version: You can choose to journal for an hour or just a minute! It can be as simple as putting one sentence into your agenda or the notes app on your phone.
3. Go easy on yourself, you’re doing better than you think — I tried to take this advice right away, I really did! It might be the biggest lesson I learned from ballet, and maybe that’s why it took me so long…
Even when progress feels at a standstill, each practice session takes you one step closer. Keep moving thoughtfully and playfully, and know your body and brain are taking it all in.
Bite sized version: Notice one thing that’s going great. You can even write it in your dance journal!
Have fun, keep practising, ask lots of questions and take breaks when you need to.
Hope to dance with you again soon,
Natasha
1https://theabilitytoolbox.com/what-is-a-spoonie-spoon-theory-chronic-illness/