There is an advantage to being a beginner ballet student with 12 years of ballet experience behind you. Instead of frantically memorizing the foot positions at the barre, I can focus on improving my tendu and maintaining my turnout. I can add arms to my leg movements without hesitation. I can ignore all of the technique tips given by my ballet teacher before and after the exercise, right?
Wrong. For some reason, I thought that a few years of experience ending six years ago qualified me to become my own ballet instructor and I fidgeted with my nails while our substitute ballet instructor went over the proper way to perform a glissé or a pas de bourré. I thought that my prior knowledge of how to complete a movement proficiently made me the expert in the class because, frankly, I've done it all before.
True, past experience helps. My muscles have developed a specialized memory that make some movements feel like second nature and will require little to no brain power to pull off in a technically proficient manner. Yet, there is no point at which my technique (and especially MY technique) will be perfect. There is no point in my life where I can sit back and say,"Now I am the best dancer in the world and I don't need the feedback of anyone else." There exists an endless list of movements, steps, and phrases that I stumble through and generally mess up. There are jumps and turns that I cannot do to save my life. The solution? Back to basics.
I must always return to the most basic steps and movements and improve my form. When I do a single pas de bourré, I must remember to keep my leg straight from the brush of the foot to the soutenu. I must strive to keep on my weight like every single other dancer out there, beginner or professional. My ears and eyes should be open when my instructor offers useful tips, from analogies that include raindrops falling off of arms to understanding the grounding of a sequence of jumps. I shouldn't beat myself up about mistakes but I shouldn't let my head inflate to the size of Jupiter when I succeed either. Balance, it seems, extends beyond arabesques and developpés.
Today reminded me of what I love about dance: I have a lot to learn.
That's what I love about dance. There are so many things to learn, not only in the dance style you choose, but there are so many amazing styles out there!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this will continue the entire year, or if it'll end up being a one time thing, but though I can't take the tap class I am going to the salsa/latin class tomorrow! Super. Pumped.
Awesome! Do you have to wear heels? I have yet to venture from barefoot/slipper-type footwear to heels. I imagine I will have to work on my arrogant, weak ankles before then.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your class - I look forward to hearing about it!!