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Every letter you send is read, but I can't always respond to each one. If you've written, or visited this column, Thank You! |
| Dancers, We've closed this column and replaced it with dozens of message boards - please visit ShoutOut the dancers boards. September 11, 1997 Dear Jenny, I'm a 19 year old balletomane, and I would very much like to get into dance. I did take ballet a long, _long_ time ago, for a very short time because my mom pulled me out before the recital, saying that my little sister was going to be born and we wouldn't have time for dance, and that I didn't like it, anyway. And though, later on I kept asking to take ballet classes, I wasn't allowed to. Now, I'm too old to begin any sort of career, but I love ballet and would love to learn the steps and the movement properly. However, my college doesn't offer dance (it's an engineering school) and I don't think it would be a good idea to try to find a ballet school in the city where I dorm (Newark, NJ). Do you have any suggestions of how I can deal with this "impossible" situation? Longing to Dance Dear Longing, If you can't travel to a dance studio, you might have another option available. In a dorm full of girls, at least some of them will probably be dancers. Express your interest on a bulletin board, the school's web site, or newspaper. You just might be able to get enough girls together to even pay for a student teacher or a professional teacher. If the dorm doesn't have a lobby or other room that will work then look for an aerobics room, basketball court, or racquetball court at the school's gym. If there is enough interest they should let you reserve space on a regular basis. Have fun! Let me know if you get something worked out, I'd be interested in your solution. Jen September 8 1997 Dear Jenny, HELP! I don't know what to do or say! Your dance studio is small in a small area, but we are fairly good. But now everything in the studio is so competitive. Not competitive with the teacher, but competitive against each other. Everyone tries to dance better then each other instead of trying to dance better for themselfs. Everyone wants all the glory. I don't even want to be there as much! But there is no other studio's around. There is no way your teacher will understand this, it is something I think we have to change ourselves, but I don't know how! I hope you can help, soon, before all of our friendships are lost! Jessica Dear Jessica, You need to think about competition differently and understand how to keep it in sort of a pocket. First, competition is very healthy if you want to develop your skills. It is okay for you to compete with your best friend. If her extension is a little higher, you'll work harder. She'll be trying to get better too. The result should be that both dancers are pushing themselves to excel. Your teacher couldn't ask for a better situation. Be sure you are competing for technical skills, artistry, roles, and compliments from the teacher. Other stupid stuff like the line at the water fountain, clothing, being a teachers pet, and so on are where things can get ugly -- so ignore them. So, learn when to put competition in a pocket and forget about it when interacting with your friends outside of class. Make sure they understand this too. Also, once roles are set or the competition team is picked, you have to learn to focus on the teamwork needed to make everybody look good. Don't carry a grudge or get envious or ugly because of something that happened in class. You should think 'Okay, she turned better than I did today.' Congratulate her. Decide to do better next time, then put those thoughts in a pocket and go have fun with your friend. Jen September 6 1997 Dear Jenny, I am writing you in regards to my daughter who was asked to participate this year in a pointe technique class at her studio. First a little background...my daughter just turned 9 yrs. old, she is beginning her 5th year of ballet, she takes ballet class 2.5 hr. a week along with 2hrs. of tap and jazz, she also takes private lessons for ballet solos. By nature, she has the traditional "ballet body"...natural thinness, hyperextensive arms and legs, every muscle in her body is defined. She has always had grace, strength and amazing feet. (Her teacher once told her that she was blessed with those feet and that "one in a million" have those feet.) When I spoke with her teacher about this class, he told me she would participate with soft shoes only. So the possibility of her actually going on pointe would not be until next year when she is 10 yrs. old. She loves ballet dearly and I would like to do the right things for her. I have combed the internet looking for ANY advice on this subject. I was hoping you could give me some insight into this and possibly some additional information sources. Thanks, A Concerned Parent Dear Concerned, It is very possible to start pointe too early and in so doing cause some bad damage to young feet. I'd recommend visiting the Capezio web site, they have a section on this exact issue. You'll find them at www.capezio.com. Jen August 31 1997 Dear Jenny, Bad joints and backs run (or actually limp) in my family. So far I've escaped any serious problems, but lately one has started to come up. When I extend my leg to the side, like in a grand battement, it makes a clicking sound so loud it can be heard over the music. It doesn't hurt, but it gets stuck! Twice during class I've had to get the teacher to come over and literally pull down my leg! (On the upside, I have better extension to second becuase I can't get my leg down.) Is there anything to do? Stuck in Second Dear Stuck, I wish you had said more about the joints and backs in your family. Some of the possibilities would include inherited or dietary forms of arthritis, excessive joint flexibility or hyperextension. Getting stuck in second could be due to an actual dislocation of the hip joint when you battement. This is something you really want to avoid. No matter how wide a second you think you should have, tone it down and work with the legs well in front of your limits. The teacher might want your kicks to happen behind your shoulder, but you've already demonstrated that doesn't work for you. I'd also recommend visiting a dancer-aware orthopedic specialist. You should learn about what is really going on. Perhaps special physical therapy could help you manage the problem. Jen Dear Jenny, Hi! First I would like to tell you that I think what you are doing is really wonderful. From experience I know that the world of dance can be very, very, hard. I have taken ballet for 13 years now and it is my life. I went to the National Ballet School Of Canada (N.B.S) for three years. Ballet was and still is my life. I could no longer attend the N.B.S due to a hip problem. When I found this out I just wanted to die I felt my life was over. My family and friends helped me through this difficult time in my life, but I felt no one really understood. I feel that if I had known about you, you would have been a huge help. I'm now 15 years of age and help teach jazz,and tap. I also take ballet, jazz and tap. I guess you are wondering why I'm writing to you. It's to say that I think you are so kind to help us dancer's out because it's hard and we need more people like you! Thank you! Unsigned Dear Dancer, Okay, now I'm blushing. Realize it or not, you are doing the same thing with your teaching. Teaching can be highly rewarding and takes very special, well trained people to do it well. If your heart is in it, I highly recommend staying with it! Many Thanks! Jen August 21, 1997 Dear Jenny, Hello, I am an 18 year old single teen mother. I've always loved dance ever since I was much younger. I've never had a lesson before, but I'm considering getting into professional dance. Is it too late to become a dancer? I am currently a fulltime student at a community college, and I want to get involved with dance classes and eventually maybe even audition for CALARTS. (California Institute of the Arts) The application for that school is based upon audition and portfolio. How can I even stand a chance in getting accecpted into something like that when I dont know the first thing about dance lessons??? I know I want to become a professional actress/dancer. But how can I go about accomplishing my dreams???I figure starting college is a way to start, but what is the next step after I get my assiociates in arts degree? Sometimes I can even visualize certain dances to certain songs, I've always loved to make up dances every since I was a little girl. I use to make them up in my basement with my friends, and put on little performances in front of my family. I know this is my passion, dance and acting. Other people want to be teachers, doctors, or poliece men, but I've always wanted to become a dancer/actress in Hollywood, I've never wanted to be anything else. Can you help me step by step, how to accomplish my education in dance and stand a chance for CALARTS, how to earn a portfolio and what ever I may need in the future to acheieve my dreams? Thank you so much for taking the time to read this... Sherrie Dear Sherrie, You have been dancing, just not in a school. Before getting too excited about CALARTS, why don't you go take some classes at a private studio near you? Most will take adult students on a walk-in basis to let you evaluate the class. The goal would be to discover how quickly and how well you can pick up a combination that is given to you. If the classes leave you frustrated and behind the music, plan on finding a place to take regular classes for a while. If you are a fast study and handle the moves well, I wouldn't necessarily wait before you start taking more advanced classes and auditioning. This is all assuming that you are interested in dance besides ballet, where you really will need a solid foundation. You don't always have to walk before you run, but that'd be the exception rather than the rule. With both the dance and the acting, get all the training and all the experience you can. For the performance experience, both college programs and small local companies can provide valuable stage time. An art degree is no guarantee of employment and actually not much of a concern for people hiring dancers and actors. On the other hand if you want to teach or get into arts administration a degree would be highly valuable. Especially with another mouth to feed, I'd suggest working on a degree for an occupation more likely to be a 'sure thing' while you pour your passion into the dance and acting. Lets say you went to school to learn court reporting, computers, or something like that. You'd then have something to fall back on, even working as a temp, while you act and dance your way to Hollywood. Best wishes! Jen August 20, 1997 Dear Jenny, Hi! I am 10 years old. I have a problem. I dance at a Russian studio and they want you to get a full turnout at an early age. Usually, you start there when you first start dancing. I've been there for two years. I don't have the proper turnout that they want me to use. My feet can do it but my hips and thighs can't. What should I do? Unsigned Dear Dancer, Turnout is the outward rotation of the upper leg and should be viewed as a 'process' or an 'engagement' of the muscles. It is not a static semi-relaxed pose. Achieving a perfect fifth position by torquing the lower legs only gets the feet in the correct position. The older you get, the more risky this lower leg rotation becomes. It is really easy to over rotate the legs while in a plie because the hips will make it possible. Standing or jumping out of that plie causes the upper legs to 'unwind' and since the feet are planted all those nasty rotational forces get taken at the knee. This is very bad. Any time you bend in the knees, you want the knees and legs to fold down directly over the foot. This is not possible if the feet are over-rotated. Closing in a tight 5th is great. Having good knees is better. These are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Work on rotating only at the upper leg and on maintaining that rotation when you stand on one foot (even with a foot in the air, both legs rotate at the tops 'really hard') without the barre. It can be difficult to change the old school thinking on this. Especially when they are used to dealing with even younger, more pliable dancers. I'd specifically ask them for stretches and exercises for working on turn out and keep fifth position as safe as possible. It will come with time. Jen August 15, 1997 I want to be a professional dancer, but there is only 1 problem. My body shape it's a joke -- all the girls in my class are like so skinny and I'm not overweight just bigger than them! I've tried everything even anorexia nothing works! If I diet my dance suffers! I've been trying out for ballet schools for 2 years and every year they say the same thing your just not cut out for this school! Which isn't true I've been dancing for 11 years and I'm 13! Any advice beside the usual for me?? the odd one in ballet Dear Not So Odd, Truth be known, the 'ballet body type' is really very rare. These people just tend to collect in studios. So actually it is ballet that is the 'odd' fit and is not representative of the general population. A true dancer just wants to get out there and move to the music. Someone with a ballet body won't try out for a professional wrestling team because they just don't fit the requirements. This happens outside ballet too. To be successful you have to learn to pick your tools and to pick the sand box you want to play in. Another example. My dad REALLY wanted to fly fighter jets when he was starting his military career. At 6'4" tall the Air Force could not consider him because he did not fit the equipment. He went to work for the Army instead because they welcomed him into the helicopter school. He still got to dance in the clouds. There are so many really cool dance forms out there -- just look beyond ballet. Start with modern, sure, but also check into ethnic and folk styles. Dance schools for flamenco, African, Mexican, Native American, Middle Eastern, and other dance forms will rarely turn people down and provide many performance opportunities. Jen August 13, 1997 Dear Jenny, I am 26 and want to take ballet lessons, however, I don't know if any schools in my area have classes for adults. Can you recommend an instructional video which will teach me the positions and help me meet my goals of becoming more limber, flexible, and graceful? I appreciate your expert advice in this matter. Thank you for your time.
Dear Rebecca, Don't chicken out! Pick up the phone and call the local studios. Many, many ballet studios have daytime and evening adult classes. Jen July 30, 1997 Dear Jenny, My class just got back together for the fall session. I'm really worried about one of my friends. Last year, before we broke for summer, she said she was going to lose weight over the summer. I told her she should check with her doctor and her teacher before she did. I don't know if she listened, but she looks like she lost more then twenty pounds, and I think she's trying to lose more. She swears she only lost five pounds and isn't dieting, but I find that hard to believe. What should I do? Anxious over Anorexia Dear Anxious, I wish I had a magic solution for you. Focusing on the issue by pestering her about her diet or weight can make her withdraw from your relationship. Be a good friend, never comment on this issue as it relates to her and don't respond to any questions she might have about her appearance. Accept her as a friend thick or as a friend thin. She doesn't need any more pressure linking her appearance to her acceptance by her friends, family, and studio. Adults are horrible at this, just watch them. You'll hear them comment about 'that little tummy' or 'she is starting to show' or 'isn't she a getting a little chunky?' even before saying hello. They just don't think, very much like what women used to put up with from men in the workplace 20 years ago with the sexist remarks that were so much more 'normal' at the time. What ever happened to 'she has a nice smile' or 'she is sharp as a tack' or 'your turns are getting really pretty' -- something positive and ego supporting and unrelated to the body we are given and can't always control. If you want to improve her education on the topic, get together for some Internet research. Ask for her help in determining if anorexia would be the right thing for you, Anxious, to do to lose weight. It might take a few sessions to find some really good information on the web about it and for her to talk you out of it. Wishing your friend well, Jen July 25, 1997 Dear Jenny: I am 24 years old and have taken ballet classes all my life. I have always loved to dance. Ballet to me has always been my favorite way to exercise, maintain flexibility, relieve stress, and just to have a great time. I have always felt that people of all ages and all skill levels should be able to benefit from the advantages of taking dance classes. However, now that I am older sometimes I am forced to skip a dance class here and there to take care of my "adult" responsibilities. It is so hard to progress as a dancer when you sometimes have to miss classes. I always hate the extra soreness I feel in my legs when I have not danced in a few days. Sometimes I find it easier to fit in my schedule if I do a little ballet training on my own in my own home. However, when that is the case it is always difficult for my to determine if I am getting a good workout since I have to monitor my own progress. Is there anything you can suggest that I can do to help me with this? Where should I look to maybe find some books or videos to help me put together some good bar or floor exercises to practice on my own. I will also soon be moving to a new city and it may be awhile before I can settle into a new dance school! I just hate to think I may be forced into losing some strength and flexibility in the months to come, and that I will then have to go thought the pain and struggle of building myself back up again. Just the thought of that is enough to make my heart break. Do you have any advise for me? Sincerely, Too Busy to Dance Dear Busy, This is a slippery path you are walking on. While some intermediate and above dancers can create effective self-taught classes in an empty mirrored studio, the rest of us, especially working at home without regular classes, are more likely to get bored and drop it all together. Tough pill to swallow, but you are at one of those crossroads that will require you to be incredibly assertive in order to progress with your dancing. Schedule your class like an important meeting at work and don't miss it. Make your travels and move work for your dancing by targeting areas with excellent studios. When you go house shopping, take a leotard and go studio shopping too. Good Luck! Jen July 17, 1997 Dear Jenny, I am twelve years old and I have been dancing for almost five years. I love dance with all of my heart and all of my teachers have said that I am a very promising student because I work. I would really love to become a dance teacher or a professional dancer but I don't think I can. I really don't think that I get to dance at the studio as much as I should. I only go for about four to five hours a week. My parents think that that is plenty of time but they don't take my dancing seriously. I try to work at home every day but I never know exactly what to do. Of course I do barre work and I stretch but then I run out of ideas. Also, do you think it is necessary to be in all types of dance if I want to become a teacher or own a studio? My parents only let me be in ballet and pointe. They say that that is enough money to pay for dance already. Thank you for all the help in advance. Thanks, Worried Dear Worried, Well, first of all you can be a very successful teacher just doing ballet. Ballet training will make it easier to learn modern and other styles, even if you don't start them for many years. And finally, nothing will excite your parents more than your great performances at recital or when a dance-savvy adult honestly points out that their daughter is very talented. Jen July 16, 1997 Dear Jenny, I am very happy to find your article! I am 12 years old and I just started pointe this summer at my city's small studio. Now more than ever I am finding it necessary to have a place to dance/practice at home. My basement is finished and carpeted and we use it as a family room/guest room/office. I can't dance down there right now but my parents say that if I get the money to re-finish it to suite my needs I can. The problem is that I can't get that money. I get $27 a month and I am have no clients that I can baby-sit for. My parents refuse to let me get a paper route and I have no ways to make the money I need in a reasonable amount of time. Any suggestions. PLEASE HELP! Yours truly, Jamie Dear Jamie, Hmmm. Seems like the old parental smoke-screen trick. Two suggestions, one serious, one for fun:
Jen July 16, 1997 Dear Jenny, I'm 12 years old and I still have problems remembering my epaulement. Is there a way I can remember it, because I get really embarrassed when I forget it. Sincerely, Always Forgeting Dear Forgetting, I blame it on old age, but you better not steal my excuse! Jen July 16, 1997 Dear Jenny, I'm 13 and take classical ballet in NY. This September I want to try out for a ballet school (before I get older and it becomes too competitive).I was thinking of the New York City Ballet or the American Ballet Theatre. I know these are great schools, but would it be way too hard to get in? What are the odds? Would it only be a waste of time? Or can you suggest another good ballet school in NY? Where do I find information about audition times? I know if I want to become a dancer I have to build my career now. Also I was wondering what to expect at auditions. What should I wear? Should I practice certain things at home? Are there certain things I should concentrate hard on at auditions like keeping my head up, looking pretty when I dance, or turning out my feet? What skills do they especially look for? I just want you to know that dance is my life and it's so important to me. Thanks for reading all of millions of questions! Clueless About Dance Schools Dear Clueless, Actually these are really great questions that we all ask at one point or another. The best answer I can give you for all these questions is to refer you to Sondra Forsyth's column here on DanceArt.com. Sondra teaches girls your age in New York City at STEPS and she regularly posts information about getting into auditions and schools. Why don't you read her column for the current information she has and then maybe go take a class from her at STEPS? That might give you a chance to talk to her about what you need to do next. Click to the column here. Jen July 14, 1997 Dear Jenny, I'm 14. I've been taking dance for about 3 years. I take Chinese Folk Dance, Jazz, and Tap. My Tap/Jazz teacher is suggesting me to take Ballet or to take Lyrical. My aunt has seen me dance before and she also suggested for me to take Ballet. The problem is that my mom doesn't want me taking Ballet. I talked to her about it but I think she is still against the idea of me picking up Ballet. I think she is concerned because I just got moved up to a higher level in my Chinese Folk Dance. I also am going to be playing on the volleyball and basketball teams. I also want to be on yearbook commitee and to be in the spring musical at my school. I know i will be able to handle all these activities but how should i convince my mom telling her i can handle all these activities? Unsigned Dear Reader, How do you do it all? I bet your mom is concerned about the Chinese Dancing becoming less important to you as the other activities grab your interests. You should realize that if you pick up ballet it could consume more time than you'd imagine. If you get serious about ballet the volleyball and basketball workouts could slow your progress considerably. If you just want to try ballet, replace the jazz or tap class with the ballet classes. If you keep trying new things and then learn to make decisions about what you want to focus on you should have lots of fun! Jen July 9, 1997 Dear Jenny, I was hoping you could give me some advice. I am a
20 year old male who has not been dancing about 1.5-2
years. This fall my dance teacher is moving me to a more
advanced class and she will probably have me doing lifts.
I have been thinking about doing weight training to help
build up my strenght, especially upper body. I was
wondering if there are any Thanks! Bryan Bryan, You'll get conflicting advice on this topic from the dance community largely because the dynamics of lifting a dancer is so different from handling static weights. Weight machines and barbells won't normally jump into your arms, won't expect to be caught in mid-flight, and don't place the same demands on your timing and balance. The initial phases of a weight training program should focus on developing joint strength and stability, usually on a machine instead of free weights. Other than reducing your risk of injury, the goal is to build a solid foundation for the strength you'll build when you start lifting dancers. Moving into less controlled exercises on free weights, elastic cords, etc. could really disappoint you in terms of results. Weights and machines have handles that you can wrap your hand completely around and the push is usually straight up. Your dance partner has to be compressed, often below the rib cage, with open hands. This rotates your hands and forearms, requires both lateral and vertical effort and doesn't show off any of the gains you might be making on the arm curls at the gym. Weights can also train you to strangle the barbell as you lift. A dancer will complain. A lot! A guy digging fingers into your sides is no fun. The gym won't turn you into a ready-made dance partner (unless you get so strong that her weight really becomes trivial for you to handle -- then you wouldn't exactly look like a dancer). What I'm telling you is that it takes a lot of partnering to become one. Get an understanding of what is expected of you, what your placement should be, and so on from dance class, and really work on timing. Then see if you can build a specific training program using weights, elastic exercise cords, etc. that supports those exact lifts, hand positions and all. Jen July 5, 1997 Dear Jenny, I am a member of a drill team in Texas, I'm President of what we call Company A, also referred to as social officers. We recently held try-outs for the upcoming year, and due to the large number of girls we lost last year, we took an a lot of new girls. The officers and I are very concerned, last year was the first time in 4 years that our team had done well at competition. (Best in class 4A, winner's circle, and many choreography, precision, and technique awards). We owe a lot of our success to the spirit & initiative, to our director and EVERY member of the team. However, many of the new girls seem to have no "WANT TO" many of them have no idea what it is all about and how much it means to all of us. We are very much counting on another award winning season, do you have any suggestions on how we could raise morale??? Jennifer Dear Jennifer, When a team picks up lots of new members suddenly, instead of gradually, there is some very basic team building work that has to be done. You really need to reach back to the techniques used when the team was very new and not as focused. The new girls should feel like they are important part of a new and improved team and not like they are fighting just to be accepted. This actually requires lots of work from the old members. They have to put egos and boredom aside. If you aren't enthusiastic and hard working when showing the old routines, the new girls can pick up and copy attitudes you'd rather not see. Consider pairing off each new girl with one or two of the pros. The pros are 'mentors' and they should be given goals and be rewarded for getting the newbees up to speed technically and to help integrate the newbees into the social scene. This gives the pros some responsibility and pride all while embracing the new girls and working as a team to develop skills. Good luck on the season! Jen July 4, 1997 Dear Jenny, I have a list of questions............. 1) I'm already 11 and I just started ballet I know its kind of late but I really want to be a professional dancer. Can I still have a chance?? 2) My dance school meets two times a week for one hour a class. Is this enough or do I need to take longer classes??? 3) I want to go to a special fine arts school when I get 14 or 15 is that enough time to get really good?? 4) How long will it take to get my pointe shoes??? No Name Given Dear Dancer, 1) Absolutely. 2) This is a good way to start out. As you get stronger slowly increase the number of days per week that you dance. 3 & 4) When baking a cake, I set the oven temperature and timer as recommended by the recipe. The ingredients generally behave in a predictable way. The cake is pretty much finished when the buzzer sounds, but sometimes it might need a little more time. When a reader writes and asks 'how much time is needed to make a dancer' I have no way of guessing what the 'class temperature' is set to (hours danced, etc), what the ingredients are like (teacher, you), and so on. All I can tell you is that dedicated dancers with great instruction can do some pretty amazing things in 3 to 4 years. Everybody gets stronger and better at different rates so the best thing you can do is to work with the best teachers you can find. Rely on their recommendations for when it is okay to start point and for feedback on your training needs. Hope this helps a little! Jen June 28, 1997 Dear Jenny, I am having problems on my toe shoes, when I go up on my right foot, I don't go up high enough. I am having problems. I am having trouble get up on the top. I sort of roll right out of my position. I can't figure out what to do! I practice all day long. Please try to help. I am also having problems stretching. I can do a split. (left and right) I can do a Russian but I can't do anything else. I think I need to work on building my legs up. How? Please Help! So Many Questions!!!! I can't stretch, build, or go up high enough! Thanks! Casey Dear Casey, Since there are so many things to talk about here, and so much information I'd need from you to be specific, I'm going to be very general and hope that you get something out of it. On the problem with staying on pointe - make sure that you take some time to try out different shoes and different types of shanks. You'll find some work better than others. Also remember that practice only makes you perfect at practice. Your practice must be perfect to lock perfection in your body and muscle 'memory.' On the other issues, your expectations and demands on yourself are very high and you will likely be very good as a result. It sounds like you need exposure to new material and new instruction so I'd recommend checking out workshops that include high quality dance instruction, Pilates (tm), and other stretching and toning activities. Jen June 21, 1997 Jenny, Hello, I am 21 years old and have been dancing since I was 4. When I was 17 I injured my foot. The stage I was dancing on wasn't in the best of condition and I got the heel of my tap shoe caught in the stage and it wrenched my foot dislocating the joint where the big toe comes in at the arch. My foot was casted to help it heal. At that time the doctors thought I had just sprained it. It was later that year after a CAT scan, an MRI, a bone scan, and a nerve test, that we learned that I dislocated the joint. When I got my cast off in July, I asked my doctor if I could dance, He told me I could do whatever I felt my foot could handle. I was back in dance classes the next week. That next year was really hard on me I spent alot of time trying to strengthen my foot. I would end up coming home and icing my foot every night from dance classes. My foot would swell, be painful, and cause me to limp at times. The next year I decided due to my foot that I should dance less. I dropped company, and cut my class time in half. I was still dancing quite a bit. The next fall was time for college. I am going to college for Elementary education majoring in reading and minoring in dance and Math. With the dance minor I would like to teach a few dance classes a week. I enrolled in ballet at my university and then I called the only dance studio near campus (since I go to school in a small town.) I enrolled in their advanced Tap jazz and ballet classes. These classes were less advanced then I was but it didn't bother me I was dancing and I was learning a new teacher's style. I danced there for 2 years. My foot hasn't bother me much though 2 years. Now I am home for the summer and dancing at my old dance studio where I was put into all the advanced classes. I have noticed with these classes that my foot isn't very strong I have also noticed that I tend to favor my foot even when I try not to. It isn't that I can't do the steps if I think hard and put my mind to it I can make my foot do it but if I am trying to do the step in a whole combination I favor my foot. this really irritates me because I SHOULD be able to do it correctly. What would your recommendations be to help fix this problem? Also my foot has gone back to being painful and swelling although not as much as before. Before you ask my doctor has said that there is nothing he can do for my foot really because I dislocated the joint, (it is a fixed joint) the joint tend to move more then it should that is causes the pain and all he could do is surgery and fuse the joint together but then the joint would have limited movement and he doesn't feel that we should do surgery since I can walk on it. Broken Hearted Dear Broken Hearted, A statement from you doctor like 'since you can walk on it' leads me to believe that your doctor doesn't really understand how important dance is to you. You've been fighting the problem for 4 years and you haven't given up on dance. I'd say it is time to find a dancer's foot doctor for a second opinion. You MUST find somebody that knows and treats dancers regularly -- a dance-savvy doctor is a completely different breed. I can't stress it enough -- dancers really need to find doctors and therapists that specialize in treating dancers and dance injuries. The mission you give your new doctor is very important. You don't want to just walk. You don't want to just be pain free. You want to dance until the cows come home and not hurt. Since you have so many images of your foot in your medical file you might be able to simply forward the file to a doctor for an initial opinion. A typical doctor doesn't often encounter patients with the drive, longevity, flexibility, and strength that dancers have. Injuries are common. Typical remedies are limited to easing pain and returning functionality to a 'conventional' level. Dance is often seen as a phase we are supposed to grow out of and age is supposed to slow us down and reduce our activity levels. Balderdash! Jen June 13, 1997 Dear Jenny, I'm know it's a little early to be looking since I'm only 14, but lately I've been looking around at colleges and thinking about my future in dance. I've been dancing for 7 years. I just can't tell you how much I love it. It's what I want to do in life. I understand the difficulties of getting in to a ballet company, but I'm more concerned about the college thing. You can get your bachelor's degree in choreography or performance. Could you please tell me a little about these two? What kind of jobs could be available for a choreographer? If I don't make it into a company or a school or something like that, my second wish would be to start a dance school or studio of my own. But I really have no idea about how I could fulfill this dream. Is there anything I should be doing now to prepare myself for becoming a choreographer, dancer, or owner of a dance studio? I take ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical(would this be considered modern ballet?), and theatre, all at a private studio(I live in Atlanta, GA and the only major dance company I know of is The Atlanta Ballet and many of the dancers at my studio have gone there and came back because they didn't like it or because they didn't like the theory. Our studio teaches Balanchine's theory. Any suggestions for me here?). Is there anything else I should be taking? Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions and I think your advice is really wonderful. Kimberly Dear Kimberly, 14 is the perfect age for thinking ahead about your career opportunities. All the dance related careers you are considering will be greatly helped by developing a strong background in dance technique, dance vocabulary, performance, and even dance history. If statistics make getting into a dance company difficult, things are far more difficult for choreographers. Consider that a dance company might employ 10 - 60 dancers, but they might stick to a classical repertoire and very rarely commission new works. There are choreography opportunities in opera, music videos, musicals, film, industrials, and theme parks, but they won't necessarily be ballet oriented. If you are good at it, or have a love for choreography, you are certainly encouraged to pursue it. This would be a great time to learn as much as you can and to create all the dances that you can. Hopefully there will always be room for people with special talents in choreography. Workshops could be a good way for you to try out your wings and will help you understand how strong the interest is for you. A career in choreography is very dependant on building a strong reputation and the road can be a long one. People often establish dance careers first, then focus more on choreography. As far as the types of dance and theory go, you should study exactly what is necessary for admission into the programs and companies you dream about. If your dream company rarely takes dancers trained by X, why study X? You can always expand your background to include other styles and teaching methods after you get in the door. I highly recommend taking the time to form your own opinions about Atlanta Ballet, just like you do with your dance shoes. One size doesn't fit all. Be open minded and look for possibilities and potential for personal growth. If they are growing and doing interesting things they deserve a look. Running a studio has lots of possibilities and is nice because you can create your own opportunities. It'd be good to have education and experience in teaching dance and a having professional dance career first would only help attract students. You must remember that a studio is a small business. Business school training in accounting and marketing could really help, as would working for other studios. Jen May 31, 1997 Dear Jenny, I really love to dance. All my life I had this love of dancing that I couldn't explain. The problem is that I am 21 years old and I want to take dance classes that teach hip-hop/jazz classes here in Orange County, CA and that compete and perform. But all the dance studios I've been to teach classes for young children. Sincerely, Esther Dear Esther, Check into community, junior, and 4 year colleges and universities in your area. This is true both for kids under normal college ages and for adults. Many times you'll find continuing education, community outreach, and adult programs offering classes and performance opportunities. Talk to the dance departments directly, ask to visit a class, and then explore enrollment options. Another option is to explore fitness classes like aerobics and Jazzercise (tm) at health clubs and rec centers. Some of these have developed and perform routines for exhibitions. To find out more about what is happening in your area, start going to performances of local troupes and masters classes. Ask questions and have fun! Jen May 31, 1997 Dear Jenny, I don't know who I could ask this question to, so I hope you can help. I'm 15 years old and have been dancing for 10 years. My dance teacher recently told me it looked like I have gained weight. I became very self concious of it. I want to know how I can eat right and stay healthy, and loose so weight? I am very serious about dance and know that a dancer has to be very thin to make it. Also do you know how much a 15 year old 5'2" female dancer should approximately weigh? And answers would help so much! Thank you, Ann Dear Ann, A 5'2" dancer, made of solid gold, is going to be much heavier than a dancer of the same dimensions made from other materials, like soap or wood. Height and weight charts are really 'quack charts' so we don't keep them around our offices. Muscle density and other components of your build influence your weight. Your weight is really only a factor when a dance partner is trying to lift you -- the more gold in your veins the stronger he has to be. A better thing to measure is the percentage of body fat. You are right to focus on healthy eating habits because generally keeping your fat consumption low will help you keep things under control. Rather than be self-conscious, be irritated at your teacher, like I am. She/he should never attack or comment on such issues, but instead should apply their considerable influence towards encouraging you to improve your knowledge about nutrition. The healthiest way to eat is to eat a very low fat, low cholesterol, high carbohydrate, high fiber diet. Fruits, veggies, grains, pasta, and legumes are the primary components. For more information you could start with the works of Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. John A. McDougall - both have published books on the subjects of eating healthy. A good starting point for your research on the web is http://www.fatfree.com. Jen Follow-up message dated June 8, 1997 Jenny, I wrote you a letter about a dancers weight and I would like to say Thank you for you help! I really needed some answers and I have check out the web site. Thank you, I wish I could give you a big hug!!!:) Ann May 30, 1997 Dear Jenny, My Dad said that I can't take dance next year just because I forgot to clean my room one day. He already makes me miserable enough and for me dancing is the only way to keep from becoming completely depressed. He doesn't understand how much dancing means to me. Plus, I already have enough trouble and if I miss a whole year I'm afraid I'll never be any good. I have now room to practice at home and it really wouldn't be the same as a class anyway. I tried to talk him into a more reasonable punishment but he won't change his mind. I'm only 14 so I can't get a regular job to pay for dance. My dance teacher told me she would hire me to teach two classes but then she hired someone else who hasn't even taken dance for a while and still isn't that much older than me. I tried to get her to see I could teach when she asked me to help with 1 of her classes. The kids liked & listened to me so I don't know what went wrong. None of my ideas have worked and I don't know what to do. Please help me. Desperate to Dance Dear Desperate, Did your Dad say that he won't pay for classes, or that you can't take regardless of who pays? Don't get in more trouble by working so hard to find a way to stay in class. You have no choice but to fix things with your Dad. Don't fight him or look for other ways to get into class. Do use things you have available - like the dance room at home. Set up the space like you need, see if you can put a sound system and VCR nearby, and ask for his help buying music, and instructional and performance videos. Do you need mirrors? Schedule and keep a regular class, and see if friends can join you. Let him know that you are sticking to it by talking about the class, the video tape, the performers and so on. Be sweet and dedicated, and keep the volume really low if he is home. Keep up with your chores too. Why all this? It'll keep you dancing and just might motivate him to drive you back to the studio. Jen May 25, 1997 Dear Jenny, Hi. I'm going to be fifteen in September, but I just started taking ballet on a regular basis in January. I've danced on and off since I was eight. I'm doing pretty well; my teacher thinks I'll be up on pointe by the end of this session. However, my family, especially my parents, refuse to take my dancing seriously. I'd really like to try for a professional school. In your opinion, how likely is it that I could manage to get into a school and then a company? Please be extremely honest. Late and Longing Dear Longing, In general there are more girls than there are professional jobs. Parents tend to understand the difficult odds you face and they know that typical teens change goals and interests pretty frequently. I'm going to ignore your age because there certainly are late starters that build nice careers for themselves. Consistency and commitment are the best tools you have available to win the hearts of skeptics. Always have a plan B - build skills in another area that you can use when you aren't so active in dance. You might not get into a company, or will need to retire from dancing one day, and you don't want to 'miss a beat' on the transition. All that said, how determined are you? You really want to get to a point(e) where other people's opinions about your chances of success don't matter. Always take and use good instruction and correction. Drink it like you are thirsty. But comments like 'you are too old' should just be little rain drops that run down your back. Jen May 23, 1997 Dear Jenny, I am a 13 year old dancer at a small but amazing dance school. At the Hartford Ballet I fractured my foot during a Grand jete. I have lasted 2 weeks but I still have 2-4 more weeks to go. To make matters worse we are working on a recital to perform in 6 weeks and I finally have a solo. I am also choreographing an entire piece for modern dance class. The problem is all I can do in class is sit and watch. It tears me apart! Especially when I am trying to show students a very abstract dance. I end up crying in the middle of dance class for want of dancing. I am keeping in shape so once I am better I can dance right away, but I am so worried that I won't know the dances that I try to walk through them. However, almost subconsciously, I start dancing almost full out and I don't know if I am hurting myself. And I am really stressed out because I am the lead of 2 musicals and in 2 concerts and well my life is just falling into pieces right here and now. HHHEEElllllllPPP!! Broken and Crying Dear Crying, You know your foot needs time to mend. When there is great dance all around -- it is SO hard to sit still! Before you know it you get carried away while marking a dance and re-injure yourself. We've all been there. Every time you do this you put yourself in a dance time machine. Instead of marching forward toward recovery and dance, you keep taking steps backward, prolonging your 'vacation.' I hate to say this, but if you can't follow your doctor's orders AND just sit and watch then you should stay out of the studio as much as possible. Use the time wisely. You can lean a great deal by studying dance videos and watching student performances. Jen |
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