Capezio Store, New York City

Hello everyone! Yesterday my family and I went to New York City for the day to see a Broadway show and do some sightseeing. It was a lot of fun, we ate at Ellen's Stardust Diner, where the wait staff sing and dance, visited the giant tree in Rockefeller Center, stopped by NBC (30 Rock, anyone?), and ended by seeing the brilliant musical, Bonnie and Clyde. However, before dinner I managed to drag my family into the Capezio store. It is on the second story of a huge building, and there were more leotards, shoes, and other dancing supplies then I've seen in my life. I tried on a few adorable leotards before deciding on a burgundy one with added support in the bust. I also got a pair of knit shorts that are incredibly soft. Here are some pictures:

The store

The leo I got (that isn't me, it's a stock photo)

And I got these shorts in black

New Post Ideas

Hey everyone, hope you are all having a nice winter break! I just want to thank everyone who has been following the blog! I can't believe the blog has over 1,000 views, that's awesome. To my followers, thank you! I always love to see when I get a new follower. I know I haven't made a real post in a while, so sorry about that! I do still check the blog every day in my free time for comments and opinions, I always love to read them.


I have been having a hard time trying to come up with new post ideas. I have a few ideas, but they will take me a few months to get to (ex. I'll be making plenty of Pointe articles once I start in the Spring). If you have anything you want to know or any questions about ballet, please leave a comment and I'll make a post about it asap!

*I have gotten a few requests for exercises to improve turns, flexibility, ect, and after thinking it over, I decided not to make any posts regarding this type of stuff. I would hate for someone to get hurt after trying something I advised, that would kill me. You can ask a qualified dance teacher for these kinds of things, they will be able to help much more then I can.


Also, tell me how you like the new layout! I think it's a bit nicer, but I would love to hear opinions!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

12/20/11

Hi guys, just got back from my teen class. My old teacher was there, so it's nice I got to see her. One of the girls in the class before ours asked to run through her lyrical solo, which is dedicated to her brother in Afghanistan. It's to the song Safe and Sound by Sheryl Crow. It's so sad, I felt like I was going to cry.

Just one more class until winter break.

Nutcracker Opening Night

Hey everyone, we finally made it! Tonight was the opening night for Nutcracker. It was so much fun! I made some great friends backstage, and despite all the little problems (our Rat King was sick, so one of the party dads had to step in and learn the dance in 30 mins), it was great.


The girls were all amazing, I am just so happy to have been apart of something this great. I especially loved the Arabian dance, maybe I could try out in a year or two. We have one more show tomorrow, and that'll be the end, at least for this year.


Some pictures:

Here's my mirror, all decorated. I have little window stickers on the mirror of reindeer and  tree baubles, as well as the red tinsel.

Here's a blurry pic of the snow scene during dress rehearsal. You can see the lights from the orchestra under the stage.

Nutcracker Tech Rehearsal, 12/14

Hey everyone, today was the first tech rehearsal at the Performing Arts Center. The soldiers and jr.corps members got a dressing room. I had to go through a maze of halls and doors to get there, I was worried I'd get lost! The dressing room was almost empty by the time I got there, most of the jr. corps is in the Party Scene. The room has a wrap-around counter with mirrors and lights on the wall. Everyone had decorated their mirrors with tinsel, Christmas lights, stickers, and little nutcrackers. It was so cute. We got called up to the stage after waiting about half an hour. We ran through the scene just once, and after having a little meeting with the soldiers and jr.corps in the dressing room I left. 


I wanted to take some pictures of the theater to post but I forgot! I'll get some at the dress rehearsal tomorrow.

What to Know Before Your First Ballet Class

Hey everyone, here are some things you should know before your first ballet class!


1. Dress code! Call or E-mail your dance studio and find out what you need to wear to class. You can also ask them if they can recommend a good dance supply store.

2. Location and parking. Before going to your ballet class, make sure you know where it is, and make sure you know the parking situation. My dance academy in a city, and the parking lot is very tough to get too. It's in a very large building dedicated to the arts, so it's actually on the 4th floor of the building. It is not fun trying to find parking, then the elevator, then the right floor, then the right studio (out of three) the day of your first dance class, so visit it ahead!

3. Some basics. Do NOT practice ballet AT ALL before you're first class! However, it's good to watch some videos so you'll have a rough idea of what you need to do. Here is a good video. Again, DO NOT practice this at home!

And really, that's all! Don't be nervous for your first ballet class, just relax and have fun!


Edit: The blog was uploading much slower the past few days, so I deleted a few photos from this and it seems to be going faster again. Sorry 'bout that!

Last Studio Rehearsal, 12/11/2011 !

Hey everyone! Today was the last studio rehearsal for Nutcracker! We have two more rehearsals, but they will be at the theater where we will be performing. Everyone is very excited, just 5 more days until opening night!


Today we got to see a bit of a pas de deux between Clara and the Nutcracker that we've never seen before. It was so adorable, it made me wish I was young enough to be Clara next year, but unfortunately starting late does have these drawbacks.  Hopefully I'll be able to do a pas de deux before I go off to college, but I may not ever get that advanced.


Just a side note, I'm starting pointe in late spring. I've never wanted winter to pass this quickly!

New Ballet Shoes!

Hey guys, happy Thursday. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned that for Nutcracker we need black shoes. My dance teacher recommended a spray paint-like leather dye so I could dye them in time for the show. Since I'm dyeing my current shoes, I realized I'll need another pair of pink shoes, so we picked some up today. My old shoes were Bloch split-sole shoes, and my new ones are Capezio full soles. They look much nicer then my old tattered ones and they fit much better. They aren't as comfortable, but breaking them in a bit more should fix that.

12/6/2011

Hey guys, just got back from my teen class. We got our song for the recital, it's Allison Crowe's remake of the Beatle's Let it Be. I think this is a good song for our class, it'll be good for ballet and a little lyrical. I'm front and center for the beginning of the dance *gulp*. I start on one knee, with my other leg straight out. We have the first 45 seconds done already, it's pretty difficult. We do a waltz and an attitude turn, neither of which I've ever tried before tonight. It should be fun though, I'm looking forward to learning and mastering more of the dance.

Here's the song:

Nutcracker Rehearsal, 12/4

Well, it's coming up! Just 12 days until the show premiers! The battle scene is really together, with just a few tweaks needed here and there. I got my costume today, it's a little short in the pants but other than that it's ok. It's white pants and a red top with gold buttons.


I'm pretty excited, next week we're practicing in the theater and then it's just a little while until our first show! It's been so much fun being apart of this, I'll miss it when it's over! There's always next year I guess!

What to Keep in Your Dance Bag

Hey everyone, I got a request for a dance bag post, so here it is! My dance bag is just a plain purple tote bag, so here's what's in it.


1. My skirts. I keep both of my ballet skirts in my dance bag so I don't forget them. I like to have a choice, so that's why I have two. Sometimes I'm in a purple and gray mood, other times pink and black, haha. Mine sort of look like this, they are a little shorter though.

2. Legwarmers. I have a pair of black legwarmers I wear before dance and while I warm up.

3. Therabands. Therabands or any type of rubber resistance band is good for strengthening your feet and ankles for ballet and pointe. 

4. Hair pins, hair ties, and a small brush. The hair pins I use aren't like skinny bobby pins, they are wide and are useful for buns. I can use anywhere from 4 to 12 bobby pins in a bun. I keep extra hair ties in case one snaps when I'm dancing (I have thick hair), or if I forget to put my hair up.  If you have short hair or bangs you may want to get a hair band or pre-wrap.

5. My ballet slippers. I have just plain old Bloch slippers. Take your slippers out of your bag so they can air dry after class.

6. A water bottle. I have a big glass water bottle I take to class, those jumping combinations can get tiring. Empty your bottle or take it out of your bag after class so it doesn't spill.

7. Deodorent. This is kind of weird, but you never know! I have the kind that doesn't show as obviously on clothing so you can't see it on my black leotard.

8. My cell phone and Ipod. I always have my cell on me to text my mom if class is cancelled/shortened/lengthened, and I make a calender event on it when Nutcracker rehearsals are posted. I listen to my Ipod, my ballet playlist of course, before class to get into the dancing mood. I have a purple nano, like the one in the picture, plus a few scratches.

Hope this was helpful!

FAQ's

Hi guys, I'm headed off to class in a few minutes. I just wanted to make a quick post. I think a FAQ post would be good, and I'm currently working on it, but I'd love to hear some of your questions about me or ballet. Please leave a comment!

Nutcracker Rehearsal, 11/27

Today we had another Nutcracker rehearsal. There was rehearsals for every part going on from 10 am to 5 pm, mine was 1:45 to 2:30. We rehearsed the battle scene with the soldiers, mice, Soldier Captain, Clara(s), Drosselmeyer, and the mouse king. 

The Mouse King and Drosselmeyer (Clara's Godfather) are both guest dancers from another company, and it amazes me to see them dance. Especially the Mouse King, when he dances with Clara and the soldier captain (who is a girl). He does almost as much acting as dancing, and he portrays the character awesomely.


Surprisingly, the mice were doing great today. They are pretty young girls, ages 5-7. They knew most of their cues already, and were ready to go. 


We are all really excited because in two weeks we start rehearsing at the theater where we will perform. The show is quite a big deal, with over 100 dancers from the academy and great guest dancers. My city's symphony orchestra plays the music for the show live. The show is put on in a beautiful old theater, the kind with a balcony, fancy ceilings, and red velvet seats. I'm really excited and nervous at the same time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Pointe Requirements

Requirements for Pointe

1. Age

Before starting pointe, a girl's foot plates should be done growing so the shoes don't damage her feet. She also needs to be responsible, a good listener, and able to take instruction. For these reasons, most teachers don't put girls en pointe until they are at least 11. Some ballet dancers under 12 get foot x-rays so they can be sure their feet are done growing. With late beginners, age usually isn't a problem.

2. Strength

Pointe requires strength in the feet, ankles, legs, and core. Without good balance and strong legs and ankles, it would be just too easy to fall off pointe and break an ankle. It also takes strength to get over the box of the shoe. A qualified dance teacher will be able to tell you when you are strong enough to begin pointe. It usually takes 3 years of three classes a week.

3. Technique and ability

Technique in ballet is so important. It is much harder to maintain turnout and keep from sickling in pointe shoes, so a dancer should be able to do these things when in flat shoes. You should be able to things flat before you can try them en pointe. If you can't do a single pirouette in flat shoes, there is no way you'll be able to do it on your toes!

I think many girls want to start pointe so badly that they don't think about actually doing pointe work. It would be so dull if you got pointe shoes but couldn't do anything in them because of lack of technique.

4. Commitment

Dancers should dance ballet because they want to, not because they want to start pointe. You need to be really committed to dance to begin pointe. You should be stretching and doing exercises (with permission of a teacher) at home, and you shouldn't skip class to hang out with friends. Pointe is hard work and can become frustrating  but with determination you'll be able to improve.

*It takes an average of three 90 minute classes for three years to begin pointe, however every girl is different. Only a qualified dancer teacher can tell you when you are ready. Do NOT buy your own pointe shoes without permission from a qualified dance teacher. Do NOT begin pointe if you don't think you are ready.

Update: 11/18

Hey guys! Sorry I have not posted all week. *Cough forgot my password to log into my account Cough*  Nutcracker draws ever nearer, with the performances being on the 16th and 17th of December, and rehearsals are increasing. Surprisingly, I have none this weekend, but next Sunday I have a 2 hour one.


I made a post a few days ago about my dance teacher at my small studio retiring. The owner of the studio has taken over for her. She seems like a good teacher, she is more focused on emotion and using the stage then technique, which should be interesting. We picked out costumes for our summer recital, they are pretty cute, nice short tutu's! We haven't picked a color yet. We still need a song too! If anyone has a song suggestion that has to do with fame, fashion, glamour, accessories, ect, please leave a comment!


I don't know what to write about for you guys, I'll post a poll with possible topics, but if you have any suggestions leave a comment!

Nutcracker Rehearsal, 11/11

Hi guys, last night was another Nutcracker rehearsal. It was a lot of fun, we practiced not only with the soldiers, but with the mice, rat king, the Claras (we have one per performance) and the Nutcracker himself. It was so fun seeing everything come together, I can tell already the show is going to be awesome. The mice were young girls, ages 5-8. They were all so cute and excited. The mouse that I was assigned to shoot was so adorable, I found it hard to keep a straight face while I was fake-shooting her. The fight between the Rat King, who was a 25-30ish guy guest dancer from another company, and Clara (about 13 year olds en pointe) was very entertaining. The rat king picks Clara up and she kicks her feet, once the Rat king accidently hit one of the Clara's in the face while he was trying to pick her up! She was fine, she actually started laughing while she was trying to look afraid, and they both went into hysterics. 


I'm glad I auditioned for this, it's going to be fun.

*This isn't my picture, and it isn't from my ballet academy.

Also, if anyone here is looking for ballet classes in PA (USA), post a comment and I can recommend a few places.

November 8th

Hey guys, I just got back from my teen ballet class. My teacher told us that it was her last day teaching, because she has a bad back and needs rest. I am so sad to see her leave, I've been taking classes from her every week since September 2010. I started tearing up when she told us, when class ended I was practically crying. I don't know if I'll stay at the studio next year. We'll definitely all miss her.

November 6th

Hi guys, this past week's round of classes was great. I had a Nutcracker rehearsal today, and we learned more of the routine. Today we practiced with the lead soldier and the Claras. It looks like my part will be bigger than I thought, but I still don't get as much dancing as the girls in the Jr. Company get, even though I think I could handle it.

On Tuesday there is a parent meeting for Studio A, where I take the teen beginner class. I'm really curious as to what it is about, I'm hoping it might be to discus pointe (?). Anyway, happy dancing!

Happy Halloween!

Hi guys! I just got back from my 5-6:30 class, there were only 6 girls and 1 guy there today because of Halloween. We were allowed to wear costumes, but I'm not the trick-or-treating type :) The girls (ages 9-11) all seemed shocked when I told them I wasn't trick-or-treating, it was cute. It was a pretty good class, challenging as always, but fun. The girls all acted more silly then usual, so we all became a bit more comfortable with each other. 


I am so tired, I'm thinking of posting an informational late beginner pointe FAQ type post sometime this week. Happy Halloween!

Split Tips!

Most of us teen beginners aren't the most flexible of people. I know I'm not, haha. Stretching is very important to improve flexibility and prevent injury. Here I'll go over my split tips to improve splits.


1. Make sure your muscles are warm. Take a warm shower, dance around in legwarmers, challenge your brother to a game of Just Dance, whatever it takes. I usually just do some barre routines with legwarmers on. 


2. Massage your neck. Ok, this might be weird, but I heard that realising tension along your spine can help make your muscles more relaxed. Try to give yourself a gentle massage around your neck and along your spine.


3. Start off slowly. Never rush right into a split. Always start with simple warm up stretches. Try sitting on the floor and touching your toes for 30 seconds. Then touch your toes and try to touch your nose to your knees. Do every stretch in an easy version, and than a harder version. Don't push yourself to the point where it is causing you pain.


4. Have something to focus on. Turn on the TV, radio, Youtube ballet videos, whatever. When I'm focused on something it helps me to stretch longer.


5. Stretch everyday! Try to stretch for 15-20 minutes a day. I used to stretch very often and was able to do a split, and I stopped stretching, so I have to start all over! Don't let that happen! Make sure you don't overdo it though!


Here are some good stretches for the splits. http://gymnastics.about.com/od/trainingadvice/ss/frontsplit.htm

First Nutcracker Rehearsal!

Hey guys! I just got back from my first ever Nutcracker Rehearsal. I am a toy soldier, along with 21 other girls ages 11-14. I only have a few small parts, one where we all march on stage, and one where I and 7 other girls march out alone and each shoot a mouse (instead of the classic cannon). 16 of the other soldiers have a bigger dancing part, but I'm not in it. I'm also in the battle scene, but we didn't practice that today. On a unrelated note, I saw Micheal Constantine (the father from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) in the elevator!

200 views!

Wow guys, I checked out the blog stats today and I am past 200 views! That's awesome, I really hope those of you that are interested in the blog stick around, leave a comment, follow, vote in the polls! I'd love to hear from you guys. I never got around to writing an article this weekend, but after my Nutcracker rehersal today I'll type up a post or two. See you later.

October 20th

Hi guys, it's been a while so I decided to make an update. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday ballet classes were all great. My first Nutcracker rehearsal as a soldier is this Sunday. I'm actually very nervous about it, I'm going to be with girls who are only 11-12 (as opposed to my 15 years). I am pretty short at 5'3", but I still tower over quite a few girls in my "Studio B" classes at the academy. Many of the dancers will be more skilled than I am as well. Any dancers have any words of wisdom?


I'm going to the doctor tomorrow morning to get my scoliosis (curved spine) examined, and while I'm there I'll hopefully find out why my knee has been hurting. Well, this has been a very boring update, I promise to write another article type post tomorrow. I'll probably do one on a late starting ballet dancer, but if anyone has any other suggestions please leave a comment!


I have had around 185 views so far, from the US, Canada, and even Russia. Thanks to everyone who votes in the polls, I love seeing the answers. I'd also love to hear from you guys, please comment!


Here's a Black Swan variation from Swan Lake. I've had the music stuck in my head all day and it took forever for me to track down the right one.

Don Quixote Variation

I decided to just put a quick post up tonight. I posted a few days ago that the Esmeralda variation was one of my favorites. Here's my favorite, a Don Quixote variation. I love how the dancer looks a little sassy and flirty. What do you think? What are your favorite variations?

Ballet Myths

I've decided to make a list of ballet myths I've heard, here they are.

1. Ballet is just for little girls.

Wrong! Ballet is for everyone who enjoys it, whether you are a teen, adult, male or female. I know a bunch of teens who just started ballet, and I also know boys who take ballet. There are even adult ballet classes at my studio with adult men and women who are just starting ballet.

2. In ballet, you wear frilly pink tutu's and stand on your toes.

Nope. Dancers wear leotards and tights to class, possibly with a wrap skirt or shorts. Beginning dancers stand on demi-pointe, not on their toes.

3. Ballet hurts.

Ballet shouldn't be painful. You may feel a "good pain" when stretching, but it shouldn't be unbearable painful. If you are in pain when dancing, talk to your teacher about it or see a doctor. Pointe shoes may hurt your feet when you are first breaking them in.

4. Ballet is easy.

Ballet is anything but easy! I played softball and basketball for years, I compete in academic competitions, I play piano and viola, and ballet is the hardest thing I've attempted. It takes a professional dancer 10 years or so to become a professional. Ballet classes are structured, and you will learn discipline. That doesn't mean that ballet isn't enjoyable though! Ballet is difficult, but rewarding, and a lot of fun.

5. Ballet dancers have to be really skinny/anorexic.

Well it's true that professional ballet dancers should be thin, most don't have eating disorders. Eating disorders make you weak, and if you are dancing for 8 hours a day you need all the strength you can get! Very few dancers have an eating disorder. If you want to start ballet for fun, you don't need to be stick thin. As long as you can move and are healthy enough to dance, there should be no stopping you. There are dancers in my classes who are tiny, but more are average, curvy girls. There are even a few bigger girls who dance beautifully.

6. You can start pointe as soon as you start ballet, or, A late ballet starter can't dance pointe.

This one is absolutely wrong! If you are beginning ballet as a teen or adult, you need to learn proper technique and build up strength. Another variable is bone structure. Once you are strong enough for pointe and have good enough technique, you can start pointe. This can take between 2-5 years, if you take 2-3 ninety minute classes a week. Even if you have danced ballet before, quit, and are starting again, you can't go straight to pointe. Your muscles aren't used to ballet, so you need to retrain them.

7. Ballet dancers are called ballerinas.

Actually, no, ballerinas are actually the principle dancer of a ballet company. Most professional ballet dancer aren't even ballerinas. Someone who dances ballet is simply a ballet student or ballet dancer.

8. Ballet is slow and boring.

Ballet varies greatly, from quick jumps and movements to slow ones. There are classical ballets and more modern ballets, which can be more interesting to some people. I like this one.

October 12th

Hi guys, I just got back from my last class of the week, 90 minutes at Studio B. We did a lot of jumping combinations, which always tire me out. The music she played during class was a mix of instrumental Billy Joel songs, and instrumental songs from one of my favorite musicals, Les Miserables, so that made class more fun. We did more work on tour jete's, which are my new favorite and least favorite jump. They are so beautiful, but a bit difficult to master. I mostly need to just work on height and my landing arabesque.

Here's a tour jete, if you aren't familiar with them. I absolutely love this dancer, he shows both grace and strength.

Just curious, has anyone ever heard of Les Miserables? I love broadway, it's one of the things that's inspired me to start dancing. My favorite shows are Rent, and Phantom of the Opera, but I've seen several others on Broadway. What musicals have you guys seen? And yes, I'm going to keep asking questions until someone answers :)

Goals for Ballet

Hi guys, thanks for viewing. I'm just getting ready for my ballet class at 5:30, so I've decided to list my goals for ballet. I know that I may not achieve them all, but it's best to have something to motivate me, so here they are.

1. Do a right, left, and center split. I am a few inches off getting a right, and a lot farther for left and center. I hope to achieve this by this February.

2. Start pointe. This is a huge dream for most late starters to ballet, I was told by my dance teacher that I may be en pointe as soon as this Spring! I've been doing ankle and foot strenghtening excersises to prepare.

3. Learn a classical variation. One of my favorites is the Esmeralda variation, I'll post a video of it below.

4. Do a triple pirouette on flat, double en pointe. Right now I can do a double right on flat, and a single left, so I'm still working on it!

So what do you guys think? Do you have any similar goals? What about completely different ones?

*I don't own this video.

Last Ballet Class of the Week

Just got home from my last class of the week at Studio B. We were stuck in traffic for half an hour so I was ten minutes late. It was another 90 minute class. This one was smaller then Monday, only 8 girls and 1 boy, opposed to the 15 on Monday. I am super tired, so I'll post again over the weekend with some informative posts. I'm thinking of starting a "Ballet of the Week", or "Ballet Dancer of the Week" type thing. Have a good rest of the week.

Happy Tuesday, 10/4

Hi guys, just got back from my 45 minute teen class at my smaller studio. I had a lot of fun with my classmates and teacher, we always have the perfect mix of fun and work. I told my teacher at this studio (I'll call it Studio A) about my new classes at Studio B, and she seemed happy that I was enjoying ballet so much. On the downside, my left knee has been killing me recently from turning my feet out from my knee instead of my hips, so she told me to take a Tylenol and ice it.

If anyone has any requests for an informative type post, like the ones on ballet shoes and dance wear, leave a comment. I'll try to post one tomorrow if I can come up with a topic. Bye!

Nutcracker Cast!

Hi everyone. I just got home from my first ballet class of the week. It's a 90 minute class, from 5:30-7:00. We started with the normal barre routines. There was an 11 year old girl from a higher level in my class tonight, it was nice to have someone who was a little more graceful and fluid than the younger girls to compare my movements to. After barre, class started to pick up. We worked on chaines and tour jetes. I've been dying to learn tour jetes since I saw them last year, so it was a good night. Of course, I was far from perfect, but that's what practice is for, right?

I was too nervous to check the Nutcracker castlist before class, so on the way out I stopped to read the list. I am a soldier! A soldier is a pretty small part, played mostly by girls around 12-13 that haven't started pointe. I'm pretty excited, I always feel the more ballet, the better! I really hope this encourages late starters to begin ballet, I started just last year and already have a Nutcracker role.

Ballet shoes

There are several different types of ballet shoes, here I'll go over the main differences.

Ballet shoes can be divided into soft shoes and pointe shoes.

Soft ballet shoes, or ballet slippers, are lightweight shoes made from leather, satin, or canvas.  Leather generally lasts the longest. Canvas are washable, but don't last as long as leather. Satin are rarely worn by recreational dancers because they don't last very long at all.

Ballet slippers have a leather sole, that is either a split sole or full sole. Full soles are commonly worn by beginning dancers because they work the foot harder and help develop strength, but some older starters begin with split soles.

There are several different brands and types of ballet shoes. When you get fitted, the person fitting you for ballet shoes will pick a good style based off of your foot shape and arch. Ballet slippers should feel snug around your feet, but they shouldn't be so tight that your toes curl under. Also, point your foot and make sure that the shoes show your arch nicely.

Pointe shoes are worn by experienced dancers. Pointe shoes were created so that women would look weightless while dancing ballet. Pointe shoes are sometimes called toe shoes. Here is a neat video showing how pointe shoes are made, and methods ballet dancers use to break them in and make them more comfortable.

Happy Sunday, October 2nd

Hey guys, just wanted to make a quick post. So far I've gotten 8 views, haha, so I hope you eight stick around and see where the blog goes. Please leave a comment, ask a question, tell me about your dance classes, whatever! I'd love to hear from you, even if you just say that you hate the blog.

I'm pretty nervous, the castlist for Nutcracker at the bigger dance studio I take classes (I'll call it Studio B) is going up tomorrow. Since I've only been dancing for a year, and I'm not en pointe, the only role I qualify for is one of the Soldiers in the battle scene. Those spots are given to Jr. Company members first, and academy students second, so there is a huge chance I won't even be considered. I would really love to be in Nutcracker though, so fingers crossed!

Have any of you been in the Nutcracker before? How about another ballet? What is your favorite ballet? Please leave a comment, and keep checking in.

Can I start ballet?

I know a lot of girls think they can't start ballet, or any form of dance really, for one of many reasons.

I'm too old, too "fat", too tall, too short, too clumsy for ballet.

I can't do a split, I can't jump, I can't turn.

Please watch this video, which is also in the sidebar.

*Note: I do not own this video, it is from the Anaheim Ballet Youtube channel, as are all the videos in the sidebar.

What to wear

Some ballet studios have a dress code, while others just require comfortable clothing. Here is the basic ballet attire.


1. Leotard. They can come in simple styles, like a black camisol, or colorful and unique designs. I have a simple black Capezio leotard with adjustible straps. The black is slimming, and it fits very well.

Here is a more unique and colorful style, this is a Natalie Tank Leotard.

2. Tights. Dance tights are pretty universal. They come in pink, black, white, or tan. For ballet, pink is usually perferred. 

3. Ballet slippers. There are many different brands and types of ballet shoes. These are soft ballet shoes, not to be confused with pointe shoes. You can get fitted for ballet shoes at a dancewear store. Ballet shoes are generally pink.

There are some cute, fun accesories you can wear with your ballet attire. Some dance teachers allow booty shorts or wrap skirts to be worn over leotards.

I got my skirts from a company called Watercolour Dancewear. They can handpaint a skirt any color for you, I  believe they do up to three colors. Mine are purple and gray, and pink and black. Here is an example:

I also have legwarmers to wear before class when I'm warming up. You can buy full length legwarmers, or just ones that cover your calves. Here are some cute examples, they are called Harmonie 16" Multi-Striped Legwarmers.

What is ballet class like?

Every ballet class is different, but they all have the same general components. Here is a rough breakdown of what I do in my ballet classes.


We start with barre warm-ups. The barre is a rail you hold on to with one hand while practicing ballet steps. Some things we work on are degages, grand battements, ronde de jambes, fondues, and tondus. Barre work helps to master ballet steps and positions so you can perform them without holding on to anything. In a 90 minute ballet class, barre work usually lasts about 45 minutes.


Next we work on center combinations. This is just practicing ballet steps without holding on to anything. We work on anything we do at the barre, as well as jumps and spins.


Lastly we work on across the floor combinations. We work on big jumps and turns, like tour jetes, grand jetes, pique turns, and chaine turns.


We get a 5 minute break halfway through class for water and bathroom breaks.

Teen Ballet Beginner

Hi everyone! I started this blog to encourage teens and adults to start ballet. So many girls who want to try ballet think they are too old. The truth is, as long as you can walk, you can dance. It is true that professional ballet is very competitive, and a late beginner has a very slim chance of making it big in the ballet world, but that shouldn't stop you from dancing purely for fun! I will be updating from time to time about my personal experiences with ballet as a teen, so please check back every few weeks. 

About me: I am a teen girl who started ballet in 2010 at age 14. Ballet seemed so beautiful and amazing, and I wanted to try more than anything in the world. I spent months deciding whether or not I should start, because most girls start ballet at such a young age. Eventually I signed up for a teen beginner class, and loved it. In September, 2011, I started taking classes at a larger ballet school. I currently take two 90 minute classes there, in addition to the 45 minute teen class at my first studio. The new ballet school is great, and although I dance with girls ages 8-11, I have a lot of fun.

**I am not a professional dancer, nor will I ever be one. Therefor, I will not give instruction on techniques. I will be sharing my experiences and thoughts on starting ballet as a teen.**


Please comment! I'd love to hear about your experiences with ballet, and your opinions on the blog! If you have any questions just ask, I'll answer as well as I can.

Edit: Hello! Since writing this post, I have stopped taking ballet classes at my first studio and now take one 90 minute and one 2 hour class a week at the larger ballet academy. I am 16, and take class with girls 11-15. I started pointe in the summer of 2012, and love it! And I've also played a soldier in two Nutcrackers.