Forum for Dance Majors

[MomOf3Stars]

BTW, thank you SoozieVT!!! Is Roger needing a Mod for that board? I might be able to do it but not sure what it entails?

[orangecoloredsky]

Thanks MO3S!

You are correct, in a sense. I didn’t begin in ballet. In fact, I hated it when I was younger. I spent my first nine years in a commercial, competition-based studio with an excellent teacher who started me on this journey. My focuses were lyrical, jazz, and especially tap. When I was about 13, I represented the United States at the World Tap Dance Championships in Slovenia, and won the title. While I was there, one of the adjudicators pulled me aside and told me to concentrate on classical ballet training if I wanted a career in dance. Upon arriving back in the states, I auditioned at a pre-pro ballet school and was accepted. I was put in a very low level with kids much younger than myself, but worked hard and quickly rose through the levels. I came to love the discipline and artistry of ballet. I am currently a PD. PDs take class with the professional company in the mornings and then rehearse/perform with them when roles are available. We take the highest level of technique/pointe/pas/modern classes in the afternoons/evenings/weekends with the school.

So, in answer to your question, I am currently only training and performing in ballet and modern right now. I very much agree with your ballet teacher about not studying tap at the same time. When I tap, I’m on the balls of my feet, shortening my Achilles tendon and using different muscles. Ballet, of course, requires a longer, loose Achilles for plies. The two are not at all compatible. However, in my opinion, once a dancer has muscle memory of proper ballet technique, then modern or jazz shouldn’t be as much of a problem. Our school usually doesn’t introduce modern until the student is about 16-17 years old. It’s funny because most of my ballet-only peers absolutely hate the modern and jazz classes. They don’t know how to let loose and “perform” in that way. I think they’re use to being told exactly what to do…and they do it very well. But, having had the jazz background and competitions experiences that I have had have made me a much better performer overall.

“After all you got into Julliard so you must know something right!!”
Your sentence made me laugh.
I humbly reply…I have so much more to learn!!

[MomOf3Stars]

WOW OCS!!! Your post illustrates exactly why we need a Dance Majors forum.

In a lot of ways you could be talking about my own D. She is 13 now, at a Pre-Pro school for the last 2.5 years and apprentice the their company (which is an officially sanctioned professional company).

She started off the same as you, at a competition school taking clog, tap, jazz, and lyrical. She did very very well on the comp circuit and won many regional overalls, scholarships at conventions etc. but something was always lacking. Her comp SO suggested ballet training outside of their studio (she just didn't have the experience) and my D auditioned, started w/ a class of kids slightly younger than her and by the end of the summer had moved up to the level of kids her own age and now is taking classes at one level under the senior company dancers. I never thought the ballet would last, but she is hooked.

Many of her classmates have the same attitude that your classmates do, that anything but classical ballet is a waste. D still enjoys,in moderation, her tap and modern privates at the other studio as well as a recreational hip hop but we are thinking that for her future it is better to start tapering off. Also, this year we have had to stop competing as the ballet schedule of rehearsals and classes is way too intense to commit to a competition schedule as well. I cannot wait for her to read your post.

One thing I do notice, and I think our ballet teacher as well does, is that the 'competition' students bring a lot to the company. We have several and their comfort level and presence on stage is amazing. I am sure you have noticed the same thing.

Thank you for your advice and good luck w. Julliard.

[dancincorgi]

Just adding my vote for having a dance major's forum here!

[coloradocutie]

^^^ Me too.

[MomOf3Stars]

Since we don't have a forum yet, I want to put a question out there: Are any of your dancers considering not going to college or taking a couple of years off to audition for companies?

[frazzled1]

Bumping this up - we dance parents out here would sure love a forum, moderators (batting eyelashes charmingly). As would the dancers, I imagine. Please?

Not that I'm two months late or anything, but to answer MomOf3Stars - my d never considered a professional career, so she never thought about auditioning instead of college. We do know a few dancers who did this - after a few years, most of them are back in school, though I believe they'd say that the company experience was a valuable one for them. Of those who've gone back to school, most are in dance programs, though one very talented dancer has switched tracks and is one of the older class members in a very prestigious non-dance program.

We know three or four dancers from my daughter's studio who are still dancing with companies and will probably pursue college once that part of their careers is over. Also one dancer who started out in college, was cast in her first Broadway show at an open cattle call 2 weeks after the first semester started, rather sensibly left school, and has been constantly employed as a professional dancer for the past 7 years. So all things are possible in dance - even steady employment.

[MomOf3Stars]

BUMPING this to beg this to happen!!!! Please....Especially with all of the rising seniors preparing for the application process and deciding where to apply.