Forum for Dance Majors

orangecoloredsky
Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:38:10 +0000

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!!