What are some tips for ballet class?

Forever_Lost: What are some tips for ballet class?
I used to take ballet class and I quit a few years ago, Now I’m rejoining at the same studio and I’m kinda nervous. My first class is on tuesday! What are some things I should bring to class and what should I do before class to help me prepare? I know the dress code and everything I’m just looking for some general tips. Thanks!

Answers and Views:

Answer by waplambadoobatawhopbamboo
limber up

Answer by [email protected]
Take an ettiquette class so your teacher won’t be mad that your falling every 10 minutes. Also, watch classic ballets such as The Nutcracker Ballet and Swan Lake.

Answer by runningballerina
make sure you bring water so that you stay hydrated. also, if the class is longer than 2 hours you might want to bring a light (healthy) snack for afterwards.

be sure to strech before class… you know… do your splits, backbends, and stuff. you don’t want to go into class cold!!!

make sure you respect your teacher and listen to all of the instructions.

also – don’t take any harsh corrections personally… remember that the teacher is ther to help you get better.

good luck and keep at it!!!

Answer by Dancing Surgeon
Hi Forever Lost…
SOME STRETCHES that are very important: star jumps, jogging in place, running up and down stairs. A good one to help you get on pointe for non-pointe dancers is to stand on the balls of your feet at the edge of a stair with your heel hanging off. Go up and down 32 times. When you get better, do it for 64 times. Do all your splits, and straddles on the wall.

Stretch for at least 10-15 every time before class.
Don’t bounce and remember to breath while stretching.
Do not hold your stretches for more than 30 seconds.
Only stretch as far as you are comfortable with.
Don’t stretch a cold muscle.
Keep your back straight while you stretch.

IN CLASS…don’t lean on the barre, use it so you Can find your balance, and only for that. Also, do not pull on the barre, you can push, but do not pull. Always respect your teacher, she knows best, and don’t be too cocky 🙂 Remember to eat and drink plenty of things during the day and at practice as well. Get a good nights rest.

Answer by jamiesacademyofdance
You might not have time to do this before your class… unless you have a dance store nearby that carries them.

Try using Gaynor Minden’s Dancer’s Dozen system. You may have heard f using resistabands for training, well this system teaches you HOW to use them, so you’re not on your own. It’s a good way to warm up muscles you haven’t used in a while… and to limber yourself up!

Answer by Jo
Water is very important. Have a light snack before you go, but dont have a heavy meal. Do some warming up, stretching, strenghtening, thing like that. Dont wear any jewelry, watches, the like. And most importantly bring your enthusiam !GOOD LUCK

Answer by elk312
I see a lot of people on here suggesting that you stretch BEFORE class. If you haven’t done this in awhile and you are stretching cold, you’re going to hurt yourself before you even set foot in the studio! Do some pliés, jump around a little to get your heart rate up and warm up your body. I don’t know where you’re going to class but when I was taking ballet classes we couldn’t bring anything into the studio with us so if you are bringing water or a snack, be sure you have a place to store it while you’re in class.

Good luck and enjoy!

Answer by cloud43
Firstly, warm up carefully,
remember, knees out, hips flat, “pull up”, tummy flat, bum in,
head up, stretch legs, lock knees, stretch feet, heels around, arms & fingers soft, shoulders down, and SMILE!!
Have Fun!!

Answer by Bubbles
How old are you sweetie? It’s better if you are young.
Like if you are now 20 and you quit when you were 10, it would be hard to come back. I don’t wanna discourage you but ballet is something you can’t ever quit if you wanna be good at it. It requires constant training.

Answer by rozinstar
Something u can move in. Stretch and limber so u dont pull a muscle and just relax, be yourself, and enjoy!

Answer by ………….
everyone else has already been really good, but here are some more tips……..
arrive early, to have time to get everything in order and warm up a little, dont strech cold muscles
bring plenty of water
dont eat before, or eat something that can digest fast, the ideal state for your body to be in is to have your stomach mostly empty so you can have most of your blood in your muscles and stuff. dont bring pop, I see lots of girls at my studio, the sugar and caffine might give you a buzz, but its actually dehydrating you MORE and its not healthy for you. practice at home, and be ready to take sharp criticism. do crunches. in ballet, Ive noticed many studios leave this vital part out of the work out, your abdominals are your core and your center, do them at home, as many as possible, and look online for streches for you side and lower abdominals as well.
rember the pearls!!! I dont know if you ever learned this, but theres a string of pearls running up your body, there is a pearl in your hips, a pearl in your waist, a pearl in your chest, a pearl in your neck a,d na pearl at the top of your head, you need to always stand as though that string of pearls in completly straight and someone is pulling it from the ceiling. dont forget this, a sagging back and stomach will not help, pull up and in!!!
have a good time, and practice practice practice!!!!

Answer by ascluelessasever
First master anorexia.