Your core is improving.
Adrian looked expectantly at me. Inwardly I puffed up gleefully but outwardly, I did that annoying self-deprecating thing that so many of us do ‘Ha, really?! I didn’t feel any different.’
It was our fourth week of Beginner’s Ballet at City Academy. So far, things felt like they were beginning to fall into place. Whilst my arms still had a mind of their own and my face was still uncontrollable, I felt like my feet were on their way to being tamed.
It never fails to strike me how important the small changes to posture are; with help from Adrian, I felt like I grew a couple of inches (I need every inch I can get) with a little tweaking.
We started with a warm-up at the bar before moving to the centre of the room, although not before we drove Adrian slightly crazy (that’s what pupils are there for, right?) Apparently when given ‘easy’ sequences we disengage our brain, turning pointed toes into wet lumps of concrete and arms into stiff, awkward attachments.
Towards the end of the class we embarked on a series of sequences that encouraged us to move across the room. I’m definitely no twinkle toes so my leaps were more like frantic, cat on a hot tin roof, rather than the graceful goat-like steps that Adrian pulled out. One thing’s for sure – no matter whether everyone got the steps or not, there were lots of smiles and laughter.
It’s true, ballet is good for the soul.
Thought of the Day
It’s so rare that we just let go, especially as stiff, work-tried Londoners, so dance is a perfect outlet. Just flinging yourself around the room with purpose brings about pure release.
Top Tip of the Week
Don’t let your pre-conception of what you feel a ballet dancer should look like stop you from getting ballet shoes on. For a start, you can wear what you want and there are some girls in my class who don’t have a traditional ballet dancer’s shape yet they look amazing when they dance.
I am attending the Beginner’s Ballet Level 1 Course with City Academy, tutored by Adrian Arroyo. For more information, see their website.
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