I had to change studios. I did ballet as a little girl but quit and took it back up at around... 22 years old I think. I picked the studio closest to me. Bad choice. I was stuck there for 3 years making no progress. I didn't feel inspired at all, and the teachers were BAD! I would watch ballet class during world ballet day and it opened my eyes. I didn't want to go there anymore. One day a couple of dancer friends of mine saw my feet and my lines (during a photoshoot, I'm a photographer and I was trying to show them the poses) and they asked me where I trained. I told them I was looking for a better studio and they ended up pointing me towards a studio where an ex prima-ballerina, very well known in my country, and who had danced at the Royal Ballet taught class. She FIXED me in one year. All of the poorly learned technique was pulling me back. She transformed me (through harsh love of course, she was old-school) and I finally enjoyed looking at myself in the mirror and felt like a DANCER!
As someone who worked at a dance shop and got to hear the mom gossip from every studio in the area, this vid is spot on!!! 😂 Primarily, the environment of the studio is sooo important to consider. Some studios offer incredible training geared toward professional dance, but are very strict on dress code, body weight, and the time commitment expectations can interfere with young kids sleep and academics. Other studios are very laid back and supportive but don’t offer great training. It’s sooo common for parents that’re just enrolling their kids for fun to accidentally choose the first type of school, only to clash with their methods and pull them out. Ppl like me on the other hand can spend 15 years in the second type, where I wish I would’ve moved on sooner 😅 Luckily there are plenty of places that offer a middle ground-so just do your research, take a trial/pop-in class, and you should be fine
I restarted Ballet this year at 36 and I was so lucky to find a studio right around the corner with great floor, huge room, an amazing teacher and crucially for an adult dancer: actually several adult ballet classes a week to be able to go there 2-3 times a week and actually improve! That doesn’t happen often and I am truely grateful :)
Or the third option for a dance school is a small neighborhood school with no competitions (where I went). Was I super great at dancing after going there for 16 years? Nope. But did I have a great time and become a life-long lover of dance? Yes! Equally beneficial choice if you are looking to dance just for fun.
My mom enrolled me when I was three at my current studio, and she chose it because they didn’t dress us in sketchy costumes or dance to sketchy music. The ballet teacher, there was so amazing and taught me a lot, but she was limited because I was a young girl. She had to sell the studio for Covid and the new teacher was not at her level . Of expertise. I was fine with it until the past year or so when I’ve really really become invested in the world of ballet and I’ve decided I want to do it professionally. I’m now moving to my local ballet studio, which I tried during Nutcracker and enjoyed. they’re way more strict and very different from my chill competition studio and I would not enroll my child in this one initially if I had one. I would prefer to a young child and my current one where they can see if they would enjoy dance before going into a more serious environment. I’m now an almost 15 year-old girl.
Thank you for this video. We learned a lot of this the hard way. We were in a competition based dance school, and I knew that wasn’t for us. We moved just a few minutes up the street to a wonderful ballet studio who has students that have participated in YGAP, and the studio owner even traveled with the students and their families to the competition. My daughters are young, and likely won’t go professional, but I’m confident they’ll receive great training at our studio. Our current teacher is certified in the Cecchetti method. The other training style offered is Vaganova. We 💗 your videos!
I am a Pre-Professional student aiming to get a contract with a company in the next few years. I was with a "classical ballet training program" for 5 years. The last couple of them, I had started to wonder if this was the right thing for me. My teachers were not necessarily diversified or in touch with what was going on in the ballet world. So, that being said, the average age they put people up on pointe was 14. They refused to check if people were ready before then, claiming that going up on pointe too early was bad. We sometimes spent the entire class at the barre, and I never learned essential moves like fouettes or attitude turns. The year I went up on pointe was mostly spent doing various kinds of releves at the barre. We did have a pointe teacher that was not in the full-time faculty, so she tried her best to push us and we learned to pirouette on pointe. However, the other teachers got wind of this and said we were not to do pirouettes anymore because the class ahead of us had not mastered them yet. I left that school last year for my current one, which everyone calls "not strict ballet". However, I am picking up fouettes and Italians now, and am doing a variation on pointe for YAGP. The "classical ballet" schools might not always be worth the hype.
This is such important information. I have seen talented dancers who would have liked to have a career in ballet sent to local studios without properly trained staff. Often by the time they get to a quality school they have to unlearn bad habits or improper techniques which have led to injuries or improper muscle development from forcing turn out etc.I would argue that the first school is the most important for a serious student of ballet.
am never going to look for a dance/ballet school but this was still interesting. also my first time to see the word oppositely. have always used conversely or contrarily or OTOH...
Great tips! I feel like another tip would be to attend a recital or performance by the dance school. If you are not impressed by their highest level dancers and don’t see basic technique being performed well by the younger dancers, then it may not be the best school if you have professional aspirations as a dancer.
Once again you girls have been super helpful. My girls go to a very good school but I might bring in a girl who started at one of the other schools and perhaps struggles with the culture and work at the school my girls go to. In the early days of writing I went to a studio nearby to watch how a ballet class is done now as opposed to what I did. OMG I could not believe what I saw. There were only three girls in the class. The first thing the teacher got them to do was Pirouette practice, yeah I can see you almost fainting at this point, then she did a few other center exercises then had them at the bar. I went last year to the ballet school which was allowing some of the students to perform at my book launch. They worked to the strict RAD format that I learnt and I breathed a sigh of relief. Ballet in it's pure form still exists in good schools.
Extra green flag: Offering floor barre and/or basic anatomy lessons. I know that not everyone is interrested in these things but it is a good sign that your teacher knows their stuff and is trying to make you better in a healthy way. Extra red flag: harmful excercises, like overstretching or walking on the knuckles of your feet. If something doesn´t feel right and your teacher won´t elaborate, just leave. Nothing positive comes out of it.
One of the other best things about Ballet is the persistence and discipline dancers learn while having a great time with friends and participating in performances. Granddaughter, Erica studied ballet at the Santa Clarita, CA. Ballet Academy. It was a RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Studio. She went from Mouse to Sugar Plum Fairy over 15 years. RAD takes great care of the students. They offer yearly exams to promote students to the next higher level. Erica started with one class a week, eventually two classes a week and in high school, five or six classes a week as she aspired to more challenging roles. When she decided to college, she minored in Dance and went for a medical degree. Dancers make great doctors! Yes, grandma attended all performances! ❤️
If anyone is looking for a ballet school in Utah Academy of Ballet Arts is incredible the website isn’t the best 😅 but social media is pretty good such a positive environment focused on ballet but has contemporary classes so excepting and kind definitely recommend!!!
We’re here to support u on ur journey! Like @amityjoy3732 said, go check out that vid, and we even have a “starting ballet” playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLCqQmaaIuEK8MwS6IMf3uNKmk5wqYH0Xp.html&si=WC1Uwl6w_wleh1Ke Sending good ballet nerd vibes your way! You got thisss ✨✨
I don’t know how to do ballet, I discovered two years ago that I very much love and enjoy watching ballet, but I would like to at least try it out! I enjoy pretty movements in Gyrokinesis, and au would definitely wanna give it a shot one day - just for the self exploration and fun of it.
Great vid! For the next vid can u make a vid showing what to pack for ballet class, rehearsal, dress rehearsal, performance day? I struggle w knowing what to pack so it’d be rly helpful
Perhaps this is something to be considered. Be careful of a dance studio that puts themselves online. It’s not that they will bad, they probably will teach technique pretty well, but the environment could be very toxic. (Btw I’m not poking out MBA specifically or others to be mean, just based off of observation and knowing people that went to those types of ballet academies)
Oh yea, I’m not saying MBA is bad, I’m just saying that one should take into consideration being online a ton. It can really warp kids ideas of what it means to be good and create a lot of unhealthy competition. Honestly goes for any social media.
I had to change the studio i was in and i want to change again because it is a dance studio so they do many different types of dance. We also dont have a dress code and are allowed to wear stuff like sweatpants which is very different and im not sure how i like it
@ 12.41 you speak about the RAD grades. They are actually grades 1 to 8 the vocational syllabus has 5 levels from Intermediate Foundation to Advanced 2 .
It’s never too late to start ballet! Our best advice to teen beginners is to prioritize stretching and increasing mobility (in a safe way, of course). The language barrier can be tricky but ballet terms will probably remain the same no matter where you go so that helps. Watching is always a good way to learn. Wishing you alll the best!! 🫰🏻🫰🏻
I feel the ballet school I was at last year was right for me but my mom took me out of it because she did like some of the rules (I was at ballet west academy) and now I'm at a smaller studio that is further away and 3 days a week I feel like I don't have a chance of dancing professionally now.... :( any tips to help? Edit: Just for more context over the summer I broke my ankle and I can do most things now but I've said to my mom over and over that the classes are too easy and when they learn new things I've already known them. I don't want to seem desprate or act like I'm better than everyone but tips on that too would be good.
I don’t entirely know you’re situation, but I also dance and have a tip! If at all possible maybe you should communicate how you’re feeling, but if that doesn’t work maybe try doing some ballet things on your own. That’s helped me in the past and if you want to improve it’s what I’d recommend:)
@rawtoast745 yeah I've tried to tell my mom but she won't buge I might just end up talking to my teachers but I've been trying to do some things alone at home. Also I like your name
Talking with teachers could help, maybe if they’re aware of your situation, they can make more of an emphasis on your dance education :) and good job for practice and wanting to get better! You’re doing great! Also thank you, I like your name too :)
Ballet West is a great school! We get where you’re coming from. If the goal is to go pro someday you will def want to be taking class more than 3 days/wk. Small schools can deliver good quality education depending on the school, so def communicate your goals to your parent/teacher and see if there are any manageable actions that can be taken! We’re supporting you so much on your journey and wish you all the best in achieving your goals! 🫰🏻🫰🏻
@@balletreign yes! I was taking 5 days a week but my mom seems like she just wants me to own a studio or something I don't really want to cause I'm not very good at teaching and I want to dance pro. Whenever I tell her this she says I should do other things besides just dance but dance is what I want to do. I kind of feel stuck rn but I really want to improve
All good advice for people in upper middle class areas of big (American) cities. What’s the advice for people in small towns, in parts of the world where ballet is less well known, in areas where the only option is a hobby ballet lesson from a teacher who passed solo seal equivalent or has a general physical education degree with a specialisation in general dance? This is actually the reality for most people. It’s even an issue in cities with very good schools clustered in the upper middle class areas because many parents are too busy working to take kids across town in time for lessons.
@@isabellalucia7820 definitely a harder situation, I would say try to seek education from a variety of places. Take classes with the teacher in your hometown, as well travelling as often as you can to a bigger city with a bigger school, and perhaps adding some online ballet classes as well. Try to do summer intensives. If you decide you really like dance from these experiences, you can consider moving alone to a studio with a boarding school/ dorms
@ all great suggestions till the end - boarding schools are EXPENSIVE! (which is one of the reasons ballet, like classical music, has such a rep as being elitist). I really hope that one of the positive outcomes of Covid is the increased accessibility of music and dance online…
I had to change studios. I did ballet as a little girl but quit and took it back up at around... 22 years old I think. I picked the studio closest to me. Bad choice. I was stuck there for 3 years making no progress. I didn't feel inspired at all, and the teachers were BAD! I would watch ballet class during world ballet day and it opened my eyes. I didn't want to go there anymore. One day a couple of dancer friends of mine saw my feet and my lines (during a photoshoot, I'm a photographer and I was trying to show them the poses) and they asked me where I trained. I told them I was looking for a better studio and they ended up pointing me towards a studio where an ex prima-ballerina, very well known in my country, and who had danced at the Royal Ballet taught class. She FIXED me in one year. All of the poorly learned technique was pulling me back. She transformed me (through harsh love of course, she was old-school) and I finally enjoyed looking at myself in the mirror and felt like a DANCER!
As someone who worked at a dance shop and got to hear the mom gossip from every studio in the area, this vid is spot on!!! 😂
Primarily, the environment of the studio is sooo important to consider. Some studios offer incredible training geared toward professional dance, but are very strict on dress code, body weight, and the time commitment expectations can interfere with young kids sleep and academics. Other studios are very laid back and supportive but don’t offer great training.
It’s sooo common for parents that’re just enrolling their kids for fun to accidentally choose the first type of school, only to clash with their methods and pull them out. Ppl like me on the other hand can spend 15 years in the second type, where I wish I would’ve moved on sooner 😅
Luckily there are plenty of places that offer a middle ground-so just do your research, take a trial/pop-in class, and you should be fine
Exactly! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 thanks for sharing!
I restarted Ballet this year at 36 and I was so lucky to find a studio right around the corner with great floor, huge room, an amazing teacher and crucially for an adult dancer: actually several adult ballet classes a week to be able to go there 2-3 times a week and actually improve! That doesn’t happen often and I am truely grateful :)
Or the third option for a dance school is a small neighborhood school with no competitions (where I went). Was I super great at dancing after going there for 16 years? Nope. But did I have a great time and become a life-long lover of dance? Yes! Equally beneficial choice if you are looking to dance just for fun.
Even tho I won’t really need this I’m excited to see what the video will be
Aww thanks for watching anyways! Feel free to share with someone who may need it ❤️
My mom enrolled me when I was three at my current studio, and she chose it because they didn’t dress us in sketchy costumes or dance to sketchy music. The ballet teacher, there was so amazing and taught me a lot, but she was limited because I was a young girl. She had to sell the studio for Covid and the new teacher was not at her level . Of expertise. I was fine with it until the past year or so when I’ve really really become invested in the world of ballet and I’ve decided I want to do it professionally. I’m now moving to my local ballet studio, which I tried during Nutcracker and enjoyed. they’re way more strict and very different from my chill competition studio and I would not enroll my child in this one initially if I had one. I would prefer to a young child and my current one where they can see if they would enjoy dance before going into a more serious environment. I’m now an almost 15 year-old girl.
Thank you for this video. We learned a lot of this the hard way. We were in a competition based dance school, and I knew that wasn’t for us. We moved just a few minutes up the street to a wonderful ballet studio who has students that have participated in YGAP, and the studio owner even traveled with the students and their families to the competition. My daughters are young, and likely won’t go professional, but I’m confident they’ll receive great training at our studio. Our current teacher is certified in the Cecchetti method. The other training style offered is Vaganova. We 💗 your videos!
I am a Pre-Professional student aiming to get a contract with a company in the next few years. I was with a "classical ballet training program" for 5 years. The last couple of them, I had started to wonder if this was the right thing for me. My teachers were not necessarily diversified or in touch with what was going on in the ballet world. So, that being said, the average age they put people up on pointe was 14. They refused to check if people were ready before then, claiming that going up on pointe too early was bad. We sometimes spent the entire class at the barre, and I never learned essential moves like fouettes or attitude turns. The year I went up on pointe was mostly spent doing various kinds of releves at the barre. We did have a pointe teacher that was not in the full-time faculty, so she tried her best to push us and we learned to pirouette on pointe. However, the other teachers got wind of this and said we were not to do pirouettes anymore because the class ahead of us had not mastered them yet. I left that school last year for my current one, which everyone calls "not strict ballet". However, I am picking up fouettes and Italians now, and am doing a variation on pointe for YAGP. The "classical ballet" schools might not always be worth the hype.
This is so useful for any career goal, not just ballet.
This made me realize how much i love my ballet school and how suitable it is for me! Thank you once again, ballet reign!
Aww! 🥰🥰 so happy you found your studio ✨
@balletreign I know right! Once we stopped for a winter break I couldn't get my mind off it😭🙏
This is such important information. I have seen talented dancers who would have liked to have a career in ballet sent to local studios without properly trained staff. Often by the time they get to a quality school they have to unlearn bad habits or improper techniques which have led to injuries or improper muscle development from forcing turn out etc.I would argue that the first school is the most important for a serious student of ballet.
Will we ever get to meet the Ballet Reign team? They seem like a lot of fun!
am never going to look for a dance/ballet school but this was still interesting.
also my first time to see the word oppositely. have always used conversely or contrarily or OTOH...
Good pointes, Ladies! Thanks!😊
Thanks!
Aww this means a lot to us. Thank you so much!! 🫰🏻🫰🏻
@balletreign You're very welcome!
Amazing video!!! Absolutely love how deep yall went into the subject :D (mb sorry for the rant if you saw it)
Thanks for watching! We hope you found it useful 🫰🏻🫰🏻
Great tips! I feel like another tip would be to attend a recital or performance by the dance school. If you are not impressed by their highest level dancers and don’t see basic technique being performed well by the younger dancers, then it may not be the best school if you have professional aspirations as a dancer.
Once again you girls have been super helpful. My girls go to a very good school but I might bring in a girl who started at one of the other schools and perhaps struggles with the culture and work at the school my girls go to. In the early days of writing I went to a studio nearby to watch how a ballet class is done now as opposed to what I did. OMG I could not believe what I saw. There were only three girls in the class. The first thing the teacher got them to do was Pirouette practice, yeah I can see you almost fainting at this point, then she did a few other center exercises then had them at the bar. I went last year to the ballet school which was allowing some of the students to perform at my book launch. They worked to the strict RAD format that I learnt and I breathed a sigh of relief. Ballet in it's pure form still exists in good schools.
So excited 💗💗🍥
😆😆
Extra green flag: Offering floor barre and/or basic anatomy lessons.
I know that not everyone is interrested in these things but it is a good sign that your teacher knows their stuff and is trying to make you better in a healthy way.
Extra red flag: harmful excercises, like overstretching or walking on the knuckles of your feet.
If something doesn´t feel right and your teacher won´t elaborate, just leave. Nothing positive comes out of it.
Facts. Thanks for sharing!! ✨✨
One of the other best things about Ballet is the persistence and discipline dancers learn while having a great time with friends and participating in performances. Granddaughter, Erica studied ballet at the Santa Clarita, CA. Ballet Academy. It was a RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Studio. She went from Mouse to Sugar Plum Fairy over 15 years. RAD takes great care of the students. They offer yearly exams to promote students to the next higher level. Erica started with one class a week, eventually two classes a week and in high school, five or six classes a week as she aspired to more challenging roles. When she decided to college, she minored in Dance and went for a medical degree. Dancers make great doctors! Yes, grandma attended all performances! ❤️
If anyone is looking for a ballet school in Utah Academy of Ballet Arts is incredible the website isn’t the best 😅 but social media is pretty good such a positive environment focused on ballet but has contemporary classes so excepting and kind definitely recommend!!!
You guys have inspired me to look up the adult ballet classes in my area! Any advice for adults looking to try out their first ballet class?
Go watch Ballet Reigns video entitled "How to BECOME A DANCER as an adult beginner | everything u need to know" I think you will have a lot of fun!
@amityjoy3732 tenk you!! 🥰
We’re here to support u on ur journey! Like @amityjoy3732 said, go check out that vid, and we even have a “starting ballet” playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLCqQmaaIuEK8MwS6IMf3uNKmk5wqYH0Xp.html&si=WC1Uwl6w_wleh1Ke
Sending good ballet nerd vibes your way! You got thisss ✨✨
Hey hey hey! Would you be interested in making a video for newbies and potential hobbyists too?
I don’t know how to do ballet, I discovered two years ago that I very much love and enjoy watching ballet, but I would like to at least try it out! I enjoy pretty movements in Gyrokinesis, and au would definitely wanna give it a shot one day - just for the self exploration and fun of it.
This video should definitely help beginners start their ballet training on the correct foot ✨✨
@@balletreign yay!
Oh dear, I have definitely done this 😂
Great vid! For the next vid can u make a vid showing what to pack for ballet class, rehearsal, dress rehearsal, performance day? I struggle w knowing what to pack so it’d be rly helpful
For sure! Thanks for your request! ✨
Jordan: “A HUGE grain of salt”
My brain: “So… one of those Himalayan salt rocks?” 😂😂😂
*precisely* 🤌🏻🤌🏻
with a bulb in the middle, a whole lamp in fact hahaha
@@oxoelfoxo perfect 🙌
Perhaps this is something to be considered. Be careful of a dance studio that puts themselves online. It’s not that they will bad, they probably will teach technique pretty well, but the environment could be very toxic. (Btw I’m not poking out MBA specifically or others to be mean, just based off of observation and knowing people that went to those types of ballet academies)
MBA inspired this 51yo to start pilates and ballet. Sadly, there are plenty of Karens on Reddit bashing MBA with that exact adjective.
Oh yea, I’m not saying MBA is bad, I’m just saying that one should take into consideration being online a ton. It can really warp kids ideas of what it means to be good and create a lot of unhealthy competition. Honestly goes for any social media.
I had to change the studio i was in and i want to change again because it is a dance studio so they do many different types of dance. We also dont have a dress code and are allowed to wear stuff like sweatpants which is very different and im not sure how i like it
@ 12.41 you speak about the RAD grades. They are actually grades 1 to 8 the vocational syllabus has 5 levels from Intermediate Foundation to Advanced 2 .
Yes! We go into much more detail in this video: th-cam.com/video/4bS9RM70Mdk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OU7fNQePyStdfQTB
Very.Certified!😍
Did you two start ballet classes at the same time?
can you move your mug an inch so it lines up with the logo on the screen?
😅😍
OCD hahaha, but i approve
Ok so 2 questions. What if you are starting as a teenager and what if you dont understand the language of the country you ere living in?
It’s never too late to start ballet! Our best advice to teen beginners is to prioritize stretching and increasing mobility (in a safe way, of course). The language barrier can be tricky but ballet terms will probably remain the same no matter where you go so that helps. Watching is always a good way to learn. Wishing you alll the best!! 🫰🏻🫰🏻
I feel the ballet school I was at last year was right for me but my mom took me out of it because she did like some of the rules (I was at ballet west academy) and now I'm at a smaller studio that is further away and 3 days a week I feel like I don't have a chance of dancing professionally now.... :( any tips to help? Edit: Just for more context over the summer I broke my ankle and I can do most things now but I've said to my mom over and over that the classes are too easy and when they learn new things I've already known them. I don't want to seem desprate or act like I'm better than everyone but tips on that too would be good.
I don’t entirely know you’re situation, but I also dance and have a tip! If at all possible maybe you should communicate how you’re feeling, but if that doesn’t work maybe try doing some ballet things on your own. That’s helped me in the past and if you want to improve it’s what I’d recommend:)
@rawtoast745 yeah I've tried to tell my mom but she won't buge I might just end up talking to my teachers but I've been trying to do some things alone at home. Also I like your name
Talking with teachers could help, maybe if they’re aware of your situation, they can make more of an emphasis on your dance education :) and good job for practice and wanting to get better! You’re doing great! Also thank you, I like your name too :)
Ballet West is a great school! We get where you’re coming from. If the goal is to go pro someday you will def want to be taking class more than 3 days/wk. Small schools can deliver good quality education depending on the school, so def communicate your goals to your parent/teacher and see if there are any manageable actions that can be taken! We’re supporting you so much on your journey and wish you all the best in achieving your goals! 🫰🏻🫰🏻
@@balletreign yes! I was taking 5 days a week but my mom seems like she just wants me to own a studio or something I don't really want to cause I'm not very good at teaching and I want to dance pro. Whenever I tell her this she says I should do other things besides just dance but dance is what I want to do. I kind of feel stuck rn but I really want to improve
All good advice for people in upper middle class areas of big (American) cities. What’s the advice for people in small towns, in parts of the world where ballet is less well known, in areas where the only option is a hobby ballet lesson from a teacher who passed solo seal equivalent or has a general physical education degree with a specialisation in general dance? This is actually the reality for most people. It’s even an issue in cities with very good schools clustered in the upper middle class areas because many parents are too busy working to take kids across town in time for lessons.
@@isabellalucia7820 perhaps this video isnt targeted or tailored for you? You can move on and find a different one (:
@@isabellalucia7820 definitely a harder situation, I would say try to seek education from a variety of places. Take classes with the teacher in your hometown, as well travelling as often as you can to a bigger city with a bigger school, and perhaps adding some online ballet classes as well. Try to do summer intensives. If you decide you really like dance from these experiences, you can consider moving alone to a studio with a boarding school/ dorms
@ all great suggestions till the end - boarding schools are EXPENSIVE! (which is one of the reasons ballet, like classical music, has such a rep as being elitist).
I really hope that one of the positive outcomes of Covid is the increased accessibility of music and dance online…
@ Way to promote ballet as elitist!
Brava~ kind thought-provoking conversation 🩰🙏🌎🎉🎶🎶🎶
Thank you for watching with us today! ❤️❤️
guys...i think i made all these mistakes🫤