| Never be afraid of asking your teacher if you feel like | | | | classes, to exercise outside of the ballet academy. |
| you need some better defined direction in your ballet | | | | The finer details of cross-training, pre-pointe work at |
| class. Different ballet moves are more or less difficult | | | | home, self-assessing your weak points, and |
| for different students. Teachers love to know that their | | | | understanding how dance injuries happen, are all |
| students want to work harder or smarter, and are | | | | available thanks to superbly-credentialed dance |
| committing more than a recreational presence in their | | | | medicine writers. |
| ballet studio. | | | | Optimum health for dancers is available with the help |
| Ballet IS difficult. Its technical demands override what | | | | of chiropractic, physiotherapy, fresh/whole food diet, |
| other athletes consider proper muscle recovery time. | | | | and medical diagnostics when you need them. |
| Its fashion demands override sensible eating habits to | | | | Experienced teachers know that the more mature and |
| a huge magnitude. | | | | sensible students often go farther in ballet than the |
| Fortunately both these issues are more widely | | | | uniquely physically and spiritually gifted, sadly. But |
| addressed in most dance schools at this time. | | | | happily, there are the mystically endowed talents that |
| The basic technique and quality aspects of ballet are | | | | also have, or develop (thanks to good people in their |
| designed to build strength and prevent injury. | | | | life) a streak of common sense. The world of ballet |
| Understanding the particular short comings of your | | | | can be overwhelming. |
| physique and personality (everybody has some) will | | | | In the pool of the more, or less , gifted ballet dance |
| help you advance better, maybe faster, and more | | | | students, those who are not afraid of asking for |
| safely. | | | | individual guidance do better. And if you cannot get it - |
| Feeling impatient to get onto pointe shoes, or into a | | | | change dance studios. |
| more advanced boys' class is a good thing. Do your | | | | You have accepted and feel wonderfully challenged |
| best to study some anatomy, some cross-training like | | | | that ballet is difficult. You can learn how to prevent |
| Pilates or weight training, in order to practice sensibly. | | | | dance injuries - even if your teachers don't know. You |
| Doing foot exercises, core strengthening exercises, or | | | | can learn to self-assess for pointe work - even if your |
| upper body weight training (pas de deux prep) are | | | | teachers don't know. (adult beginners included!). There |
| things you can add to your home practice. Balance this | | | | is nothing to stop you from learning more. |
| by choosing days where you have no class, or lighter | | | | |