| Getting back to ballet after a few years off | | | | advanced class than you had been doing so you |
| seems intimidating to many who really want to. A | | | | can have "the luxury" of concentrating on basic |
| child, teen, or adult ballet student will need a | | | | ballet technique. The fancy combinations of an |
| different approach. Some may need to get in | | | | advanced class would be a distraction. |
| shape for ballet for a few months. Unless there is | | | | In some cases a dedicated student gets accepted |
| a medical condition, there is no reason not to go | | | | into a full time training ballet school, and |
| back to classical dancing. | | | | "something happens". After recovery from injury |
| For example, perhaps you took ballet classes | | | | or some other situation, has taken place, an |
| from the age of five to fifteen. | | | | ambitious teen can be tortured by not knowing |
| Then for some reason you decided to go to | | | | how the previous scenario would have played out |
| college. You pursue academics for a couple of | | | | - and wonders if she/he should try to get back to |
| years, and realize you really miss dancing. You | | | | it. I say if you can, audition again. Some of the |
| were considered a talented student formerly, but | | | | training schools have a special course for older |
| now you worry about what it would take to get | | | | students who are talented enough to make quick |
| back to an advanced level. | | | | progress, or go into a teacher training program |
| At this time of year (March), look into summer | | | | that dovetails with a degree program. |
| intensives. The more established summer | | | | Sometimes a teacher is approached by a student |
| intensives will ask you to audition, and may have | | | | who quit ballet at the very old age of ten, after |
| already held their auditions. | | | | five years of classes. Now she/he wants to get |
| Sometimes a smaller more local studio is the best, | | | | back into class, and isn't sure how to catch up. |
| as you may get more attention in those classes | | | | Many studios like to keep classes geared to an |
| than in a major ballet school. | | | | age range, but I would put this student into a |
| After intensive study, you and your teachers will | | | | very basic technique class once a week for a |
| have a good idea of whether you can make the | | | | while. She/he could also take a class closer to the |
| progress you want. | | | | previous level studied. That way boredom won't |
| But you don't have to wait....if you can, right now, | | | | take over. |
| take a weekly ballet class, starting in a less | | | | |