Why do some dancers excel faster than others? Maybe talent has something to do with it, but I believe that individual practice plays a larger role. You need time to focus in on the areas that are most difficult for you, to experiment with solutions, and solidify what you've learned. Class time is great for learning new steps, learning from peers, and gaining stamina, but it will never replace individual practice.

Every ballet class begins with plies. The plie is a time to center yourself, prepare your mind, and begin to warm up your body. But, with such a repetitive and seemingly easy exercise (don’t be fooled!), it's easy to just go through the motions.

Next time you're in class, try these tips to help you get the most out of your class from the very beginning.

Pointe was something I always admired and was curious about. A friend bought a pair of signed pointe shoes from the New York City Ballet for me. They were very inexpensive, but it was such an exciting gift. I remember putting those shoes on, just to feel what it felt like. It seemed like a far away goal, and something I couldn't reach. I didn't know if someone who started dancing as late as I did could get onto pointe.

The year was 2007, and I was getting ready to start my senior year of high school. At the time, I was still living with my parents in San Diego. I had recently gotten an after school job as a medical billing assistant and had my own car. I decided that I wanted to start ballet. I don't exactly remember what the final catalyst was, or when I first became interested in ballet, but something compelled me to go for it.

During my junior year in college, my ballet training was getting more serious. By then, I had nearly 3 full years of ballet training, sprinkled with many different styles of dance. I was studying computer science at Pace University, but really wanted to see how far I could take my dance training. So, I decided to apply for summer intensives. 

Throughout the years, I've taken classes all over town (and the country), with many different teachers, in many different styles. In this post, I’ll share what I've learned from each style I’ve tried.