The Continuing Saga of Jamie's Ballet Lessons

[katrinakat]

I luv the thread, I used to take ballet classes and it was sooo much fun!!!

When I was in college I would go to a weekly adult ballet class. I loved the femme, motions and the outfits (jealous). lol I would wear, black tights, a black leotard, black leg warmers. And over all that I had some cute oversized shirts and short grey shorts. Walking in to class was so much fun. I bought the cutest pair of pink satin ballet slippers. After class some of us would have a ciggarette and chit chat. They were so nice and encouraging!
They taught me proper femme dance positions and gave me directions to dance wear stores in the area. At times I felt like just another one of the girls. W


I think I might try and find a class. It's great exercise for your legs and buns.

[JamieG]

Just a quick update. For the first time, I wore a leotard to class and the world didn't end! Okay, sure it was underneath the tights (in traditional male style) and then further covered up by long sleeve tee, but at least I wore it. :-) It solved my problems of the last two classes: the tights didn't sag and there was no shirt crawling up my chest.

My biggest challenge this week was on Saturday I went out to a T-gathering and wore my really cute brown boots. However, standing around in those heels for hours killed my feet. They were sore for days afterwards. I was worried that it might affect my ballet, but fortunately my feet had almost returned to normal in time for class.

[Dawna Ellen Bays]

Do we get to see the boots? I LOVE boots!

[Empira]

I started ballet when I was 16. Loved it! Took it for a year stopped for a couple and resumed in college and then when I lived in L.A. I fell out of it in the past few years as I was in graduate school as well as working full time. Now, I am getting back in shape with returning to ballet as my goal. I built a barre in the basement and have been doing barre routines in the mornings which really makes me feel sharp all day. For my basement classes, I like to mix it up from wearing more male outfits one time and female the next.

Ballet is really the only way that I can get into shape.

When I was really into dancing, I took pas de deux classes and even took pointe classes! It felt soooooooo good to actually tie on pink satin shoes over my tights and be expected to do so! A thrill to the body and mind!

I wish that I could find a school where the men were allowed to come dressed en femme. That might be more than I can expect, but if I find one, I have the clothes ready and go.

Empira

[Randee]

I took jazz/ballet for two years and started out in my first class in black leotard and tights, all guy, no fake tits, no wigs, and no coverups. The ladies in my class must have liked it cause they fussed at me when I wasn't in leotards. My advice to Jamie and Empira is just go for it and don't worry about it. You won't be so nervous about it after you get through your first class. After that it's no big deal.

[Diane Smith]

My biggest challenge this week was on Saturday I went out to a T-gathering and wore my really cute brown boots. However, standing around in those heels for hours killed my feet. They were sore for days afterwards. I was worried that it might affect my ballet, but fortunately my feet had almost returned to normal in time for class.

Darn. All the while I've been reading your thread, I've been hoping that ballet exercise might actually make it easier to feel comfortable and walk in heels. Hearing that it actually works the other way (the heels make it more difficult to do the ballet) is kind of a big letdown.

- Diane

[JamieG]

This week in class, one of the ladies asked me why I decided to start taking ballet. I answered (honestly) that "It was something I'd been thinking about for some time, and finally decided to just try. I never would have had the courage to do it when I was younger." I conveniently left off the part about being a crossdresser and liking the fact that it made me feel feminine. She just nodded and said "I know what you mean. I didn't take ballet when I was younger, and even if I had, I wouldn't have tried as hard." I found her response interesting. I know that some women who might be interested avoid ballet perhaps because they don't feel graceful enough, but there's a whole other level for boys. I'm not sure if this didn't occur to her, if she was just trying to empathize, or if she was responding to me as she would to another woman. I didn't want to belittle her reasons for not doing ballet as a child, so I just nodded sympathetically and we talked about something else.

I do want to reply to something Diane said:

Darn. All the while I've been reading your thread, I've been hoping that ballet exercise might actually make it easier to feel comfortable and walk in heels. Hearing that it actually works the other way (the heels make it more difficult to do the ballet) is kind of a big letdown.

It is true that ballet will make you move in a more graceful and feminine manner. I have definitely noticed this, although I worry that it might be bleeding over into my drab mode. However, standing on demi-pointe in ballet slippers is very different from walking in high heels. I believe most professional ballerinas try to minimize their time in high heels in order to protect their most valuable asset: their feet. That said, if you do not spend 24 hours a day in heels nor aspire to be a professional dance, I don't think there's any harm in alternating ballet and heel-wearing. Just try to stick to your more comfortable heels, especially before you have ballet class!

[Randee]

Jamie,
Nice that that lady in your class asked. You missed your chance to add something like, "I was fascinated at the gracefulness of the girls dancing in their leotards and tights, but was just unsure of myself to try it as a boy." You never know when you might get a direct invite to get into some leotards and tights and join them. I got nothing but encouragement.You would like being able to dress for class like that even if you could not do it enfemme wouldn't you. You will have your answer ready for next time you get the chance I am sure.

[JamieG]

You haven't heard from me lately. We had a week off from class, and then I missed a week due to a minor family crisis. This week, I finally returned to class. One thing I've learned is that it's harder to get back into the dancing groove when you've had some time off. Although I did okay for most of the barre exercises, I really struggled when we moved to the floor. There was one dance that they had covered while I was out, and I was completely lost. I felt like such a klutz and that I was just in everyone's way. It made me kind of depressed. We're starting up a new session in two weeks. Since we always start slow for the newbies, I am hoping that the next class back will help me build up some confidence.

[Persephone]

Have been following your story with great interest and a sense of longing as I never had the chance to take ballet and am far too old now. I admire you. Sorry to hear that you had to miss a couple of weeks, Jamie. The new session will make a difference.

Hugs,
Persephone.