Jamie
I also enjoyed reading your adventure.
Jamie
I also enjoyed reading your adventure.
I am absolutely quivering with anticipation waiting for Jamie's next installment. you go girl... Karen
Karen Francis
Camilla, that's cool that you've told some coworkers. I've been meaning to tell two of my closest GG work friends, but have yet to find the right opening. I was talking on the phone with my parents the other day when my mom asked, "So what have you been doing for extracurricular activities these days?" This would have been the perfect time to tell her about ballet, but I chickened out. Right now, the only people who know are my wife, our babysitter, and of course the class.Originally Posted by CamillaCD
Speaking of which, I ran into one of the young ladies from class on the street the other day. We both smiled and said "Hi" and went on our ways. Maybe I'm just imagining things, but it felt more like a GG-to-GG interaction rather than what you would typically expect when a GG passes a guy who is just an acquaintance. After all, we've never spoken in class.
Jamie:
You must be wearing the same brand of mens tights I wear to class (Capezio mens professional ones....btw) You have described exactly my "strugle" to get into them twice a week for class. And I thought I was the only one. They are great dance tights and hold up very well. Like most of us, I take class as a guy usually wearing black dance tights and some sort of dark t-shirt with my black Bloch mens full sole leater soft shoes. I have a pair of split sole soft shores which seem to be more popular with the other ladies in my class, but I have not started to use them yet.
However, when I practice at home I stick to the more traditioal ladies dance wear. And yes, ladies tights are much easier to wear and dance in. I can really notice the differance when I dance.
:2c:
Sarah[SIZE="3"][/SIZE]
"Sport is for men.......But Ballet is for women" ---- George Balenchine
Yup. I have Capezio MT11's. I also wear Bloch full sole leather shoes. We could be twins!I've heard from a few people that M. Stevens makes a really comfortable pair of men's tights that some women even like to wear. I have to pick up a pair sometime and see if I like them better than the Capezios.
Hi everyone,
No, I haven't quit, nor have I given up on updates. Class was canceled last week due to snow, so I had to wait two agonizing weeks for my next ballet class last night. My wife wasn't feeling well, so I had to go on my own again. Class was 1/3 at the barre, 1/3 in the center, and 1/3 moving across the floor. I got a lot more personal feedback from the teacher this time; about equally compliments ("Good", "Better", etc.) and corrections ("Close your feet", "Bend your back," etc.). Still, I feel fairly lost in class. I'm hoping after a while it will become second nature to me, but right now I feel like a bumbling oaf. The good news is this just makes me want to try that much harder. The problem is it's difficult to improve when you only have an hour and 15 minutes a week. I try to practice steps at home, but its not the same. I'm going to hang in there and see where I stand at the end of the session. Til next week...
Jamie:
If you are in PA shoot me an e mail as I cannot e mail yet and I can give you the name of a small studio where there are only 4 or 5 dancers and you can dress in a leotard and tights as I did.
Also see my post in the old thread.
Hi Jamie:
The thing that is so difficult and why I quit was that this is not like running or personal training. As you get physically tired you still have to be mentally sharp for over an hour as to the count, the movement, the balance, the position and you have to have the confidence to be the lead student at the barre which means not watching the student in front of you but rather the teacher who may or may be not moving ( sometimes they sit in a chair)
As i mentioned in my post on the other thread you would benefit from a very small class and a few individual lessons during the week you take class. Also the Melissa Lowe video from years ago and available on line is good for home use as you only need a chair for a barre and a mat for the stretching. The turns will make you dizzy until you understand how to delay your head rotation and you really need the personal attention that you will not get in a large class you are in. I can remember some nights there were as few as 2 students when 3 did not show up. A studio is more private and they will arrange for guy dressing rooms if needed.
All of you are getting bent out of shape about leotards and tights. The main issues are whether to wear the tights under the leotard like the ladies or wear them over. If you shave your legs its no big deal to wear women's as long as they are black. Nude does not cover as well for a color. If you do not cover up and your leg hair shows that is a big no no. You can still buy women's then and you can wear a second pair of nude tights or sheer to waist pantyhose underneath for cover up. Try Capezio number 8 convertible mesh in black with a back seam or whilte with another layer underneath. The back seam is very flattering. They are full fashion and wear very well.
Some dance wear stores will tell you Bal Togs is all unisex leotards anyway and one store has a "mans" scoop neck long sleeve that is Bal togs. A private studio is going to be more understanding of this dress as you will be dressing like a dancer in a strictly dance environment.
Jamie...
It is truly wonderful that your wife and yourself can take this class together. My wife is understanding, patient, and supportive, but I don't think that she would ever try a class such as this together with me. Kudos to you both!
Jamie Congratulations on your sticking to this what a wonderful thread really makes me think!!!!!
Hi Jamie and Gurls:
La Femme Finishing School in Piscataway NJ has ballet classes or tap for those wishing to dance en femme. The proprietor Ellen can provide individual lessons at that location. If she has more than one student she can arrange for a studio. She will conduct the classes as she has had dance training in ballet and tap. She also can arrange a studio for any of us in the Valley Forge, PA area which is outside Philadelphia as well. You can find LaFemme if you Google LaFemme Finishing School, NJ. I am planning to attend and I hope many of you gurls will do the same and get in touch with her to make this class happen.
regards
martha
I had my fifth ballet lesson last night, and it was the best experience yet. First, class was a bit smaller (about 20 instead of 30 people). This makes it less crowded at the barre, and easier to see yourself in the mirror. Second, I felt like I did a much better job keeping up with things. Sure there were times when I lost my place and forgot how I was supposed to move next, but frequently I was able to recover quickly.
Much of the class is repeating things we learned in previous classes, with the addition of a new step, or making a combination more complicated. For example, we learned to fondu last night (no, I don't mean dipping food in melted cheese; its a move where you support yourself on one leg and lower the body by bending the leg), and then we did a combination that worked that in with some of the other things we have learned.
The instructor has been very encouraging, saying that my body is well-designed for ballet (e.g., I have significant natural turnout and flexibility, even at my ripe-old age). My weak spot has been on movement and balance. However, after class last night, she said that I was improving very quickly in that area. At the end of class, she asked me "You love this, don't you?" I just smiled and replied "I'm not embarrassed to admit it, I love ballet!"
It's hard to believe that a couple of months ago, I had to work up the courage just to take the course. If I had let myself been paralyzed by fear, I would never know the joy I now feel. It's a shame that due to gender stereotypes, I was deprived of the chance to experience this same joy much earlier in my life.
... and still going strong. I don't think I did as well last night as I did last week, but I still thought I had a good lesson. Things were basically more or less the same pattern, work at the barre, some combinations on the floor, and then a combination across the room that involves a jump. I think I've nailed one combination that we've learned before, and did okay with another one we just learned last week. However, I really struggled with a combination where we do a waltz-step, and then run and do three consecutive leaps (called jettes). I just couldn't get the timing of my leaps down and I felt quite uncoordinated. But, I imagine it will be great fun to run and jump through the air once I get the hang of it.
As an aside, I think the only other genetic male in class has dropped out. Now, it's just me and the ladies. Also, class size is getting to be more manageable, with about 22 people, instead of 30 as on some of our worst nights.
Last edited by JamieG; 03-04-2010 at 12:02 PM.
very cool jamie.you are much braver than me.my hats off to you girl!.
just a florida girly girl...................................what in the world can make this brown eyed girl turn blue(roxette)
Jamie,
Great progress. Your classes are going much like my jazz/ballet classes from years ago. We occasionally had another guy join our class for a week or so, but it eventually boiled down to me and 6 ladies. By then with every one else being female, it's hard for them NOT to treat you as "one of the girls" even though they were very glad to have a guy in class with them. You might find it easier then to push toward the dance clothing you would prefer. I bet if you said something about starting to wear a leotard and tights to fit in better, or have your wife suggest it, you will get a lot of support. I did restrict my choices to dark solid colors and basic leotard styles. The gals in my class were almost insistent that I continue that attire once I joined them. And that included strolling over to the convenience store down the strip center for a soda with them in our dancewear, something I would have never done alone! Your experience brings back some amazing memories.
Hi Jamie:
I have two bal togs mens leotards. Both are black and one is a tank top and one is a short cap sleeve. I would try something like that with black tights worn over the leotard to start. You will look totally in place. Ask the teacher where you can buy a mens leotard so she knows you want to go in that direction.
You could also ask her if she does private one on one lessons? I am sure she has a studio in your area and she would welcome the business and perhaps can order you some dance wear.
mar
Jennifer, I don't really think I'm that brave. I'm not presenting myself as female in class, and I'm not doing anything than many male ballet dancers haven't already done. I think it's actually braver for a straight, non-CD, boy to take up ballet despite the stigma of it being "girly." The tights and learning to move just like the ladies (at least in beginner classes; in advanced classes males begin to learn different techniques) are benefits for me; but would pose obstacles for many prospective male dancers. Furthermore, could you imagine the teasing male tweens and teens get from their peers when they choose to take serious dance lessons? I think any such boy is much braver than I.
Best answer I have heard for that (and used) was--'Why lift weights when you can lift WOMEN!'
Sorry for the silence lately. Since my last post there has been one more ballet lesson (we had a week off, then I missed a week for family reasons). My last class didn't go so great; the combinations were very complex, and I couldn't keep up with most of them. It was very frustrating. That semester has ended, but I'm signed up to start a new 8-week semester with the first class next week. I'm determined to become a better dancer. Given that a typical session has really nothing new to report other than what moves I learned, I'll probably stop providing weekly updates, and only fill you in when something of general interest happens.
By the way, I finally bought a (men's) leotard, but haven't worn it to class yet. I'm thinking of trying it in the second week of this semester.
Jamie
It's got to be tough to keep up. Congrats on trying to at least.
Like so many good habits, easy to start; hard to keep up with. Good on you to return even though you needed to miss a few classes. You go back knowing you are behind in learning the routines as well as rusty. The fact that you went is the big thing. Hang in there and good luck next semester....Dee
Keep posting please......you just might convince me to do it as well! Actually i would love it and i'm sure it is a wonderful workout. I'm a rather odd mix of being both clumsy but with good balance, believe it or not. I just had umbilical hernia surgery on monday, but as soon as i'm all healed up it is back to a serious fitness program. Before the hernia made itself known i was doing a combination of basic wieght work, cycling and some "core fitness" stuff. I use a dvd made by a company called Arcadia and it is working on mainly the thighs, hips and butt. Kind of a mix between pilates and yoga.
Anyways, i spose i could check around and see what is available as for ballet classes. I can just see how it would be great for developing not only the body but helping with the feminine grace as well. So thanx and keep it coming. mj (Cassie)
Last night was the first lesson of my second ballet session. I know I was rather down when I reported from the last class of the previous session, but this past class was terrific. Although some of the same ladies have returned, and a few new ones have joined, the class is much smaller, only about 20 people total. This meant there was plenty of room at the barre, and everyone got some personal attention from the instructor. I picked a spot that allowed me to see myself in the mirror (unlike my regular spot last session), and I think this helped me with my movement. The lessons were more at my speed (perhaps to help bring the new people up to speed) and I never felt completely lost. The only down side is a dance-related injury -- I stubbed my toe on a jump at the end of class! Now I'm walking with a limp.
Oh and funny thing happened, a guy wandered in the middle of the class, and said something about not realizing it was only girls. The instructor pointed me out and said all are welcome, and invited him back next time. He seemed embarrassed, and I don't expect we'll see him anytime soon. Still, it was kind of nice being lumped in with the girls, even in my male ballet attire.
Fun being treated like just one of the girls in class isn't it. A couple of guys dropped in and took a lesson with us. In once case, I remember shortly after he left, one of the ladies turned to us and said, "Next time, he'd better be in leotards!" as were all the rest of us. The other ladies all agreed.
Hi Jamie:
I had my 4rth dance class this past week with LeFemme. Please shoot me a private e mail if you get a chance.
best wishes
mar
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