Report from My First Ballet Lesson

[AmberBallet]

Hi Jamie,

Love hearing about your adventure. So many similarities to my adventure.

I've been dancing for about 5 years but it wasn't until a year ago I finally decided to move forward with what I was wearing.

I used to wear a black nylon lycra unitard and t-shirt down past my waste. My teacher who is SO supportive in our all adult ballet studio. I told her how I really wanted to fit in as one of the girls and just wear pink tights and a black leotard just like some of the other girls. She said just do it! I don't dance in femme but just feel wonderful.

My first experience was totally amazing.... I was really nervous about wearing my pink tights and black leotard. There I was sitting outside of class. I made up my mind and turned off my mind that would normally try and knock me down and say what a fool I was. Best decision!! I was SO confident and I LOVED dancing in tights under my leotard just like the girls!

My teacher was so cool...she even complemented me in front of the whole class... saying if I had legs that looked as good as yours.... I'd wear pink tights too!! I blushed hugely!!!

Now I can't wear what I used to wear. She even encouraged me to take Pointe class!!

~Amber

[leotarded]

Hi Jamie,

Thanks for sharing your experiences...reminds me of my college days when I attended a few modern dance classes. This was the mid-80s so the half-dozen women students were all in lycra leotards and tights of varous shades. I wore my longsleeved black lycra scoop neck unitard with a white t-shirt on top, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute - no-one batted an eyelid at my attire.

About the same time I attended some yoga classes in central London wearing the same outfit, and was complemented by the teacher - she complained that men too often covered themselves up in 'inappropriate' baggy costumes making the line of the body difficult to detect.

So to anyone thinking of pulling on a leotard, tights or catsuit for class - just do it - you'll be SO glad you did!

[eluuzion]

It sounds like you are having a great time.

I was involved in martial arts & kick boxing from grade school years thru college years.

To me, boxing is like a ballet...except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers punch each other...

jus' kidn'..

[marthaCD]

Jaimie:

When your session is over I would inquire about private lessons. At that point ask if you can dress en femme. You have nothing to lose. Just say you want to dance a female part. I know its difficult but at some point the drag will win out over the drab. My ballet teacher is doing a show this fall and wants me to dress en femme. I cannot wait. Of course it will be at an all TG event in northern New Jersey. Anyone interested shoot me an e mail.

Best Wishes,

martha

[MrKunk]

sweet I absolutely love ballet, but I know that what little family that already know about my cross dressing are taking it tough and ballet would probably be too much for them at the current time.

[JamieG]

Hi everyone. I am still taking ballet lessons and loving it. In fact, I'm about to sign up for a third session of 8 classes. It has now been over four months, and I thought this would be a good time to reflect on the experience. Here are some observations:

1) I feel that I am slowly developing more graceful movement.

2) I find myself working ballet movements into my everyday life (when nobody's looking). For example, if I need to reach something on the ground, I might do a plie, instead of bending over. I might do a balance (a waltz step) to move across the room to get something.

3) I love the way my legs feel the day after class; they don't ache anymore, instead there is a strong, yet feminine, feel (it's probably just psychological, but that's how I feel)

4) I am becoming more flexible. Every class we've been doing this painful stretch of our legs by placing one leg on top of the barre. As a result, while standing, I can now lift one leg so it is pointing perpendicular from my body or I can stand on one leg and lean forward so that my torso and my other leg make the top part of a "T". One day it would be great to be able to lift a leg so that it points straight up and is held close to the body (like some ballerinas and figure skaters do). I don't know if I'll ever get there, but we'll see.

5) None of the women in class seem bothered by having a guy in class with them, and many are quite friendly.

6) Wearing tights is becoming mundane. I used to keep them on the whole evening after class, but lately I come home, grab a bite to eat, and immediately shower. This might be in part that the warmer weather makes the tights less comfortable, but I think this habit will probably continue when fall comes.

7) I'm still not comfortable sharing the fact that I take ballet with my friends and family. A few natural opportunities have arisen in conversation, and I've chosen not to volunteer the information. I won't deny it if asked, but no one has ever asked.

That's all for now. Keep dancin'

Jamie

[JamieG]

I started a new session of ballet classes this week. It's the same instructor and level, but she always adds new things. The class is a bit larger than last time, maybe 25 people. I'm still the only genetic male. There are a lot of fresh faces, including a number of younger girls (at least two tweens and a few teens). For some reason there presence makes me slightly uncomfortable, perhaps because young girls are likely to be more critical of others and less worldly than older women.

I mentioned in my last post that none of the women seemed bothered by my presence. Well, this time there was one woman, accompanying her teen daughter, that I think might have been giving me the stink eye. Perhaps she thought that any guy perverted enough to wear tights and come to ballet class was sure to attack her daughter? Hopefully, I completely misread her attitude. We'll see if I get any more bad vibes from her in the future.

As for class, I think I did really well. I kept up with most of the combinations (putting sequences of steps together), but I have to work on perfecting my technique. I'm really starting to enjoy the end of the class where I am dancing in synch with all of the ladies, because I can actually remember and do most of the steps now.

On a side note, an online dancewear store had a big sale and for $50 I bought two leotards (one in black and one in pink), a pair of pink tights, pink ballet slippers and a tutu! I don't plan to wear any of it to class (well, maybe the black leotard would work), but it will be fun for my at home practice sessions.

[CamillaCD]

I am getting a bit envious about the seemingly continuous ballet class offerings in your area. My class ended two months ago and at the moment it seems that this kind of class is not going to be offered in the next term. So I guess I'll have to get a DVD and do things at home

[Shelby]

Give the Stink Eye Mom some time. If you think it continues, try to find a moment to talk to her and mention that you couldn't help feel like she looked bothered y your pressence. If she says no, not bothered at all - fine, then just talk. If she wonders why you are in the class, be honest and tell her you enjoy it, and it is something to do with the wife (if she is still in class with you) or that you and your wife started together and that you enjoyed it and kept going.

I know of a guy who has been taking dance lessons with a group of women for years. He is the only guy in the group and they do jazz and tap routines at the recitals. Some of the movements are a little girly but no one ever gives him crap about it. Not to mention he is with 20 adult women and some are total MILFs. In my opinion, he is very smart.