I Do Ballet... Or Something

Facebook reminded me of this picture, that we took at a Nutcracker when we were dancing the guests at the beginning. And that was three months after we started ballet from knowing nothing. We started in October and this was December.

That was three years ago. I thought it was longer, but no. I started this ballet journey three years ago and I have improved so much. I'm still in a beginner level but I can see how much I can improve and it is not a crazy thought. I'm stronger, more flexible, and my lines look nice. I mean, I do look good in class.

Hi!

Starting at 18 you will surely see so much progress! And welcome to this amazing journey of ballet.

About your knee question... I’m not entirely sure, but sometimes I used to lift my leg using my quads, that gave me not only tense muscles but also made my knees hurt. Your case might be different but you can check some things for you to clearly tell what’s wrong and when needed you can communicate it properly to your doctor:

Check the quad. Like I said before, check if you’re lifting the leg with the quad and if that makes your knee hurt.

Check your alignment. Your knees must always be over your toes when you plié. Take a look at this because you can be trying to turn out from the knee down instead of the hip and that is pretty dangerous and painful.

Check if you’re locking your knees. Sometimes in class we can get very tense, and that applies at the knees too. Focus on yourself and check if when you tendu front (slowly) you’re locking your support and woking leg’s knees.

There might be plenty other reasons why your knees hurt, but these basics can help you locate the source and be conscious of what you’re doing in class.

And finally, even if you cannot locate why, how and where exactly hurts your knee, go to the doctor. It might be nothing, it might be something more serious, so as an adult, do not wait for a painful injury to go check with the doctor.

Here’s a good luck Alicia Alonso for you:

Hi! Sure!

I go to two classes! One in the mornings, HERE, but there’s also classes on the weekends. And in ) take this other class in the afternoons twice a week (Monday- Thursday 7:30pm, or Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7:30 am) HERE. Both are in quite centric zones (Roma and Juarez), which are usually the zones that expats usually arrive to live.

So, I've been having some tension-not-really-pain in the back of my knees since last week I worked on production (we make ads at my job) for about 18hours straight from Monday to Wednesday standing up, and well, I had legit pain on the back of my knees. So I went to the doctor, he said it's some hamstrings tendonitis (since I felt tension when I tried to straighten my legs fully) and I need physio, and said I could go to class but just don't over do it. So, that's ok.

I've had 2 physio sessions and after the second one my pain went really down, almost gone. That was on Tuesday.

Cut to to today when I couldn't even finish my ballet class because I felt that same tension again. And it freaked me out. Pointing my left foot made me feel a little pain. Relevé is kind of painful too. And on top of that I had a super stressful day at work.

I wanna cry.

I've had exactly one day pain free after the production when I stood up for hours. And now this. It's just fucked up. I mean, I take ballet for me, it's my "me" time, the time of the day that I enjoy the most (honestly I only enjoy eating more than ballet XD), and today straightening my leg just does not feel right.

Tomorrow I have my 3rd physio, and I guess I should not take my weekend class. I hope I'll feel better (I mean I have to take 8 sessions), but I'm just so tired.

Here's a gif of the kind of stuff that simply seeing makes me feel pain:

Awwww thank you!!!!!!! <3

Hi!

I've been doing ballet for almost 2.5 years, and i started going to pointwork class like... 1.5 years ago? or something like that? I did not start with pointe shoes, but I just took the class to gain strength and coordination for a while (this class was not my usual class, it was an extra after my class 2 times a week). Then I got my pointe shoes like a year or so ago (I think) and I took the last half hour of the class on pointe with a few exercises on the centre. And finally last week I started to take the full class on pointe (because my teacher suggested it, I think I would never had the guts to try it), and it was SO HARD and tiring and I loved it.

Avengers... Assemblé!

Today is the right day to wear this tee! It’s my favourite tee (so much that I have it in grey like the one in the photo and in white).

Images from top:

Patricia Zhou wearing the Assemblé tee, Cloud & Victory.

I told him that since my hamstrings injury (that happened while I walked, I didn't fall or anything), the recovery was slow and that now I'm extra careful with my body and what I feel, because I have thuybg with pain in which I'm never in pain until it is a little too late and I get hurt. So I'm super super careful.

So, even though I feel I work a lot in class, I'm afraid that I might seem "lazy" and that really freaks me out.

He said that he understands and that yes, I should be careful, but he also said that it is holding me back a lot.

geekybitch09 replied to your post “Hey, first off, i just wanted to say that I love your blog. I just...”

Thank you, this is all so helpful!

You’re welcome! <3

Oh! Thank you!! <3

So great you’re starting ballet! You go!

Well the first thing is: do not get discouraged. The begging is going to be hard, because you’re not used to do certain things, but that’s it. You’ll learn and you’ll get better. I know it sounds like something obvious, but sometimes when I’m in class and I cannot do certain basic things (especially now after my injury) I get so down… But then I remember “hey, I couldn’t do any of this stuff before, and I worked hard for it, so i should just get to work again.”

Also some basics before your first class:

The level: Check the levels available for you. If you’ve never had a ballet class before, then look for an absolute beginner (they’ll teach every single little thing that seems so simple but oh boy it is not) or a beginner. I’m sure the studio will recommend a class for you. And do not forget that you can try a couple classes in different places before sticking to one!

What to wear: Do you need uniform? Or going in tank top and leggings is ok? Will you need a leotard and slippers? Check with the school and/or teacher so you’re totally ready for your first day.

Buying stuff: Go to a store, for your first slippers and leotard do not go for the online stores. Get to a place so you can try everything on be sure you’re comfortable. I recommend start with something that makes you feel great (a tank leotard fully lined is like, the best, since it does not matter your body type, will look good, feel good and keep everything in place), but that is not expensive (think basic split sole canvas shoes, later on that pair will make you realise what you like and what you don’t about your shoes). Feeling great and ready is important!

Etiquette: It depends on the teacher and school, but usually the basics are that you should not use street shoes inside the studio, you thank the teacher (and the pianist if there happens to be one) after each class, questions are at the beginning and end of class, hair in a bun, wear what is allowed (for example my teacher does not allow shorts nor skirts), do not cling from the barre, if the barre is not fixed to the wall usually the boys move them before centre work (you’ll see who and when moves them in class), when corrections are given apply them right there, and of course let your teacher know if have any kind of injury or pain before class. You’ll see on your first class what is the usual stuff on your studio.

Finally the most important thing: Have fun. You’re already there and now enjoy the constant struggle of making you body do stuff it’s not supposed to do XD It’s going to be hard but SO satisfying!

Let us all know how is your first class!

I’m being super csreful because I’m not only returning from an injury, we’re trying to precent the same injury to happen to my other leg. So, well, everything hurts.

This week I’ll go to only 3 classes (instead to the 5 I’d usually take), and have my final 3 physiotherapy seasions. So, I hope I’ll be a lot better on Friday.

Here’s a David Hallberg gif just because he’s gorgeous.

Hyperextension is not fun at all.

Now, I cannot go to class (even though I feel I was gaining so much strength! And my posture was a lot better, and my turn out just got nice!), but I had bought and given for christmas a lot of cool ballet stuff from various brands, so I think I’ll make a few reviews in the meantime.

What do you think? Would you like that? Are there specific things you’d like to know? Like delivery times, customer support, materials, etc? Let me know!