a good look in the mirror....

 What I've noticed....when reflecting upon myself is...

 

.... I am in desperate need of .. a tummy small enough to fit into those amazing romantic tutu's hanging on the wall...

----Must focus on developing  a stronger right side... I've sadly discovered that not only is my right leg seriously  "hyper-extended" to a bad degree and "MUST BE WORKED ON ALWAYS!"....I've also discovered I have the fear. Yay! My weaker side holds me back. because I don't trust it to support me in all my movements....When it comes to pointe work.... I am afraid of my right side... that it won't support me... it wont hold up... and I may get injured....

 It seems I tend to "favor" this side in a bad way and this creates bad habits..and horrible muscle memory I must fight constantly (even outside of class - Yes.. it IS that bad. )

..That I've always had a problem with port-de-bras.. and I think I finally realize why..... I can't seem to allow myself  to be "BIG" or take up alot of space.. to be "loud and proud and in yo FACE! " doesn not come easily to me... so the large expression-able arms in port-de-bras.. are an enormous struggle! Why can't I "just take up space" and be comfortable?


If you could be truly honest with yourself ( and yes sometimes the truth hurts.... What would you admit you need to improve? )

Bury me in pointe shoes

I was chattering along the other day, feeling quite hyper after downing a huge cafe mocha with whip cream, topped with chocolate and cinnamon sprinkles...( YUM! ) when Mr. STB and I got onto the subject of our favorite comfy clothes......somewhere in the middle of our sugar and caffeine high I believe I formally requested that when " it's my time," I'd like to be buried in my warmest comfy socks, (did I mention how much I am obsessed with thick wooly socks?? ) also wearing my white and pink fluffy hat  (complete with bunny nose and ears ) and of course... my pretty pointe shoes on my feet.

The conversation wasn't the slightest morbid, in fact it was quite the giggle fest.

Alright, rabbit hat.. maybe not the best choice, it'll probably just clash with my outfit (and would look just silly in the summer time ) but you can never go wrong with a good pair of shoes...amiright?

But, hey, why stop there.......

Ha, ha and you were starting to think I was strange...?

See you next week........?

I think the saddest part about ballet class is just how many people are lost along the way. People come and go from an Adult ballet class so often, you really can't be sure that as you wave goodbye after class....you'll ever see them again.

Attending ballet class week by week is a challenge itself for most adult dancers. Far too often life gets in the way, kids, money, work, or other... ballet gets placed on the back burner... and it's really a sad day to discover yet another classmate won't be coming back.

Well my already small class lost another one. It's tough because you make such good (in class ) friends with your fellow dancers only to discover you wont see them again. Sure there is always facebook (if you ask / or they ask - a conversation that doesn't always comes up as people are rushing into class or out ) but even then it isn't always the same.

Adult ballet dancers are a rare breed. In class we encourage, applaud, become inspired by and even giggle with throughout the many up's and down's of the ballet world. The smaller the class get's the lonelier it almost becomes. (Sure there is more opportunity for private lessons which is gold itself) yet, I look out amongst what's left of the group and I can't help but wonder who I might not see next week...or the week after that....I dunno.... maybe I'm just too sentimental for my own good.

Have you've ever watched the movie The Sandlot, (1993) the movie about the story of a group of best friends told through the eyes of the new kid to the neighborhood. Together they survive a crazy summer full of adventures, hard times, and good which cement their bond..... You may remember the scene at the very end of the movie where they focuses in on them playing their very last baseball game together and one by one each child seems to fade away ( symbolizing their journey forward in their life / growing up, and, leaving their childhood, childhood friends and the baseball diamond behind) until there is only one remaining circling the baseball diamond to score a lonely home run by himself.

Ballet Class is the field in which we practice, the barre is the diamond where we perfect technique, classmates make up the team, and I, the narrator of our story.

Oh Noes!... NOt the TOESSS!

You've heard the rumors... pointe shoes and sandals don't mix. Once you strap these babies on your feet, your pedicure strutting days are OVAH!

"But... this only applies to professional dancers"... .say Whaa? Sure maybe..... If you strap those little piggies up in all kinds of softness...foot undeez, toe tape barriers, toe spaces, moleskin or "any other" magically strange combinations ( bubble wrap.. whatthewhat!?! )......anything to... finally......PLEASE..... just.... KILL THE PAIN ALREADY! GAAAH!





I take 2 pointe classes a week. I love pointe. I actually feel myself working alot harder while on pointe, mores so  then when ( sadly ) on the floor. Why? Well to put it simply... you just can't fake it on pointe. There is no way around not using your muscles properly ( something I commonly forget to engage in soft shoes) There are no short cuts with these bad boys. They can and WILL hurt you hardcore if you don't step up and recognize!

I've had my moments of absolute panic, you know... the kind that forms knots in your stomach, the kind that has adrenaline pumping  so violently through your veins you'd swear your heart might burst from your chest, all the while you are still trying to casually shrug off the horror of what just happened... to the rest of the class.  - What..??     That horrific ankle sickle that had you holding your breath in fear was.... nothin! Pssh... I planned that from the getgo! .. sheesh! Pain??? HA!  You tool! ........ Please....( "trembles silently" )


Okay well maybe not THAT extreme... but I did fail to use my muscles and this did leave me terrified after a sickling incident twice.

Fear + Adults + Pointe = BAD

The greatest thing about youth is being fearless. They can accomplish anything....." jump across two buildings??? SURE! - I can do that Shh...T....... " with my eyes closed, while txting Biatch!!


Adults however... as they age  ( so it seems ) begin to grow ever fearful.  - Yo know that super crazy Wild roller coaster that made your friends puke and you psyched?! - Well as each year passes.. you realize just how slightly scarier the ride seems to get...( I call shenanigans)  until well.. you wonder how you ever liked it at all??  Only crazy people could like this.. which CLEARLY you ARE NOT!



Fear can be a bad thing, especially on pointe when you need to fully exert yourself... if you hold back from fear you can cause more harm then good, and, may not progress as quickly as you would if you accepted the fear and became determined to trust yourself.. your technique and your teachers.


Er... so..... back to my main point of this thread... (wow where was I going with this... ) I took a good look at my toes the other day while switching from my soft shoes to pointe shoes.... and all I could think was EGAD! My toe nails are terrible! Some of my toes almost look like they have layers?? ( Is that even normal ?? ) My big toe has a semi-broken toe-nail. ( My nails are rather weak ) and I guess just slight pressure on a nail not cut properly seems to break it slightly. Not that it hurt.. my nails are too weak to feel pain or anything .....the hard callus built up under the big toe.. and minor toughening of skin on the tops of my toes... just made me do a double take. UGH! My feet look horrible!

In my defense I have NOT been taking of my feet... They are the last things on my mind especially now with winter and all those amazing comfy socks ( my weakness  ---  Seriously, think of your favourite comfort food.... and now picture it's an equivalent in sock form    zomg! Baked macaroni and cheesey soft socks....H E A V E N...) I LOVE comfy socks, and my toes can be lost in these fluffy-kins for days. Out of sight out of mind. 

But WOW! I really need to start taking a moment to appreciate the hard work my feet go through, and the toll standing completely on your tip toes can take on your limbs. ( especially more painful if your technique isn't great or you're wearing bad shoes.......i.e knuckling/bunions/ etc)


Take care of your tootsies... you need them... and they need you.

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Prizes!

You're looking at one of the selected winners of a Halloween Contest Giveaway fellow Blogger Rori Roars  http://roriroars.wordpress.com/ offered in October.


Yay! Prizes! I won the Ballet Beautiful Classical 60min Workout made by Mary Helen Bowers - You know ... she helped whip Natalie Portman into shape for her role in The Black Swan (awesome movie btw ) Before this contest I didn't even know this workout series existed... wow how out of the loop am I ?? Gee, what other amazing gems are out there that I am missing out on.. huh?!

Anyways, Yay! So I got this in DVD in the mail a couple weeks back, but I wasn't able to try it out until the other day. ( Complete with personalized note from Rori - Aww, nice touch <3 )

 Hmm... what's that? You can't read it? Ha! Too bad! It's not for you! Teehee

 So it's been a hectic couple weeks, between work, ballet class and having company in town  - I just couldn't muster the energy or space to try it out.

This DVD has quite a few exercises which are all done on the floor... (too easy right? WRONG! ) Each exercise is specific to a certain body part - Legs, Abs, Arms, etc.. and are done in 4 sets of 8, increasing in difficulty.

She does offer beginner poses as well for those that are just starting, and simple stretches.

What I love about this DVD is that it cuts straight to the chase. It's like it gets right down to it... you work hard on each body part and each exercise targets that area to make results. I also love how she is always reminding you to keep your tummy muscles working (which I always forget) and that within seconds you literally feel the burn. Trust me, it burns bad!

The only thing I don't like about this DVD (but I can't really complain - it's a simple fix ) is that it almost seems backwards. You start on the floor with all these exercises and then at the end there is a small cardio series. I've learned my lesson though.. I didn't bother to warm up at all before starting this video... so next time I think I will just play the cardio part FIRST.. then go back to the floor exercises.


Overall this DVD kicked my ass! I am sooo sore... I could hardly keep up. My legs were dead within mins, but I really appreciate how this DVD gets right to the point and gets the job done! I am very weak in my legs and abs and I am very excited to (once the pain goes away - lol ) incorporate this DVD into my weekly workout.


Thanks again Rori! <3

Ballet Tights Revealed

Pink ballet tights....... OMG the horror! Actually ballet tights serve a purpose. First, they are a soft pink colour which goes well with almost every outfit.......

Let's Talk... Pointe Shoes...

Pointe shoes are an amazing part of every Ballet Dancer's life. We all wish.. dream about, and work hard for that final nod or approval that we are finally ready! It's a huge deal... and trust me all the work it takes to achieving such an amazing goal (although the process can be very hard) in the end pays off. After all the effort, you can fully enjoy your reward... that rewarding, yet, PAINFUL pointe shoe experience.