Blog 16, open the doors and have a holiday 

“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it” (Muhammad Ali).

Time flies. Already it’s Easter!

So holiday time for the kids, and next 2 weeks no ballet classes. 

In the last week before a vacation period, Bayadère opens the doors for friends and family to look at the performance of the students, children, and adults. 

It’s always a bit awkward when people are watching you. But strange how soon you forget that people are actually looking at you when you focus on your exercises.

Lyda asked me to pay specific attention to the expression of my face. When focusing on the movement, I tend to show the difficulty of the performance on my face. I am familiar with that comment. I remember my wife saying (quite often): “You always have your mouth open when you watch television, shut your mouth, please. Otherwise, you look so silly.” I’ll practice, that’s a promise, Lyda.

I feel confident about my performances. And even if I stumblebum some time, I know by now that in the end, I will achieve it. Because I can conceive it. Because I believe by now that I can do it.

The second part of the lesson was fun. We had some laughs and felt relaxed. An excellent way to start a vacation!

And that is precisely what I’m going to do: take a few weeks off. So no blog in the next weeks!

My next blog will be on May 11.

Happy Easter!

Blog 15, from a little toe to delightful piano music

I am recovering from my bruised little toe. The accident with my foot happened 10 days ago. It is still painful. I used a tape this first evening to fixate my little toe to its neighboring toe. From earlier experience with injuries, I’ve learned to listen to the signals of my body. Your body has a great capacity to heal if you give it proper time and rest. In the last 10 days, I took great care in immobilizing my foot. And of course, I skipped dancing. 

But even sitting on a chair last week I learned a few things about ballet. Thanks to the power of observation, self-reflection, and visualization.

I’m glad to be back in Bayadère. Though I have to remain cautious in my moves, I don’t want to hinder the process of the healing of my foot.

I came in early, so Lyda and I had a chat about the piano music she uses in class. There are many variations and differences in the styles. Sometimes you can hear in what part of the world the pianist lives. A Cuban pianist like Aly Tejas plays with spunk and passion. 

I’m gradually building up a collection of ballet music of my own. Names like Lisa Harris, Aly Tejas, Søren Bebe, Patience Clements fill my iTunes Library. I love this music so much! Simple and yet eloquent. How come I never found it before? 

Most piano music that I collected in the past belongs to the regular classical stuff like Chopin, Ravel and so on. Ballet music used for class is more playful and vibrant. 

Lyda told me that in the past it was difficult to find appropriate ballet music. Nowadays there is an overwhelming supply of music thanks to iTunes etc. 

If you have good advice for me for new material: please be my guest!

The first lesson this week was nice, and my foot could take it without any pain. The second lesson was tough. I had to restrain myself. 

Lyda concluded the second lesson with series consisting of 2 chassé’s (a gliding step in which one foot appears to chase the other foot out of position) and 2 temps levé’s (raising your body into the air by a leap from the feet) on the diagonal. She changed the sequence of the chassé and temps levé a few times. As soon as I managed to perform one of the series nicely, she quickly altered the sequence. And there I was a Humpty Dumpty again. 

She mentioned the next series:

-2 chassé’s (right foot leading both times) and 2 temps levé’s (right foot leading, then left foot leading) and so on

-2 temps levé’s (right foot, then left foot) and 2 chassé’s (right foot leading)

-1 chassé, 2 temps levé’s, 1 chassé

-1 temps levé, 2 chassé’s, 1 temps levé

-1 chassé, 1 temps levé, 1 chassé, 1 temps levé.

I lost track. Lyda laughed.

Lyda never ceases to surprise me.

Blog 14, sitting on a chair with a bruised little toe.

Sunday evening I sent an email to Lyda that I had bruised the little toe of my left foot.

No ballet for me this week I feared, certainly not this week.

Lyda replied my mail with an invitation to join her class after all! 

She mailed:

“If it is possible for you, come to the studio. Come and see your lessons.
You will also learn from that in a different way. Things like:
•    the mistakes that other students make, and understand why I make certain corrections
•    the things that the others do well, how they do it, and how you can improve yourself
     to see the physical struggles and skills of others and evaluate your own development in that context
•    to practice remembering the exercises cognitively
•    participate in your head with the exercise = visualization, so that you can pick up your training more easily next week
•    and because you don’t feel the stress "I have to do this", you’re more relaxed and may to notice things that you would have otherwise missed.
I’ll put a chair for you in the studio. You don't have to change.” 

Well, I just can’t deny her logic. So I went to class and took a seat.

The students stood ready at the barre, and the piano music filled the classroom. I was sitting there in that wonderful place, totally devoted to ballet. The moment class started I dreamed away, in utter peace and feeling blessed to be part of this new world. 

I heard Lyda talking to me, asking me to be attentive. And so I did.

I looked at my fellow students and learned a few things. They were my mirrors this evening.

I instantly understood the importance of correct placement. It really uplifts your performance. I also noticed that a proper placement helps when you have to keep balance standing on demi-pointe. And it was inspiring to see that each student has his or her own preferences and struggles in practicing the exercises. 

Lyda stressed the importance of visualization. Visualize yourself doing your exercises she says. It helps you to actually resume your exercises again when your bruise is healed.

Visualization is a technique to mentally rehearse your exercises, to go over your dance in your head, paying specific attention to what muscles you need to engage at each part of the dance and the corrections your teacher gives you.

Tomorrow I want to try to join my class again. I visualized this every day of the week.