I am in the good ballet studio now.

Things have been totally crazy lately. 

I am dancing in a new studio since I moved (because I started studying at law school) and I LOVE it. The teachers are a lot more strict and the other students are really good which is an amazing motivation for me.
There is this one girl who graduated from the HUGE ballet school in Berlin. She is amazing and sometimes teaching, sometimes joining us in class.

We've been working on a few moves I have never done before. It feels like I have to think way too much so I mess up most times but I think that's ok.

Unfortunately I can't dance as much as I initially wanted to because of law school. My new schedule looks like this: Tuesday: ballet grown ups advanced, Friday ballet for intermediate and advanced students and same on saturday. It's always 2 hours without a break which is super exhausting but I love it :)

sometimes I can take ballet class on monday (students, intermediate and advanced) on monday as well but usually I have to be at uni on monday afternoons.

AND: besides that I have been stretching quite a lot I'd say. I still can't do the straddle all the way but it definitely got better

and my "lying-on-the-back-in-a-split" kind of stretch is beginning to be really comfortable :)

same for the froggy stretch

And I love that my "dorm-neighbor" started stretching with me. It's so much more fun stretching together than alone.

It's really entertaining to stretch alone and watch rhythmic gymnastics video as motivation (because they are SO flexible) for me as well though. 

It's weird how I can relax and stop over thinking things when I'm stretching and of course when I'm dancing. 

This was my little update 

xx

Maggie

Pointe shoe darning basics

The big secret of how to darn your pointe shoes.

I was struggling with slipping in my pointe shoes a lot so I figured I had to do something about it: First I tried suede tips (did NOT like them) then I saw this girl's pointe shoes with stitching all around the platform.
I googled and searched on youtube for ages but did not know that darning was called darning which made it a lot more difficult.

This is my 2nd pair of pointe shoes that I darned and I want to explain how it works step by step:

That's what you will need:

Pointe shoes, strong thread, needle (and if you haven't already done the rest of the "pointe-shoe-sewing": ribbons, elastics)

1) Step one:

Cutting off the satin on the platform (some people don't, but i prefer to cut it off).
I usually burn the edges of the satin to make it stay that way for longer.

2) Step two:

Make a little knot on your thread and start on the inside. Come back in an out again BUT leave the little loop you see on the picture.

3) Step three:

Come back to the inside and go THROUGH the loop.
Doing this, try to make a tiny stitch through the pointe shoe which is pretty hard.

Now you can pull the loop tight.

4) Step four:

Repeat this over and over until you reach the beginning.

5) Step five:

I usually make a second, or even a third row - just doing the same thing again.

That's it.

Not only does darning make your pointe shoes less slippery, it also helps you to find the right placement of the foot when you're on point.

I hope this helped :)

xx

To wear or not to wear?

Summer Intensives. again. 

Since I had a lot of time to think today (9 hour flight. alone.) I thought I would make a summer intensive dress code kind of post.

Generally you could say if you wouldn't wear it in class - don't wear it in your intensive.
Some SI have a special dress code (pink tights, black leotard, sometimes a wrapping skirt) some don't. I love it when they don't have a dress code because it enables you to wear the combinations you like.

One special tip I would have is: If the SI has a placement class in the beginning, wear something that makes you pop out of the crowd. BUT with that I do not mean that you should wear a neon pink leotard and neon green tights. I am talking about something classy and appropriate. If colour is allowed this would be an example:

pink tights, lavender leotard and wrapping skirt (looks darker in the photo)

Other than the "special outfit" bring something you feel SUPER comfortable in, your favourite leotard.

For me it is this one:

Black leotard with cut out in the back

Also you might want to bring a short sleeved leotard in case the studio is a little chill:

Short sleeved leotard with velvet top

And obviously you should bring a plain black sleeveless leotard.

If wrapping skirts are allowed I would always wear one. Those skirts make the legs look longer and the shape of the body more slender.

In addition to a normal black or white one you could bring a fun one.

I brought a new one I really like. The skirt sits on the hips and has an elastic waist:

Summer intensive insecurity.

Am I good enough? Will I be the worst in class, is everybody else going to be a lot better, picking the combinations up a lot faster than me? Am I going to be able to do all the exercises properly?

Those questions have been in my head 24/7 lately.

Tomorrow (actually "tomorrow" is in an hour because it's already 11pm where I live) is finally the day I'm leaving for America - for my summer intensive. And with all the delight and excitement comes the insecurity.
I am really trying not to let the thoughts get me down because your mind has to be as strong as your body to be a ballerina right?

This is the place where I'm going to dance in America

I am more than excited about the fact that I'm going to be pointing those toes where the ballerinas of Richmond ballet usually do and to experience the long hours of training every day.

It is both exciting and terrifying not to know anyone there.
I really hope I'm going to make some friends for life. Friends with the same interests (ballet, ballet and ballet obviously).

Also I'm going to bring my good camera to take some nice pictures and I'm actually already looking forward to looking at those pictures in 10 years and thinking back at my first time in America.

Ballerina Shira Lanyi in one of the studios I'm going to be dancing in 

XX

Starting late and hard work

Starting late can be a hurdle you need to overcome before you can get better. And with starting late I don't mean 40 or 50. I am talking about girls starting at the age of 15, even 13 is pretty old to start since some other little ballerinas were 'molding' their bodies for ballet since they could talk or think.

Now you have to decide. Do you want to dance in a company some day? Or do you just want to do it for fun?
In case you really want to get serious taking about 5-6 ballet classes is necessary. In addition you also have to work as hard as you can in every single class.

When I first started at the age of 15 I had no clue how to move my legs, arms or head right. I didn't know which muscles to engage to achieve better turnout. I was forcing my legs in unnatural positions and risking injury at all times. Also I was only taking 2 hours of ballet a week in a small studio (because it was the only studio in my city teaching classical ballet) and - don't get me wrong, I loved my Madame and the girls at the studio, I gained some amazing friends there! - I wish it would have been more.
Unfortunately our Madame was a little too nice and gave us only very few corrections.
If you're have the same problem: I found a solution! Mostly you know how the exercises should look so I was working my butt off at home. While doing all those pliés and arabesques I was filming a ton of videos of myself and of course analysing them afterwards.

Ballet needs a lot of discipline and dedication. If you are lazy for one week only you will go back a step in your development as a classical ballerina. Have you ever seen the professionals training?

Here we go. That's the Royal ballet doing their warmup class, first at the barre, than in the centre. Every day. Six days a week. One ballerina in the video said that some even come to the studio on their one free day.
I've tried to do this full company class with them but I seriously could not concentrate anymore short after the beginning of the petite/medium allegro. SO EXHAUSTING! I was a little proud though because the barre was ok for me. Obviously I couldn't do the exercises as perfect as those long legged, lean, beautiful ballerinas and danseur nobles.

It really is super hard work to look effortless.
Those arabesque penchees that look like a magical invisible string is lifting their leg are unbelievably hard to hold. You need a lot more muscle strength than you would ever expect from ballet.

Your back, your core (abs. some ballerinas actually do have a six-pack), your legs.
You need a lot of muscle mass and little fat. Lean bodies dominate the ballet world.
But ballet class by itself won't be enough. It is a lot of anaerobic exercise so you also need to do some aerobic exercises. Treadmill, steppers and all of those crucial instruments of torture will be the little key you need in addition to succeed.
Besides leg lifts, sit-ups and pushups pilés are an amazing exercise. Slow, controlled plies. Making sure your legs are turned out from your hips, trying to feel the strength when you're pliè-ing and then push yourself up in a strong relevè.

A great exercise for pointe is on legged elevès which basically are one legged relevès without a pliè. Start with 8 on each side, holding onto the barre or a chair, and work on those until you can do 20 or more on each side.

XX

Ballet Summer Intensive

I'm really excited because it is my first year attending a summer intensive!

I got my schedule today and since it is my birthday I thought I would go through it (because it is a lot of fun ;)).

This is my schedule:

  

Ballet essentials

There are a few things every ballerina to be should own. Here's a list of them:

Bobby bins - You should always bring a few bobby bins in your dance bag. To fix your bun or even to help someone else who forgot their bobby bins out.

Bun rings - If you have short hair sometimes bun rings will look great.

Coolpack: To ease pain

Elastics - You'll need to different types of elastic: thinner ones for your technique shoes and broader, stronger ones for your pointe shoes because you need more support in those.

Fake eyelashes - For performances. In the stage light your face might look flat and without any contours. Especially if you have small eyes fake eyelashes will improve your looks a lot.

Foam roller - A foam roller is an amazing tool to stretch out your muscles, to try to get rid of knots in them after a tough class or rehearsal or to strengthen your muscles.

Hair nets - To avoid a lot of little hair sticking out of your bun

Hair spray - For a sleeker look


Hair ties - Obviously for your bun.

Leg warmers - To warm up your ankles and avoid injury

Leotards - Tight clothes, especially leotards enable your dance teacher to see your body. Your lines. This is important for them to give you corrections.

Plasters - Sometimes, especially after pointe classes you'll have several painful blisters

Pointe shoes - If you dance teacher gives you the ok you are allowed to go on pointe. At first it really is a lot of hard work and to be honest it doesn't get any easier, you just get better.

Rehearsal tutu - If you perform in real tutus a rehearsal tutu will help you to get comfortable with not seeing your feet which can be quite hard in the beginning.

Ribbons - Besides elastics ribbons give you support when you're on pointe. You will find different kinds of ribbons. Some shinier, some really thin ones or some with elastic parts.

Sewing kit - You want to be able to fix your pointe and technique shoes.

Stretchy shorts - For more contemporary ballet rehearsals or to warm up. Some use spandex shorts, some use woollen shorts.

Technique shoes - Some classes, even barre, are on pointe, for some you'll have to wear technique shoes.

Tennis ball - A tennis ball works wonders for your feet after a pointe class.

Theraband - To strengthen your feet and stretch out your muscles. I would advice to get a strong and a medium/light Theraband for different purposes.

Tights - Don't wear "normal" tights. Those usually aren't strong enough for what you need them and they will probably rip soon.

Toe pads/Gel pads/Toe spacers/Lamb wool - It totally depends on your feet and liking what you are going to use.

Warm-ups - Sometimes you won't have a lot of time before class to warm up. Warm up clothes will lessen the chance to hurt yourself.

Wrapping skirts - If wrapping skirts are allowed in your studio you should probably where one. Wrapping skirts are really flattering usually.

10 easy stretches to get more flexible!

For ballet (and other dance forms) flexibility and strength are the two keys to success.
Let's talk about flexibility.

Before stretching make sure your muscles are warmed up properly! Just a few plies won't be enough.

After your muscles are warm you can start your stretching routing:

Hold every stretch for about 30 seconds at least! Hold them up to 2 minutes but don't hurt yourself. You'll know when it's enough.
Repeat the stretches about 3-5 times with little breaks in between. Just don't make the breaks too long because otherwise your muscles are going to get cooler again and you could hurt yourself!

1) 

Basically you just have to sit on the floor and lean forward. The goal is that your nose touches your legs.

For this stretch you really have to make sure that your back stays straight! You can either point your feet (which is easier) of flex your feet (which will have a better effect but is harder to do).
Grap your feet and pull yourself forward even a bit further but keep your back straight.

2)

This is the same stretch as number 1).
The only difference is that you are standing which means your feet are flexed.
Try to keep your legs as straight as possible, your knees pulled up.

Also try to keep your back as straight as possible.

3)

Lie on your back, grab one leg and pull it as close to your body as possible.
Keep your back straight.

The goal is to let your toes touch the floor. Don't get upset if it doesn't work the first time and do not cheat by rounding your back!

4)

For this stretch you're supposed to lie on your side, feet turned out.
Grab your leg and try to pull it down to the floor behind your shoulder.

5) before you do the splits.

Lunge forward, your leg and the floor should be a right angle.

To get a better effect hold your arms up in the air to have more weight to push you down.

6)

Now straighten your front leg and bend forward. Your back leg is bend now and should be a right angle.

And again: make sure your back is straight!

7)

For the next stretch you have to lie on your back, grab your two feet and pull them down on the sides of your body until they touch the floor (or at least as far as you can pull them down).

Don't forget that your back has to be straight!

8)

Stand straight, grab your knee and pull it up.
Your leg has to be straight.
Bend a little forward while doing this stretch.

To improve your arabesque penchee just try to hold this with your back muscles and hold onto something in front of you with both hands.

9)

This is basically the same stretch as the last one but you're not supposed to lean forward which means you are in an arabesque position.

To improve your arabesque again try to hold the position with your back muscles!

And finally 10) splits!

Back leg turned out, front leg straight and just slowly slide down to your splits.

If you can sit in your splits easily, add hight by adding a book or two - or even more - under your front or back leg, or under both.
Stretching your oversplits improves your "normal" splits a lot!