A Balletic Adventure

After much talking about it, and thinking about it, and planning to do it, I DID IT! I took my first Ballet Class in 5 years!

I am so sore...

Anyway, last Wednesday I took a stretch class to sort of feel out where my muscles were at as far as range of motion. Though my extension has definitely gone WAY down (I can't lift my legs as high anymore), my flexibility isn't that bad, and while I ached all over the next day, I knew it was nothing that I couldn't handle.

Because I'll have Monday nights off for the next couple of months, I decided to try the Adult Advanced Beginner class (because I'm not sure where my skill level is, even if my body's ok). It turned out to be a little more challenging than I thought, but all of the students are in about the same boat as me. We aren't looking to go pro (a welcome change from my childhood), we just want to be in shape, and we have some dance background. It was a small class, 9 people, and the teacher was the same as from my stretch class last Wednesday. There was one glissade, jete combination that we all effed up so badly on that all she could say was "wow..." From my perspective, it was played too fast, and should have been slowed down for the level we're at right now.

Tomorrow I'm going to do Stretch again since I'm free, and since it's probably a good idea to keep my muscles stretched between Mondays. I'm going to buy a 10-class pass for the next six months, which will motivate me to continue returning.

However, I need at least one new leotard, new canvas ballet shoes, and perhaps some rehearsal shorts to cover my ass. I will say one thing: you can definitely tell that I am not the same dancer, physically. I am much thicker in the hips and thighs, which is not helpful for turnout or proper positioning... but I'll get there. This will be good. AND it's social! The girls in my class were all REALLY nice, and non-judgemental.

Maryland Youth Ballet = good place to be! Also, it's RIGHT across the street from my apartment. Good call.