Question: What advice do you wish you could tell your 10-year-old self about dance?
I wish I could tell my ten year old self that every ballet studio teaches a different technique. As we grow older, we learn that there are multiple ballet techniques: Balanchine, Checcetti, Vaganova, etc. I think, as a ten year old, that was sort of an abstract concept to grasp. When we are young, we can only learn so much at a time and it's overwhelming for young minds to see there are different ways of doing things other than the only way we know. We want to be "right."
As a ten year old, it was frustrating to me to learn from new teachers who would tell me I was doing something wrong while I was only trying to do something I had been taught previously. The teacher was teaching a different style of ballet than I was used too. I was first taught Balanchine technique. Over time, I learned of the different techniques and became more open to them. Now, I have taken classes in Vaganova, Checcetti, and Royal Academy Ballet. Each one was a challenge to learn. I have knowledge of many different ways to execute ballet. I feel this will help teaching students because every technique has something to give to each body type.
I will endeavor to be transparent with my students as we change techniques. There was lots of frustration and it took lots of patience to become open minded about ballet. I wish I could go back in time to my ten year old self and explain everything. As it is now, I am glad I still came to this point in my life.
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