Should I go to class sick or hurt?

Sometimes it just can't be avoided.  All of us end up sick or injured at some point.  When you're hurt or under the weather, you may feel anxious that you can't afford to miss class.  Or you may feel so awful that you feel like you'll never dance again!  In this post, I'll explain when you can push through and when it's best to rest.  With flu season (and winter performance season!) coming up, this info may prove to be very helpful in the near future.

If you have a small illness like a little cold, runny nose, relatively minor headache, or if it's "that time of the month," you should be ok for class.  Just take an ibuprofen or use your usual remedies, and wear comfy dancewear that keeps you warm.  The same thing goes for small injuries like minor sprains and strains, cuts, and bruises.  Make sure you let your teacher know what's up before class starts.  He or she will probably be understanding and tell you to take it easy.  If you start feeling worse during class, let the teacher know immediately, and sit down or excuse yourself.

If you are sick with a fever over 100 degrees, you are nauseous, or you feel very dizzy or faint, stay home from class.  You or a parent can call the studio to let them know you are unwell.  Make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat some soup, drink some tea, and cuddle on the couch with your dog while you watch a classic dane movie like Fame.  Usually you will only have to miss a class or two before you're back on your feet.  

If it's rehearsal for a show that's at stake, try to go if you feel like you can make it (but if you have nausea or an upset stomach, still stay home).  Let the choreographer know you're unwell, and you may have to mark some of the movements.  Stay away from the other dancers if you can so you don't spread your germs.

If you have an injury like a more serious sprain, go to the doctor first.  If the doc says it's ok, go to class unless you have intense pain.  Definitely let the teacher know what's going on and only participate in the parts of class that don't work the injured area.  If class gets too painful, take a seat and observe.  

If your injury puts you on crutches or in a cast, still go to class if you can, but be prepared not to participate.  You can observe and take notes so you are still learning, even though you can't dance.  Once you're well, take some private lessons if you can to help you catch up.  

If you feel like your illness or injury is severe, skip class and go see a doctor.  Always follow a doctor's advice, even if it isn't what you want to hear.  

Tiny Tips: bra tops and t-shirts

The bra top trend has really become popular!  This look is great for jazz and modern dance.  However, some studios don't allow bare midriffs and some dancers (and parents) prefer a more modest look.  If you want to try the trend without showing too much skin, choose a bright colored bra top and slip on a white tissue weight t-shirt over the top.  The color and cut of the bra top will be visible through the shirt, but your top half will be completely covered!

Breaking in pointe shoes

New pointe shoes can be super stiff and difficult to dance in.  In this post, I will go through a few methods of breaking in new shoes so they are ready for class or the stage.  

As always, only dance en pointe at the recommendation and under the direction of a qualified ballet teacher.  If you are a beginning pointe dancer, always talk to your teacher about the best way to break in your shoes, and never bend, wet, or otherwise alter the shoe before your teacher has seen them.  Dancewear stores usually cannot accept exchanges or returns if the pointe shoes have been altered or sewn.

*Note: These methods are for traditionally made pointe shoes made with paste boxes.  They do not work well on Gaynor Minden pointe shoes.

Method 1: barre exercises

This method is excellent for pointe beginners.  It is also the gentlest on the shoe itself, so the shoes will get broken in, but not damaged.  First, make sure your shoes are sewn.  Then put on your pointe shoes (with all your usual padding).  You may add a pair of warm up booties or thick socks over your shoes to warm up your feet faster.  Using the barre in your studio or a chair, windowsill, or counter at home, do basic barre exercises including plies, tendus, eleves, and releves.  You may also try some tread-throughs and roll-throughs to help break in the demi-pointe.  The goal is to make your feet sweat slightly as you work in the shoes so they will soften and mold to your feet.  Depending on how hard the shank and box are, it can take an hour or more to break in the shoe.  Don't feel like you have to completely break in the shoe in one session, especially if you are a beginner.  It's something you can work on gradually.  Doing basic exercises in a very hard shoe is great for strengthening feet as well.

Method 2:  massage and bend

This method is better for more intermediate/advanced dancers who know how they need to shape the shoes to best fit their feet.  Take your pointe shoes, and using your hands, gently press on the shoe in the areas you need to soften.  You may flatten the crown with your palm, push on the wings with your fingers, and bend the shank at the arch and demi-pointe.  The heat of your hands and the pressure you exert will help shape the shoe.  Some very advanced dancers step on the box of the shoe or break the shank by slamming it in a door.  They sometimes also engage in altering the shoe in various other ways (hammering, removing the lining, stripping the platform, etc.).  These methods are quick and easy for breaking a specific part or altering a particular aspect of the shoe, so they work for advanced dancers and pros who know exactly what they need.  For beginners and intermediate dancers who have had only a few pairs of pointe shoes, stepping on or slamming shoes can damage them beyond repair if the shoes are not broken in the exact right place.  To avoid damage, stick with massaging and gently bending.  

Method 3:  add water (Never use this method for Freed of London pointe shoes!!)

This is the method I usually use (it works great on my Grishkos), and it's good for advanced dancers who have been through many pairs of pointe shoes.  Take your pointe shoes, and using a spray bottle, a paper towel, or your fingertips, dampen your shoes where you need to soften them.  You just want the shoe to be damp, not sopping.  Some places to put the water are the wings and demi-pointe.  Because I like to stretch my shoes a little, I add water to the satin of the shoe between the waist and heel seems.  After adding the water, massage the shoes or put them on and do some exercises to make sure the water has done its job softening the shoe.  Never, ever use water on Freed pointe shoes.  The glue used to construct them is different from other brands, and it is prone to turning to mush when it gets too wet.

Optional for all levels:  scoring the soles

All pointe shoe shave suede, leather, or imitation leather soles.  Sometimes they come pre-scored, and sometimes they are smooth and slick.  To make sure your pointe shoes are not too slick for the studio floor, use a suede brush for suede soles or a sharp item like a nail or even a fork for leather soles to rough up the bottom.  This will just make sure you don't slip or slide once you get to the studio or stage.

Here is a clip from the movie Center Stage showing how some advanced students break in their shoes and prepare their feet for pointe.  Some of their methods are dangerous to both the dancer and the shoe if not done in exactly the right way.  Always talk to your teacher before trying a new method of breaking in your shoes.

Do you have a preferred method of breaking in your pointe shoes?  Leave a comment!

Tiny Tips: pamper yourself before performances

When you have a performance coming up, you may start getting nervous a few days beforehand.  To relax and help you feel your best, get a manicure (in a neutral color--I adore pale pink gel nails) a couple of days before the performance.  Don't make appointments the day of; you don't want to be late for your stage call if anything runs long or goes wrong.  Avoid treatments that may make you sore (like massage or chiropractic) or dramatically change your appearance (like dying hair).  Save those for treats post-performance.

World Ballet Day LIVE

Join in the worldwide event!  Watch class, rehearsal, and interviews with dancers from major companies in Australia, Russia, England, Canada, and the US!

How long does it take to reach professional level?

We all know it takes a lot of training over a period of several years to get to a professional level, but exactly how long is that?  Can anything be done to shorten the process?  And do "late starters" have a chance at all?  In this post, I'll do my best to answer these questions.  

This info is based on my experiences, observations, and the words of my teachers.  Remember that every case is different, and your time frame is dependent on your level of commitment.  Talk to your dance teacher for a better idea of the time frame you're looking at.

Most dancers who start taking class between ages 3 and 5 and remain committed with no major breaks can expect to reach pro or at least pre-pro level in their mid teens (15-16 ish).  You may have heard the phrase "it takes 12 years to train a professional dancer."  This is absolutely true in this case.  The exact number of years can be a couple more or less based on the number of classes taken per week and raw talent.

When dancers start taking classes around age 8 and remain committed with no major breaks, they can reach pro or pre-pro level by the late teens.  (17-18 ish).  These dancers are not at a big disadvantage when compared to the dancers who started at age 3.  This is because "early childhood" dance classes are often very different from "youth" classes.  While 3-year-olds learn plie and tendu, they spend a majority of their classes just running around and moving their bodies.  More technically based classes are not usually introduced until age 8 or so.  

If dancers don't start taking classes until their early teens (age 13 or so), there is question as to whether or not professional level can be reached while the dancer is young enough to audition for most major companies.  If these dancers are extraordinarily committed and show a large amount of raw talent, this is possible.  Misty Copeland had only about 4 years of training before she started working with ABT.  It is rare that a dancer can go so far on so little training, but it is possible.  For dancers who are not prodigies, with commitment and several classes a week, pro level can be reached by the early twenties.  While the window may have passed for major companies who like to hire high-schoolers, these dancers still absolutely have a chance to dance professionally at smaller and local companies.

If dancers don't start serious training until the late teens (18-19), many think they don't stand a chance of reaching professional level.  However, I've seen it happen.  If a dancer starts training in college (usually through a college dance program), it is not unheard of for him or her to go in as a beginner and come out in 4 years straddling the line of advanced and pre-pro.  With a few more years of intense training with a dedicated teacher, these dancers can reach pro level by the mid 20's.   In order for this to work, though, it requires extreme commitment and hard work. The window for large companies has almost certainly passed by this point, but small and local companies are still attainable.  

As for dancers who take breaks from training, expect to take about half the time of the break to recover the level of training you had before the break.  For example, you must take six months off to heal an injury, after coming back to dance, expect to take about three months of training to get back to the level you were at before you were injured.  In total, add nine moths to the total amount of training you will need before reaching pro level.  This is just a general estimate--for some individuals and situations the time frame is shorter and for some it is longer.

How long have you been dancing?  Are you striving to be a professional dancer?  Leave a comment below!

Tiny Tips: practice anywhere

You can practice dance anywhere.  Balance in passé while brushing your teeth.  Do petite allegro while waiting for your drink to heat up in the microwave.  Stand in fifth position while waiting in line.  Sit up straight and practice holding your abs during school.  Pointe and flex your feet while you work on homework or watch TV.  Stand in demi-pointe while you shower.  Never give up an opportunity to practice!