2 Part question:

Okay, just like the title says, the question of whether or not practicing ballet at home (after you've had at least a couple classes) is a good idea to help one improve or a bad idea which would lead to bad habits?

Okay so which is? lol

I've read some posts where people say its not a good idea because of the bad habits you can pick up.

Others say sure go ahead, but practice safely (ie studio floors vs hardwood floors for jumps probably not best)And only practice what has been taught in your last class....

Others say, yes practice but don't do ballet, just stick to ballet related exercises (Pilates/yoga/certain ballet type dvd's that are out there etc..etc)


What's your opinion? Is practicing at home a good idea or not a good idea? When (or how many classes) should a beginner have taken first, before attempting to practice at home?


Second part:
If you do practice at home, how often, for how long and what exercises should be done in order to improve?


thanks

I'm of the school of thought that if you can remember what your teacher taught you and told you to do/not to do in your class, then to go ahead and try those things at home. Most teachers are thrilled to find out that a student is reviewing what they learned and have been thinking about their corrections in between classes. You will find it is a lot easier the next time you step into class if you've been actively thinking about what you learned for the entire week instead of just walking in there and trying to remember back 7 days (depending on how far apart your classes are).

It is also a great idea to do cross-training type exercises such as pilates and yoga which can help stretch and strengthen a lot of similar muscles that are used for ballet. Again, you are best off to get a bit of instruction before doing these things. I took a really good Pilates class and now I feel like I can do those exercises at home with proper technique so I am getting maximum benefit.

So, all in all:

1) If you learned it in class and you feel you understand what it should look and feel like, try it at home.

2) Do not go overboard with practice. You do not need to do 50 pliès a day in order to improve. Just take some time each day or a couple days a week to think about what you did in class, go through the movements and recognize how it feels in your body. If you are getting really sore from practicing at home I would decrease the intensity with which you are working.

2) If it feels or looks wrong or hurts at all when you are doing it at home: stop and save it for the next class.

3) Do not take it upon yourself to find new steps on the internet to try. This is when you can pick things up incorrectly and it will be hard to unlearn them when your teacher finally tries to teach you the right way.

Happy practicing

I am a beginner also, and I wish I had more ballet time so I practice a lot at home. Mostly, I just do a little bit of barre stuff, plies,tendus, etc. And a lot of stretching. I don't think anything other than those kind of things would hurt you.

thanks for replies!

I always like to do a bit of barre work at home...especially when I've struggled with something in class. I try not to attempt anything new on my own, because you can develop bad habits or even injure yourself. But if it's something simple that you would like to try, there's aleays good videos you can find on youtube

Hi. I like to practice ballet at home, too. Due to not making a lot of money, I'm kind of limited on how many ballet classes I can take. As a result , I take a class about twice a month and will insert my Melissa Lowe DVD into the player so I have some sort of company while I practice two or three times a week.

I encourage activity at home, but not "ballet practice" at home until you are at least at an intermediate level of studies. Even if you remember all of the stuff your teachers tell you, most beginners have technical problems that the teacher hasn't gotten to yet...unless there is a rare exception where body-aware adults take a beginning class that uses advanced language I find it hard to think of a scenario where a bigger student will know what they need to be safe.

And really, I don't see the need of "home practice" over just general activity....you're not getting a ton of benefit from home practice so why prefer it over other activity. As long as you are moving your body you are burning calories, getting your muscles warm and able to stretch, and working on gross and fine motor skills and coordination. Especially in younger children, I really believe that interactive activity is better for their dance technique than practicing their dance technique.

As an instructor, I always tell my students what movements they should feel okay doing at home, and what they should safe for dance class. Once a student understands the concept of keeping the ankles in line, releves are often a good thing to help strengthen the ankles, and I go over safe stretching habits and very basic stretches, but that's usually all I give to beginners...I let them know that being active with their body will help them tons and they don't need to think too much past that.

I definatly recommend it!! but start simple (plie, tendus, rolling through the arch) just enough to help stretch you out. As you get better and more experienced you can try doing more!!! check out youtube.com . . . for more tips!!!!!

I agree with most of the otherposts...If you have had some classes, and know what to do that will help you, but isn't too hard, then go ahead and practice at home, as long as you feel very comfortable with what you're doing.

On the other hand, it is very easy to develop bad habits or injure yourself, but it depends how 'beginner' you are, and what you are intending to do.

I fully agree with what Coccinella said, that if you do what your teacher has taught you (and how), you should probably be fine practicing at home

Also, doing other strengthining exercises (pilates, yoga, ect.,) is always good, so you should definitely do that...
Sorry for the long rant, but it's hard to say...

I tend to agree with AlwaysOnStage do not push yourself at home until you know what you are doing and only practice moves that your teacher approves of, If you are not sure ask your teacher, no better way to find out.

My teacher says practicing is good, but don't do maybe an intense class full of combinations at home. Work on the things your teacher has given you corrections for maybe Plies or practicing your expression? I find it very beneficial to just lay down and imagine your self doing your exercises with your eyes closed and really try to feel what it would feel like doing the exercises with out doing physically them. Its great for triggering muscle memory! Also if your a beginner I wouldn't practice physically a ton of stuff because your need to have a solid foundation and understanding of technique etc at least because your don't want to practice something wrong and create a habit. Good luck and keep dancing !

When I started, I wanted to practice what I have learned in every free minute of the day - but to avoid doing exercises in a wrong and possibly damaging way, I tried to stick with doing mostly stretching and strenghtening stuff. I found that being more flexible and strong helped me a lot more in my next class than trying to do exercises at home that I don't know how to do correctly yet. After some time, you'll get used to the exercises and it'll be safe to practice the steps at home.

Things you can always do at home: relevés, practicing to turn out from the hip (tendu from first position and then turn your leg "inwards" into a normal position where your knee faces the front and then turn out, moving the leg only from the hip), practicing balancing en demi pointe in every position with the proper posture of the back and hips and everything about stretching and strengthening your teacher shows to you in class.

What you should avoid at first is everything that requires attention on more than one point (for example, if you're doing grande pliés at home and you have just started with ballet, chances are high that you won't be able to watch your knees going to the side instead of the front, your butt not sticking out, weight placed evenly on both feet, back straight and the position of the arm all at the same time). This comes with time and practice, and that's why you need to do exercises that require your attention on many body parts at the same time only under the supervision of a qualified teacher first, because even if you try hard, you WILL forget about the correct posture at some point and this is where practice is not beneficial anymore.

If you want to practice- do it! Just be safe and don't go doing pointe work if you have just started etc. as the other posters have said.

If you can't remember some of the exercise, that's fine do what you can and ask your teacher next time.

I teach and I am thrilled when I find out students practice at home, it shows me that they are serious about their Ballet and in turn I see an improvement in class, as they have listened to what I have said, gone home and worked on it and the next class it's better.

Do as much or as little as you think is neccessary, but I personally don't see what should stop you practicing at home.

I don't see any problem with you practicing at home in between I personally do it. But make sure that you aren't practicing stuff that you haven't learned in class or don't try to teach yourself new steps. Also if possible try to have a mirror in the area that you practice in. I don't have a mirror but I am making arrangements to get one and they help so that you can see what your body is doing instead of just feeling it. Hope this helped!