So, I've gone and signed up for ballet at my dance school (after so much encouragement from DDN, thank you so much), which I'm so excited about! I went shopping today and bought full soled ballet shoes (I've read that these work the feet better, is this true?), leotards and tights.

I've been put in the Grade 5 class. I was wondering what this will include, and is this too high to be starting? I've danced for a while now, but I was a late starter. I've done tap, jazz, modern, and like... the smallest amount of ballet in an intensive performance group. What should I expect out of a grade 5 class?

Another question I had was how many ballet classes I should be taking. I have no illusions of becoming a professional dancer, but I would like to improve my dancing and ideally one day be en pointe. Again, I don't have any expectations that it will happen quickly, I'd just like to have that to work towards. How many ballet classes should I be taking? At my studio, there is only the option for one grade 5 class per week, then there's a pointe class after that class. Should I look at taking ballet at another studio as well?

Sorry about the long questions, and thanks so much

COngratulations!
Grade 5 seems a bit high, but maybe they feel with your other dance experience you can handle it. It's hard for us to tell without knowing how good you are.
DOes your studio not offer adult beginners classes?

No, they don't. I would LOVE it if they did! They have an adult beginner tap class, but only because people expressed interest in it.

Thanks for answering

KaydeeJayde wrote:

Another question I had was how many ballet classes I should be taking....At my studio, there is only the option for one grade 5 class per week, then there's a pointe class after that class. Should I look at taking ballet at another studio as well?

Progress is really slow if you can take only 1 class a week. Try to get at least 2 even if you have to go to a second school for it. It would help if the second class were a true beginning class. Personally, I like having at least one beginning class in which I can concentrate solely on improving my form and at least one which is more of an all-around challenge. Eventually, if you want to build up enough foot and ankle strength to go on pointe, the general opinion is that you will need a minimum of three 1-1/2 hour classes per week.

The problem with asking if level 5 is a good place for you is that "level 5" means nothing to us. Grade 5 of the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus could be completely different from a non-syllabus studio's level 5 class.

It is very hard to improve with one class per week. Not only is it hard for your brain to remember what you learnt 7 days ago but it is pretty much impossible for your body to actually gain strength and flexibility by only doing something once a week. It's like any other activity you'd do with your body, if you wanted to learn to do 10 pushups than you wouldn't just practice them once per week and expect to see a big improvement. 2 times per week would probably a great place to start for a beginner so that you don't burn yourself out, but so that you can start to train your brain and body into getting used to ballet movements. When you have really determined that you love ballet and that you are progressing well and you are still interested in going en pointe one day, I would say that 3 classes should be the minimum. Also factor in the length of the classes. If each class is only 1 hr long, even 3 times per week is not enough to gain the strength and understanding needed for pointe work. The rule of thumb most dancers talk about on DDN is 3 times per week at a minimum of 1.5 hour classes.

Toroandbruin - That's what I was thinking, I'm going to either find another class at a different school. There has to be an adult beginner class somewhere, right?

Coccinella - Thank you for your reply! I did mean Grade 5 RAD. Generally, the girls in the class are mid-teens, and the reason I asked is they're all quite good, it's a little intimidating. I might try asking the studio owner if the teacher can do a beginner class because I know a lot of people who are beginning from scratch next year as well as me, so it might be beneficial... Maybe they'd get more adults beginning if they had a class for them.

Thanks again guys

Grade 5 RAD is the ideal level to start off at for an older beginner, it's a syllabus with a nice dance quality to it without being too overwhelming.

If you feel that it's a bit too much then see if you can join in the grade 3 or 4 class as well, to catch up and improve your strength.

Just because it's a higher grade does not mean that you're going to be dancing with the strongest dancers. One of the studio's I teach at has it's strongest, quickest dancers in the lower levels at the moment, in a few more years I can see them catching up our older dancers.

That makes me feel a whole lot better, thank you Hummingbird!

Congrats on starting ballet! Taking classes can be very rewarding!

Have fun and keep us posted.

Keep on dancing

Kev