The three of us at Pas de Trois want to hear from you!
If you have a question you’d like us to put out there, leave it here in the comments section below. We want this to be a forum where all types of questions are discussed regarding dance, so if you have something in mind, please feel free to share it with us here and we will consider featuring it on the site as one of the main discussions.
We’re hoping to generate a good list, so pass the word! And thanks for reading!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
First some background:
- I am a 38 year old male contemplating taking up dance for the first time.
- Patellofemoral pain casued me to quite a 25 year love affair with martial arts.
- A back injury is causing me to reassess my yoga “habbit”.
The question I have:
Which will be kinder to my body over time – Jazz, Ballet, Jazz Ballet or other?
My wife has some experience of the stage – she reckons I should aim at jazz dance as it would probably be more accomodating to my body. I am drawn to ballet as I value the classical tradition that build up the body from “scratch” as it where. Thoughts.
Oh, my wife is a hunny – she said she would join me in whatever foundation class I sign up for!
Hello Johan!
Great stuff–but very, very hard on the body!
Well, I’m not a doctor, so I can only tell you what I know from the technique side of things…
Ballet can be hard on the body, but a lot has to do with the type of teacher you have. This goes for Jazz as well. I would advise talking with your doctor about what movements to avoid (if you haven’t done that already) and then talk to a few teachers about your specific needs and see what they have to say. I have many students in my adult ballet class with physical problems, but I work with them to modify exercises in a safe manner so that the movements done do not excacerbate the existing problem. Not every teacher is a) willing to do this or b) knowledgeable enough to do it. I have spoken directly with the physician or a physical therapist in many cases, which can also be helpful. It may also be a good idea to observe a few classes at different schools to see what you think you might be able to handle.
Does that help at all?
BTW–I’m an avid martial arts lover myself–I studied it when I lived in Japan and have a brown belt.
Your wife sounds fab! Sounds like you married well!
Thanks so much for the comment. I hope you’ll continue joining us here on Pas de Trois!
Many thanks Catherine. I have seen an orthopedic surgeon specializing in back & knee injuries. She was very clear – stop yoga (do pilates instead), don’t run (swim instead) and you can dance (I let out a deep sigh of relief when she said that)! I am supposed to avoid deep back bends and repetitive impact on my left knee. The surgeon also opened her door (ok phone) to me which I will use.
Now all I need to do is find a teacher willing to open a two way dialogue with me and the surgeon and I should be set to go.
One more thing – once I realized that I love human movement and being expressive, the decision to take up dance was extremely easy despite living in a society where men have rather narrow view of their role in life.
And yes, I have added all three your blogs to my reader. Great reference for us dance lovers!
Oh–and if it looks like after all is said and done you won’t be able to dance safely, it doesn’t mean you can’t come back here! This site is all about people who appreciate dance–dancers and non-dancers alike!
Ooh, I’ve got a load of questions I would like you guy to answer! But I guess three that are kind of similar/related are:
a) what your dream role would be;
b) who your dream partner would be; and
c) where you most want to perform at.
Basically – what your dream Ballet experience would be!
David (www.davetriesballet.com)
Wow, these are great! We’ll post them all, in due time!!!
Thank you for helping out 
Awesome David–yes–I think all those are excellent! Thanks so much, and post more as you have them!
So I have been dancing Ballet for about 6 months now as a 22 year old male and was glad to have stumbled upon this blog when looking for some extra inspiration for my love of Ballet.
I have a few of questions for you guys:
1) When you first started out as adults (if you did) did you find it hard on your hips/hip flexors? Do you have any neat exercises that help to alleviate this stress on those underused joints?
2) Because dancing will probably not be the entirety of your lives as an adult beginner, did you guys find Ballet helping with other facets of your lives in the outside world?
3) What are your thoughts on syllabus? I know it is more common to do syllabus (RAD, Cechetti, Vaganova etc) and go through the levels when you are young but what about as an adult? I ask because I am considering going for my Grade 6 RAD certification as my dance studio offers a ballet class designed for those wanting to take examinations.
David would be the one to talk to for you, Leo! He started out dancing when he was already adult. Check out his site for a lot of tips and info!!
I took the RAD exams when I was younger, and it has helped me a lot in my career as for understanding the terminology and the differences between the syllabuses. When I was 19, I moved to a vaganova school – it’s actually quite the difference. I think you’d be good to take the exams even if you started as an adult – the info and the intensity of your practice up towards an exam will help you a lot!
For your hips:
Before you go to bed, try to take a hot bath, and pour 2 kg of salt in it! Stay there for 15-20 minutes (don’t stay for hours, it doesn’t do you any good with all that salt), it will relax your muscles and ligaments all the way into the bones. Then do some soft stretching, light movements in the hips, and go to bed. Hopefully, you’ll wake up the next morning with a bit “looser” hips
Because I have my very own habit, I’m quite sure everyone else their’s too…so…
What is the thing you do just a few seconds before you step on the stage?
Actually, I’m just working on a post on that topic now for Tights and Tiaras! But it’s a great question to post here on PdT as well! Thank you for contributing – and I won’t ask “what’s yours” – but please tell once the question is up
If you could have any choreographer, living or dead, create a work just for you, who would you choose?
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