Lets put on a show!

I've been generously given the task of creating a full length show for the ballet school that I work at, Diana Miller School of Dance. 

Daunting much?

This would be fine...if I had any experience of putting on a full length show single handedly before, had choreographed over 1hr of ballet material before and didn't work full time as well as teach and rehearse with my dance company. 

'It'll be fine, the children will be so enthusiastic - you will have at least 20 children per show class.' Oh no - enthusiasm is all well and good so long as it's directed at working hard, learning choreography and concentrating. However, I fear from experience it will be directed more at lots of talking, jumping around and being generally hyper. 


I've decided on a show at least. Cinderella - the kids will love it, everyone knows the story line....and most importantly, can get away with only two major scene changes (hurrah!) And it only involves a handful of main roles I can give to senior students who I might have a chance of getting them to concentrate!

But if I am completely honest, I'm pretty excited by the whole thing. A free reign on my creativity, costume, set, choreography, music - I can't wait for the challenge.....just remind me I said this in 3 months time!!

My Dance nutrition.....

As a ballet teacher, dancer and someone who does alot of running and swimming, it's really important that I get decent nutrition into my body. And nutrition interests me greatly, so I wanted to share with you a typical daily menu for me! You'll be pleased to know, it's not all saintly!

In the morning I usually start off the day with an early morning gym or swimming session, so when I get back I get a protein packed breakfast in. Usually 2 eggs whisked into an omelet with ham and low fat cheese (my favourite is Cathedral City Lighter - still tastes like cheese even though its low-fat). This breakfast contains not only protein, but vitamins A, B, D, E and many more from the eggs, essential fatty acids, calcium from the cheese and more B vitamins and minerals from the ham.

Now about 10:30am I get a bit peckish, and I usually try to be good and have some dried cranberries and nuts - cashews, almonds and brazil Nuts. These are all full of essential fatty acids (the good fats!), vitamins and fibre which are all good for healthy hearts, bones, nails, skin and hair. The dried cranberries are full of vitamin C and natural sugars. 

Recently I've had a spree of making my own home made soups - minestrone, Parsnip, Butternut squash, Tomato and pepper, vegetable etc. They're great for filling you up and are packed with yet more vitamins! If it's home made, you know exactly what has gone in there are you know there's no nasty preservatives. But if you haven't got time to make your own soup -try the Skinny Soup Company for some tasty flavours. I then tend to have some rye bread to go with this as a good source of complex carbs to keep hunger at bay for a few more hours. 

Now...like every other woman I have to confess that come about 4pm, there's that lull in the day where I need a little pick me up. I try to be good and have a yoghurt or a low-sugar cereal bar most of the time. But fairly often a KitKat sneaks into my handbag and I'll have my little indulgence then!

My dinners usually consist of chicken and vegetables in various forms - stir fry, marinated chicken with veg, sweet and sour chicken etc, or lean mince in the form of chilli or Spaghetti bolognaise (always with whole-grain pasta for those complex carbs). It's important dinner contains protein and carbohydrates to keep you full and your body topped up with good things for the repairing it will be doing over night after all that teaching and dancing!

All in all, I try to have a good balance with plenty of protein, calcium, essential fats and complex carbs. Then of course, there's the odd treat in the form of some chocolate, or a bag of sweets because no one can be good all of the time! 

Whats in my Dance bag?

My dance bag is often a big expanse of space filled with various bits of wonderful fabric, shoes, ribbons, snacks, CD’s, hair pins and goodness knows what else. In fact…I really ought to clear it out more regularly – I’m sure there’s a KitKat in the bottom that went off in 2005…! 

I thought you’d be interested to see (a slightly edited, minus the moldy KitKat) exactly what it is a dancer and dance teacher really keeps in her Dance bag…

I never rely on having one leotard with me – you never know what disasters can happen (teaching primaries in a halter-neck leotard that pinged undone once) So in my bag I tend to have one or two camisole leotards – here there are two Capezio camisole leotards in navy and black (for variety!) which are great for going under teaching wear or for practice and a Capezio Meryl camisole dress in glacier which is perfect when you’re dancing and want something that bit more special that a leotard.

 Now the weather is getting chillier it’s important to have something to cover my arms with – especially if I’m teaching as I’m not moving around as much as when I’m in class, so the Harmonie shrug is perfect, it’s warm and comfortable but also looks very stylish. And of course, no dance bag would be complete without a pair of convertible tights! 

My ballet shoes are rather battered – they’re worn constantly, and sometimes I am dancing so much at home that they act really as a second pair of slippers (oppps!). The drawstring shoes are very comfortable – and come with the elastic already stitched on so saves you having to get out your sewing kit when you’re very busy! I also keep a foot roller in my bag for long days of teaching when a quick foot massage can definitely help! 

It’s important to keep hydrated and your blood sugars level when dancing a lot, so I always keep water in my bag with some healthy snacks – whether that’s fruit, or nuts, cereal bar or rice cakes.

And finally – a teachers, dancers and choreographers life saver…a small iPod and headphones! Usually attached to my leotard so I can dance and choreograph anywhere!

Of course, among these afore mentioned items –I must confess there is a random mess of hair pins, hair ties, old foundation and scraps of paper and pens where I’ve scribbled down ideas – but I have saved you the sore sights of these!

Frustrated Performer...

When you start ballet as a child, your only ambition is to be a ballerina. and naturally...now you attend ballet classes once a week at your local school you will become a world class ballerina and perform at the Royal Opera House. It's all so linear and obvious. 

Then gradually as you get older, perhaps teens, you start to realize that perhaps things aren't as linear as originally perceived. So maybe you better head off to Dance school in London and this will put things straight. Convincing the parents in an obstacle - Dance school isn't cheap, London isn't close and I was one of 6 siblings. Hmmm. No mind....I'll go to University and do dance! THEN I'll become a performer of course!

Well once the degree has been awarded, you've smiled for your graduation photos and the world is you oyster. Except you've hit this world with a big, realistic bang. You need to get a job. To pay bills. There's council tax, untilities, insurance etc. No matter...get an office job for a while then worry about performing. Except this office job turns from a short-term thing into a, well.......4 year thing. And now you're used to regular income and enjoying money, and London's pretty far away and other than some ballet classes you prehaps haven't kept your hand in the dance world as much as you should have - and suddenly all those dreams you had as a child are totally out of reach. 

What to do? Well...I could teach to get myself back into the Dance world. Excellent plan. Get accepted onto the Royal Academy of Dance's Certificate in Ballet Teaching studies and teach with my old ballet teacher. 2 years later, I receive that wonderful email to tell me I've passed and qualified as a ballet teacher. I've also been in touch with some old dancing friends, and we're starting up our own Dance company, we're going to perform locally a mixture of contemporary and jazz.

So now at the rather grand age for starting theses things, of 26...I'm taking the plunge. I've got a date in mind. The desk job is going by the by. The Dance is coming together. Ballet teaching and performing with Launch dance Company to start. Keeping eyes and ears on social networking and the theatre scene open for other opportunities.  Because in all honesty, London is where it's at - and where I'm not. Touring is a daunting prospect, I love my house, my boyfriend and my settled life. 

So while my 5-year-old dreams of playing the Sugar Plum Fairy on the stage at Covent Garden are a distant fantasy of my young naive self, at least I've not given up. I'm making dance my life - I can't give it up. It's all I think and do. 

Still, it doesn't stop me being hugely envious of any professional dancer I see at the theatre or on TV. But I'll accept my lot.

For now....

Adults vs. Children

Primarily in my teaching I teach children. Any age from 4 up to 18 (though I'm sure the 18-year-olds would argue the 'children' category I've placed them in!), but I also teach an adult class. 

When I first toyed with the idea of an adult class, my initial thoughts were - how different can it really be? Teaching is teaching....and ballet is ballet.

But how wrong I was!

One could argue, that any ballet pupils are there because they want to learn and they are committed, unlike school, to working hard at something they enjoy. That would be wonderful if it were true - unfortunately there is always a smattering of pupils who are there under duress from mothers who are determined their little girls will grow up to be the next Darcey Bussell, or teenagers who have promised their parents they won't give up despite other distractions taking a preference to their Grade 7 class. So us ballet teachers often face some of the same trials as school teachers with one or two disruptive students in a class of others who are very keen, willing to learn and dedicated. This, however, is one hurdle adult ballet classes don't throw at you.

The students in the adult class ALL want to be there. They've made a conscious decision to take up or continue ballet, they're spending their own money on classes (not their parents!) and come along because it's something they enjoy. 

So that makes the adult classes preferable ....or does it? Children have a huge level of enthusiasm and energy. And also are still fairly pliable - it's easier to correct bad habits from children, easier to teach them in your own style and also easier to have that level of authority of them which you may feel you don't have with your peers or elders. Children also have wonderful imaginations - as them to come up with their own free ending or 8-count bar and they will do so with a lot more ease and confidence than the more self-conscious adults.

The honest truth is -I love teaching both groups, and they're both so very different, offering their own rewards and challenges. You just have to remember to swap your mind-set when you go from class to class, i.e. calling out 'good girls, well done!' in an adult class might be met with a certain number of frowns!

Survival in half term.....

To most teachers, students and parents half term comes as a relief. That long 6 week wait until you get a little slither of a week to try and get as much done as possible and cram in as many lie-in's as you can. Then it's all over far too quickly - the things you promised you'd get done you still find you're rushing on that Sunday night before term starts afresh. 

So what is my problem with half term? I sit there, and wait for it with baited breath like everyone else. Looking forward to a little bit of 'me' time, finding time to break in that awkward pair of pointe shoes, reading some good books and generally chilling out. But no. One day in.......and it's killing me. 

I have a problem. I cannot survive a week without ballet and without dancing. It's too difficult, and on that half term Monday - the rest of the week actually looks pretty bleak when it's dance-free.

What can I do? Well, apart from dance around the house, the office, the shops and anywhere there's space I've set about a dance-incorporated half term......

Monday - Browse new Dance Direct Costumes catalogue and swoon at various tutus before researching every possible production of Cinderella and putting together ideas for the school show.
Write up my blog for Capezio and email it off.
Tuesday -  Log onto Dance Direct website - order lots of pretty things from my teachers account, convincing myself a 5% discount more than justifies my spending. Order various bits of dowel, ribbon and rings from ebay ready to make props for Grade 1's.
Wednesday - Excellent, some actual teaching. Adult ballet is still on during half term so I have a blissful hour of dance! Set up new blog dedicated to dance....
Thursday - Some theatre action! The wonderful people at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton, have given me tickets to see their Night of Dirty Dancing show!
Friday - The other half is out for the evening - perfect time to practice the Choreography for Launch Dance Company's piece...push back the sofa's, music on loud - off I go!
Saturday - Ah, the weekend offers no reprieve for a dance fanatic. I really ought to learn some more of the RAD's new Grade 1-3 dances to teach the children something exciting and new for the new term!
Sunday - Ready to prepare for the term ahead. Sort out ballet bag, check iPod and CDs, check lesson plans.