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!