Keeping Fit During The Holidays

Holidays, ahhhhh how ballerinas look forward to them! A well deserved rest from a hard term's work of dance. It also gives your feet a chance to rest from those stiff pointe shoes.

But don't you worry that you'll get all 'out of shape,' for those few weeks you aren't dancing? Well, here's a plan.

Yes, you obviously deserve that rest. Your body need it, too. It gives you something to look forward to, and a chance for your body to recover. However, you don't want to get all unfit.

For the first week of these holidays, I let myself just sit back and relax. Then it was time to get into action. I strapped my pointe shoes on every day this week, and practiced for about twenty minutes to half an hour.

Now, that's not long or anything, but it keeps your feet in shape, so you don't go downhill during your few weeks off.

Also, I've done a bit of stretching. No more than five or so minutes a day, but it keeps those tendons working, so I can still do whatever I need to when I get back to class next week.

Thanks for reading/commenting, everyone!

P.S:

On the right hand side of my blog, just below this post, I recently created a poll. It is the first of a series of poll. I am wanting to know what you think of my blog (that's what this poll's about), what you want more of on my blog, and so on. Please vote!

So far, only five people have voted. Come on! Please, if you havne't, I encourage you to. This blog is for your benifit, so I want to know what you want more of.

You don't have to have a Google Account to vote, either. It's as easy as just clicking a button.

Thanks again.

Diary Update

I have noticed that recently, as in, the last few months, I have hardly told you anything about my ballet life.
I mean, sure, I've bee posting a lot. But they have all been 'advice,' articles. Personally, I think that's fine, and I'm sure you'd agree. In fact, it's probably better than just talking about me me me all the time.

However, I'm sure that you want to know what's I've been up to recently in my new ballet school.

Well, I've been having lessons on a Saturday morning. In these lessons I am working towards my Intermediate exam. I think I am doing OK in those lessons. I now know almost all the exercises, and am working to perfect them.

On Monday, I have a 'pointe class.' This whole class is done on pointe. Unlike my Saturday classes, I share this class with about six or seven other girls. I reckon I would be the youngest in the class.

They are all a good one or two years older than me. One of the girls is even at Uni! I don't really mind being the youngest, though. I fit in really well, and it's fun, too.

Our school is doing the musical, Cats. I overheard a conversation about a part in the musical where one of the cats does a solo dance. Apparently they don't have anyone to do that dance at the moment.

They were going to get a girl from year 12 to do it, because she dances, but I don't think she was all that keen on it.

My Mom went and talked to the music teacher at out school about it. I haven't heard anything about it since, but I'm hoping that I might get the part. How awesome would that be?

Fingers crossed.

So that's what's been happening in my dance life for the last term. I'll post soon ..... I promise !!

Looking For Another Ballet Blog To Follow?

If you are looking for another ballet blog, apart from 'My Pointe Of View,' to follow, I have written 'reviews,' on a few ballet blogs that I follow.

You can find these reviews under the 'Other Ballet Blogs,' page. They are all great blogs that I really enjoy following. And you know what, if YOU have a ballet blog, and you know that I follow it, there's a strong chance that I have written a review about it.

So go and check it out. I hope you will have as much fun as I have following these wonderful dance blogs. Even if you are not that into ballet, some of the authors also write about here day-to-day life. If they do, I mention it in the review.

Enjoy .....

How To Do A Simple Ballet Bun

When you go to your ballet classes, you will obviously need your hair nicely scraped back and away from your face. Most ballet schools insist that your hair is tied up, usually in a bun.
When you try to do your first bun, it's really tricky. However, the more you do, the easier it gets. Here is a 'recipe,' on how to tie your hair up in a bun.


You Will Need:

1) A hairnet that is the same colour as your hair. It should not be visable once in your hair. Also make sure that it has no holes.

2) About 10 - 15 bobby pins.

3) A hairband the colour of your hair.

4) Hairspray

5) Scrunchie the same colour as your leotard


Method:

1) Tie your hair into a pony tail in the middle of your head. Make sure that it is tight and secure. However, you don't want it so tight that it hurts.

2) Take the hair and twirl it around its self. Then, wrap it around the pony tail base. (The the pony is attached to the head.)

3) Once in this position, you can put the bun net on. You may need to twist the net around a few times to make it tighter.

4) Place bobby pins into the bun, all the way around. Leave a few over to secure any loose pieces of hair that didn't make it into the bun.

5) Spray with hairspray. And tie scrunchie around it.


So that's how you do a simple ballet bun! Of course, there are thousands of other types of buns that you can do, but that's the one most ballet dancers use. It's easy and very effective.
At the moment, I have got quite short hair. When I tie it into a pony, it would only be about two inches long. That doesn't stop me from putting it in a bun, though.

No Way.

It's so easy, you can even do it with really short hair.

BLOCH

BLOCH is one of my favourite brands in the whole world! I love their shops, and their leotards, bags, outfits, tights, etc are just amazing! If you don't own something made by BLOCH, I highly recommend you to do so. Here are just a few pics of some BLOCH stuff. My fave :)

Tendinitis in Ballerinas

A common problem for ballerinas is tendinitis. Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendons in the foot. It can be very painfully and quite inconvenient.

Why does it occur, you may ask? Well, the two main triggers for tendinitis is overuse, and your foot being cold.

If you have overused your foot muscles, or injured them, they are prone to tendinitis. You must be careful around this stage, because once you've got it, it takes ages to go away.

I live in a very cold place. It's presently about 7 degrees outside, so not the most pleasant weather you could think of.

The cold will not do the muscles in your foot any good, especially if they are a bit touchy to start off with. So, if you've got a foot that you have overworked or injured, then keep it warm, don't let it get cold, whatever you do.

Once you have got tendinitis, it takes a minimum of eight weeks to disappear. The worst period will be at about 3 - 6 weeks. When I had it (recently) I could hardly walk when I got up in the morning, let alone dance.

I had to take it very easy, and was constantly taking neurofen and rubbing anti-inflammatory cream on my right foot.

If you have got tendinitis, you should, as I just said, take neurofen or panadol whenever it starts to hurt, and also keep rubbing anti-inflammatory cream on the sore area.

Also, keep things easy, but don't stop using your foot altogether. Moderate exercise will be fine. Just don't do anything that hurts your foot.

Once you have exercised, put and ice pack on your foot. I know that I just went on about keeping your foot warm, but after exercise, it's a good idea to ice your foot using the method a wrote about in a previous post the other week.

If you have tendinitis, don't fret; it's very common for ballerinas, as irritating and painful as it is. If you have any other questions regarding the subject you would like to ask me, please don't hesitate to do so.

Thanks!

P.S: It is often the Extensor Hallicus tendons that you get tendinitis in. (see the diagram above.)

Perfect Pirouettes

Pirouettes - they are SO hard, don't you agree?
Whilst doing a pirouette, there are heaps of things to think about. Here are a few tips to help you do a perfect single/double or even triple pirouette.

1) Relax! I know, it's really scary, but if you just relax and think positively, it will be much easier, trust me. It sounds really lame, right? Well, just try it. Relax your breathing and think positively.

2) For most pirouette exercises, they count 1, 2, 3, 4. On the 1, you pointe to the side, The 2 and 3 you close to second and then pointe derriere, on the 4 you, you lunge. However, my teacher told me not to lunge on the beginning of the count of, four, but on the very end of it. This way you are only touching your foot behind you, then you are straight away up and ready to go. It really works!

3) Don't over throw your arms. Keep them in a normal third, don't put them too far behind you. After all, then are not your major turning point, they just help you to get around.

4) Think of a pirouette as a releve that just happens to turn. I know it's just a mental point, but it really helps.

5) Keep your let up! It's probably the hardest thing about pirouettes. You just have to keep that leg UP! Even if you come off demi pointe/pointe, and are just turning on flat feet, keep the other let UP UP UP!!!

6) If you are only doing a single pirouette, then you obviously don't need as much force as if you were doing a triple pirouette. If you use too much force, then you are likely to overbalance at the end, and fall over. However, if you are doing a triple pirouette, you are going to need more force to get you around than if you were doing just a single one. If you use little force, then you are only going to do a single or double pirouette.

7) Last but not least: the ground isn't actually that far away. I know, it's a really scary thought if you fall over, but you are not going to die, and it would be very unlikely to break a bone. Keep this thought in the back of your mind. Don't worry, if you fall over, it's not the end of the world!

I hope some of these tips can be of some help you you. Chat sooooon :)