One of the things I pride myself on is my ability to quickly learn and adapt to new dance steps and styles. I think ballet is a fantastic foundation for all types of dance, and my background as a classical dancer has been a benefit more than once.
However, every once and awhile I come across a step that completely befuddles me. Most recently this is a tap step, not a ballet one (I don't often post about tap on this blog, but in addition to ballet I take jazz and tap classes).
Y'all. PULL BACKS. I can't figure them out.
The entire class was struggling with them at first, but slowly, one-by-one, everyone else in class has gotten the hang of it while I'm still scrapping across the floor like a goober. Very frustrating.
Part of my problem is that I have trouble letting my ankles relax (something tap does that is very contrary to ballet). I also haven't found a visual that speaks to me. "Think up," my teacher tells me, ever so patiently. "Think of flipping your toes back to your head," a fellow student advises when I ask. None of it is helping.
I ended up asking the AD of the school for help the other day, just to get some more visual suggestions. She started pull-backing around the lobby in her Ugg boots (SO UNFAIR): "Think toes first," she suggested. Guess I'll try that next time.
However, every once and awhile I come across a step that completely befuddles me. Most recently this is a tap step, not a ballet one (I don't often post about tap on this blog, but in addition to ballet I take jazz and tap classes).
Y'all. PULL BACKS. I can't figure them out.
The entire class was struggling with them at first, but slowly, one-by-one, everyone else in class has gotten the hang of it while I'm still scrapping across the floor like a goober. Very frustrating.
Part of my problem is that I have trouble letting my ankles relax (something tap does that is very contrary to ballet). I also haven't found a visual that speaks to me. "Think up," my teacher tells me, ever so patiently. "Think of flipping your toes back to your head," a fellow student advises when I ask. None of it is helping.
I ended up asking the AD of the school for help the other day, just to get some more visual suggestions. She started pull-backing around the lobby in her Ugg boots (SO UNFAIR): "Think toes first," she suggested. Guess I'll try that next time.
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