s FOR BREAKING NE WS VISIT www.couriersun.com SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 • dance • THE COURIER SUN 27 Twinkle Toes By Tresa Erickson You’ve enjoyed watching ballet since you were a kid, but you never had the opportunity to try the dance form until now. You’re a lot older, of course, so learning ballet in the hopes of joining the professional ranks someday is out. You’re taking up ballet simply because you like it and want to know more about it. Ballet can be rigorous and requires extensive flexibility, which may explain why many professional ballet dancers retire in their 40s. They can no longer perform as they once did and choose to leave the profession. In spite of their retirement, many dancers continue to practice ballet because of the health benefits it provides. Ballet strengthens and tones muscles and builds endurance. It also improves coordination, enhances posture and develops poise. Anyone who can stand the exertion involved can take up ballet at almost any age and benefit from it. If you are interested in learning the dance form, you should enroll in a class, preferably for adults. You will feel less self-conscious in an adult class and learn more. You should check with the school for a specific list of equipment you will need for the class. In most cases, men will need a T-shirt or leotard, a dance belt, tights and ballet shoes, while women will need a leotard, tights and ballet shoes. T-shirts and tights are typical. However, you may want to wear a unitard or a T-shirt, tights and bicycle shorts if the school allows them. The color and type of apparel worn is often a matter of personal preference. Black tights are common. However, the school or instructor may have their own requirements regarding color. Many dancers prefer lycra tights over all-nylon tights because they fit better and leather ballet shoes over canvas shoes because they stretch. Most ballet shoes come with elastic bands, the ends of which you can sew on top of the shoes just below the anklebones to ensure the shoes stay on. Ballet is not easy to master. Don’t arrive at the class on the first day, expecting to emerge from it a pro. It takes time to learn the combination of steps required and get your body accustomed to performing those steps and linking them together upon command. Give yourself some leeway and don’t worry if you don’t get something the first time and have to stand aside and watch others perform the steps. No matter what your age, you can learn ballet and benefit from it. Go ahead and enroll in a class. As you become more adept at ballet and your skills improve, you may want to enroll in a few more classes. This will accelerate the learning process and keep you in shape. dance s
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