Halfway during my sophomore year of college, I went through a phase where I was OVER ballet. I was tired of tight, hair-sprayed buns and pink tights, and so tired of my feet always being torn up with blisters from my pointe shoes. I remember taking class in the ballet studio upstairs, and while waiting for my turn to go across the floor, would watch the modern dancers in the studio downstairs...so jealous of their biker shorts, bare feet, and freedom!
Instead of just switching my focus to modern, I took a completely different turn and became a fashion merchandising major. This literally lasted for 2 weeks. I went to my first fashion 101 class, and everyone was wearing cute outfits while the teacher talked about different kinds of thread. I almost threw myself out the window..... I needed to MOVE! ^the picture makes sense now, right?! :) (And I needed to wear sweatpants over a leotard on campus like you're supposed to...not cute outfits with matching accessories....blahhh!)
I gave it 2 weeks, and then decided that I was born to dance. Thank goodness my dance advisor never completely changed my schedule (she knew I'd be back.) I did focus my attention more on modern dance after that, and it was amazing. Still as rough on my body as ballet was, but in a totally different way.
I did have "desk classes", of course, but they were all classes I loved. Dance history was one of my favorites, along with all my education classes.
I am grateful, however, for my ballet background. I never would have been the dancer or teacher I am without it. Put your dancers in ballet first!! It's the foundation for all other forms of dancing and your child will be better for it.
Ballet is also my favorite form of dance to teach now (and to take). I love the discipline behind it, and am so grateful that my parents always encouraged me and supported me in this art form.
I'm so glad I switched back to Dance Ed....ahhh! So, so glad. It introduced me to tons of experiences and people that have made such a difference in my life...and still does!
14 comments :
i love that your dance teacher knew you'd come back. that's so awesome! i switched my major too, I was so wrong!!
Ha! I love this story. Can you imagine how different it would be now if you hadn't come back?! I did the same thing when I started college. I quit dance. I was over ballet, over dancing, burned out. So I was an English major, HA! That lasted about 1.5 months and then I was completely wrapped up in the dance department at college and back at it. Oh, dance---we can't leave you.
Ha! I love this story. Can you imagine how different it would be now if you hadn't come back?! I did the same thing when I started college. I quit dance. I was over ballet, over dancing, burned out. So I was an English major, HA! That lasted about 1.5 months and then I was completely wrapped up in the dance department at college and back at it. Oh, dance---we can't leave you.
Well I for one am very glad that you stayed with dance ed :)
I thought about switching my major every semester. Ha! I'm glad that I didn't though!
And thanks SO much for this suggestion about starting dancers in ballet first. Maddie has been itching to dance so we've signed her up for the one day a week dance workshop that is offered at her school. But, I'm looking to find a dance studio around here soon to get her started in ballet. Is age three too soon? Any suggestions as to where to go?!?
I was originally a Social Studies composite Education major (all the social sciences), however, after two classes of Econ 110 and Political Science 110, I decided it wasn't worth it, and became just a History Ed major, even if that meant I wouldn't be able to teach Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, or Psychology. But, I also got an English Ed minor, so I'm still well-rounded.
I so wish I never quit. I did ballet for YEARS as a child and loved it so much!!! It's still on my 25 before 25 list to go back and try ONE class. Maybe I can convince you to come to me and teach me via a private lesson? Haha! Miss ya!
Ballet was my first too. Then came jazz. I was actually recommended to be put in ballet by my doctor at the time. He said it would help my lungs (I had severe asthma as a child) because it would help my overall posture and such. My feet are not the most attractive thanks to pointe but I still remember the days of dance. I actually went to school as a business major and fashion minor (I know exactly what you mean there were days where I did show up in sweatpants and did not care lol) so dance stopped after high school, I knew I wasn't born to do it. I loved it but the passion I had was elsewhere.
www.jerseygirltexanheart.com
I switched to fashion merchandising for a short time too (though I was never a dance major). Sometimes I think it takes "loosing" what you love to realize you love it so much. I'm glad your advisor was so wise and was able to get you back into your original courses.
Fashion Merchandising majors dress cute for the first few days to let people know they have style, but then it's back to leggings, yoga pants, and t shirts. I thought I had to dress to impress my freshman year and got up early to fix my hair, put on makeup, and pick out the perfect outfit for my 9:00 fashion class only to walk in and discover I was the only one not in comfy clothes.
I came to college positive I'd be an English major, but then took an Intro to Psych class with seriously THE most engaging professor and completely fell head over heels for the discipline. Great teachers are everything - their ability to communicate passion for & the importance of the subject is so, so important!!
That's awesome that your dance adviser knew you'd be coming back! I think it's awesome that you were willing to switch majors up in order to find the one that suited you best. :-)
I totally remember that! So glad we both got our teaching degrees :)
The barre is home to me so I completely appreciate the love of ballet. It's amazing how though I loved the freedom that modern afforded me, I always went back to ballet (and the tight buns) ;)
Chelsea
Haute Child in the City
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