Ballet talk with a Ballet mum! Journey to Vaganova. The highs and lows.
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2023
- Hello Everyone,
Today I am so excited to have my mum on the channel! Here we will be talking about my journey to Vaganova as well as all the highs and lows that came from that along with insights into what it's like to be a ballet mum and how to deal with your child doing such an artistic and hard pursuit!
Please share your opinions but in a kind and respectful manor :-)
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About Me
Hello everyone! my names Isabella.
I am the first British graduate of the Vaganova ballet academy in Saint Petersburg Russia. I was a soloist working with the Mikhailovsky Ballet and Eifman ballet.
Now I live in London as a full time coach
Here, on my channel I am sharing my passion with you all about the Vaganova technique amongst many other things related to ballet we all love.
It's a hard industry so I am here to help with my insights and knowledge to make it a little easier for you all, as well as to hopefully entertain you with my content.
Thank you for watching!
I can see where Isabella gets her sense of humour and gentle nature. A shining example of a mum who knows how to give her child space. Come back soon!
Without her, there is no Isabella as a ballet dancer. She believed in her talent and knew she could. Amazing.
You can see the pride in your Mom’s face. That’s wonderful. I miss my Mom terribly.
Yes please, I'd love to hear more from your mum - that was so interesting. You and your mum obviously have a great relationship.
The "you're tired?" Part crackled me up 😂 you really got into character there.
Would love a Part 2!
Hello Isabella! Thank you so much for this video it was super helpful. My daughter is a dancer and she trains at master ballet academy in Scottsdale and as a mom sometimes I am unsure of when and how to give her the support she needs. However, She is a member of your platform and listens to your podcast all the time. Sometimes I will walk into our office late at night and she will be sitting in the oversplits listening to it! 🤣Thank you for all that you do 🙏
This is so amazing to read!! Thank you!!! ❤❤ I wish your daughter all the success!
The students there are amazing
The beginning where your mom shared how much she believed in you, and didn’t tell you the negative feedback brought tears to my eyes. She is amazing and so so sweet. She believes in you and that is something everyone needs in life. In ballet and in general.
I never realized sadly my mom has always been the opposite, she is loving but always doubts my ability in everything even as a fully grown adult.
I wanted to start ballet and had a lot of natural talents I was told by teachers taking jazz and rhythmic gymnastics. I got a ballet book for kids written by the Royal Ballet and how at 9-10 you have to start if you want to be professional. I wanted it so so badly.
All I had was the book and would stretch and try steps. The teachers were stunned (we had no RUclips or online videos, I doubt I had ever seen real ballet other than snippets on TV.
I was in a big city with a great company and a feeder school. I tried out and was thrilled to be acccepted at 9/10 because I had no experience. They sent a letter saying I had fantastic musicality and natural fluidity and elegant hands. Natural ability to do jumps and turns. They said I did the best of any untrained dancer to improvise to music I had never heard before. That my ability to hear the music and anticipate how it would go etc, and was able to hear the ending coming, timed jumps or larger accents on musical accents etc. Flexible but not in my feet and my proportions were not great but could improve. That I did need to lose weight ir not gain any as I grew if I wanted to stay in the program.
My mom was so negative and kept saying I would feel fat and uncomfortable etc. I went to the first one or two classes and I cried so much because I was always staring at my belly and my legs and how small all my classmates were.
She basically planted it in my mind that I couldn’t do it. I really regret quitting but I went to do gymnastics and her fear of me developing an eating disorder from ballet happened anyway. Probably more to do with her own body image issues unconsciously projected. I’m now getting into ballet and see I wouldn’t have had the body. I can’t be sure because I did so much tunbkjg and dieting and exercises that likely changed my body and feet. The sprains and stress fractures etc have caused scar tissue on the front of my feet and I have trouble with my foot flexibility.
It was Wonderful to hear your Mom's perspective of everything! Additionally , your Mother is an Eloquent speaker and Presents herself well! LOVELY VIDEO! 💖
Thank you for bringing your mom's perspective. As a mother, this has really helped me hear another mother's experience. My daughter is really just starting more serious ballet lessons as a level 1 dancer who is 7 1/2 years old. She hasn't quite developed a love for ballet yet, but being in Rhythmic Gymnastics, she doesn't have much of a choice since the two go hand-in-hand. She is short (the shortest in her class) and on the muscular end. I find that even at this age and level, other parents and some teachers are judgemental eye of her body type. The only thing I can do is encourage her and help her retain her confidence in herself and her image. Thank you for being such an encouraging voice in the ballet world for both students and parents.❤
The royal ballet school was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had in my life and the reason I quit. The bullying, keeping snacks locked up, the boarding (being threatened of being stabbed in my bed at the age of 11) the house mother from South Africa who made it clear she didn’t like black people. The racism being black I clearly wasn’t going to get a part of a swan but forced to check if my name was there on the main board and then having to do class on my own as everyone else done swan rehearsals and the very nasty teachers. Diane van Schoor being absolutely awful. I really hope they’ve improved immensely. They absolutely had their favourites and unfortunately were not willing to put in the work to help those who didn’t have the best control of their long limbs. Thank you for being so honest, I’m so glad you found peace somewhere else x
What a lovely mum, her level-headedness is so comforting. Great mum-daughter relationship.
As a dancer when I was a child. It would have been so helpful having a Mom like yours. I can see how lovely and poised she is. Did she ever dance herself? It would be great, to have her on again.❤❤❤
Yes! More mom! Anything you want to talk about or that she wants to share we’re all ears.
So lovely to hear from your mum! What a dedicated and passionate person who struck a great medium between being involved and recognising this needed to be something you drove forwards. I think lots of performance mums could benefit from these conversations, it's a lonely life sometimes!
Your mother is a very nice lady with common sense! This video was both educational and entertaining, and I hope you do a part two!
The most important lesson that I hope all the young students watching your videos take to heart is:
What seems like a setback (like repeating a year) is actually an opportunity to improve on more basic elements and/or gain strength, and therefore be better prepared for the following years.
This also applies to academics.
The most important lesson that parents can learn from this video is that your mother knew that the determination and drive had to come from within her child. I think it's rather unusual for children and teenagers to have such inner drive, which is why others may have commented on parental ambitions. Another reason might be jealousy.
As for your mother saying like she felt the Royal Ballet teachers were kind of judging her body: This is exactly what they used to do in the eastern bloc countries during the Cold War. They would go to the elementary schools and have the kids do a variety of activities, and when it appeared that certain kids had a natural aptitude for certain types of sports such as gymnastics, the next step would be to visit the parents to see what kind of body type they have. If the parents were both tall and slender, they would redirect a girl into rhythmic gymnastics, instead of artistic, for example.
I'm sorry you were bullied at the Royal Ballet school.
Thank you for having your mother as a guest! Hope to see her again soon! 🙏🩰😄🌸
I still dance now, however some of the ways my mom was so overbearing, a total stage Mom still sneaks in to mindset at times. I have worked extra hard as an adult competitor for Ballroom Nationals not to let these things interfere in any way. That's exactly why I believe in what you said. Let the child do it. It has to come from them. Exactly 100% right.😍
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Isabella. I always wondered how the moms felt leaving their children thousands of miles away and not seeing them. Please share more.!
Always cool to see what's going on in the world of ballet.
Aw! I enjoyed seeing your mum! I’m curious how she felt when you decided to stop dancing? I’m glad you have such a supportive mother. I did too, but she passed away 14 years ago. I miss her. :( Appreciate your dear mum!
Respect for your mother ❤
You two look like twins! You definitely got your mother’s beautiful genes!
I wonder- does mother enjoy dancing?
Hugs to you both!
You are sooo great together! ❤❤❤
Very informative conversation. I would welcome a part two. Your mum is lovely.
This has been really helpful, and has explained pretty much what is happening with my granddaughter. She doesn't want to be a ballet dancer, she wants to perform as a triple threat in Musical Theatre. She didn't start ballet until she was 10. There were no available classes here. She started singing/jazz/tap/hiphop lessons at the same time. She had been to Musical Theatre classes for just over a year at that time. It is difficult. We don't push her, she pushes herself, but yes, people do think it's all about us, and some of the comments can be very hurtful. It is expensive and time consuming, but it is what she wants for herself. I am so glad to have heard another parent say the same things. We do help her look for opportunities to improve, but she is the driving force, not her family.
I was particularly interested in the dancing through the pain part. She is currently getting a lot of leg pain, and neither her mum nor I ever realized it might be growing pains, that the muscles she is stretching for greater flexibility are also being stretched by her growing bones. She's not at the Royal Ballet, so her dance teachers give her more leeway, but like you, she never wants to tell them. She still has a way to go to catch up totally with her classmates in flexibility, balance and strength, but she's getting there.
Thankyou so much for posting this. It was eye-opening.❤
I loved hearing about your mum's comments when you went away to Russian Ballet School. How great but I know she would have thought how great an opportunity it was. Well done both of you. Loved it. XX❤😊🎉
This is so fascinating to hear! And what a wonderful mum you have. Thanks to her for coming on to share her perspective.
This is such a great video idea, and great resource for young dancers. Whether u have a mom like yours or different, it helps gives guidance on how to ask for things, talk to teachers, stand up for yourself, search for what’s right for you. And have the confidence to do so, hopefully with the support of a parent, but also on your own if that’s your situation.
And gives credit to ur mom as an adult and intelligent person. I feel in my teen years I didn’t let my mom get involved in my schooling for fear of embarrassment, though she encouraged me to stand up for myself. And in retrospect she was of course right... I should’ve stood up for myself and/or let her talk with my school and teachers. But at the time they had too much power over me, and I felt I needed to feel embarrassed and give them all the control.
Which is silly just because she didn’t know about ballet, didn’t mean she didn’t have the right to an opinion on her child’s training. I think sometimes ballet professionals discredit parents just because they don’t know details of ballet.
So it’s great to see this video, and I hope it inspires and informs many dancers and helps them take care of themselves and their future without allowing themselves to be put down or controlled or pressured to accept training that isn’t the right fit for them.
What a lovely mum. XX🎉❤😊
Hello Isabella, so nice to see you and your lovely mom together… I wish I had been as blessed to have such a supportive mom and my dance journey! ♥️🕊🎶💪💋
Your mum is great! Really interesting chat. I am a mum of 5 girls. My 10 year old is very keen on ballet...this is all new to me as my olde girls are into horses. Trying to encourage her but not get pushy or competitive. It has to be her passion and journey.
Loved the truthfulness of this conversation - would love to hear more.
Thankyou Isabella, I really enjoyed listening to your mum and her take on things, especially White Lodge as I was there for a couple of years back in the 70s and it was ……..interesting. Would love to hear more about what went on
I can’t believe how much so far my daughters journey is like yours. It’s also amazing to see your mums perspective is so much like mine!
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this Isabella. Nice to hear what goes on behind the scenes. Your mum is beautiful just like you! Hopefully we see more of your mum too!
I love this! You Mum is so relatable, as a mum and my parenting style, but also the recipient side as a daughter. I feel so lucky that my own Mum was so similar. She never pushed me as there was never any need, I was so driven (and still am). So wonderful to see your relationship. I'm curious if your mum also does ballet? Thank you for letting us meet your mum. ❤
I would definitely love to see more of your mom! I just found your channel and I am loving it. Thank you.
Thanks both for sharing, it opens a window into the world of dance training; the hurdles, anxieties and humour and desire to drive towards a goal.
I loved watching this video! It brought back a lot of my own memories, with teachers doing really mean things. I don't understand that kind of teacher, honestly. Being strict is not the same as being a bully. I had one teacher who made do pointe work with no toe pads - just me, everyone else was allowed. I was 13. PS: That description of "how we will be touching your child" made me laugh!
Loved this episode. Please more of that for your vaganova time with your mom and the companies you worked for. If not to personal also interested in maybe how she dealing with you being blacklisted cause of your injury for marinsky. ❤
Loved this video!
Loving loving this interview
wow 😍very interesting, I would appreciate it watching more conversations with your mom about ballet 😊
Loved every minute!❤❤❤
I loved this conversation!!
That was a great interview. Thank you both for taking the time to do it.
Your mom is so lovely and supportive.
Yes, more with your Mom!
Would love a part 2 ! 😊🙌
Lovely to listen to/watch ❤
What a fantastic video, thank you! I can relate to so much of it. I would love to hear more!
Loved this! It’s nice to see how you’ve bonded so much over ballet❤
I must have a Celtic body then because I ha a long body and short legs but I am half Welsh. LOL It sounds Isabella that your early ballet teachers were like mine . I had poor turnout and could not do the splits and was ignored by my teacher when I had ability and with pushing could have achieved more. These things come with good teaching and practice.
Love this video! You're mom seems like an amazing woman and example
Love your Mum, she is beautiful!
She really is!! ❤️
She is very beautiful, I see where you get it!
Isabella, time has passed since your attendance at the Royal Ballet School. What is your relationship with that school now, or with students who go there but might also attend your intensive classes you advertise?
I hated my school at that age and am just thankful to have survived with just hatred. The school had a more hands-on approach, not just two fingers 😢
I wanna be a ballet mom❤❤❤
Love this interview. I’m struggling with the ecarté line as well. I look like a crashing airplane. 😢😢 Any ideas?
Absolutely! Try my ‘How to Improve Développé á la Seconde’ and ‘Strength for Développé classes’ on my platform balletwithisabella.com There are in depth classes of how to achieve the right line! You can sign up for a 7 day free x
First!
31:20
Yes, I have two questions :
- What about your father ? Was he also supportive like your mother?
(I'm a professional Ballet student and my parents have never supported me in my Ballet journey).
- What kind of exercises do they give you in the АРБ to strengthen your muscles ? Because in Ballet when can't have bulky ugly thighs muscles. Also, were you given extra "gymnastics" classes ?
Yes my father was incredibly supportive. I figured out what exercises to do by myself as we don’t get given exercises past a super young age. And no I didn’t get gymnastics classes. All my strength and conditioning work was done by myself and it’s what my platform is all about. Helping others achieve the same 💪🏻
@@balletwithisabella Great job. I follow you on Instagram. Bravo papà, good father. I'm not even telling you how my father reacted when I announced that I was going to Peter .... I don't know how you could figure out on your own which exercises you needed to do : great job. Kisses to your cat. 😽
There’s this really irritating TV “reality” show here in the States called “Dance MOHHHHMS”. Or more accurately, “Dance Moms”. Just a bunch of fat housewives sitting to the side, wielding cellphones they seem incapable of putting down for even one second, and manufacturing fake drama. Just annoying and irritating. They should all take a page out of your mum’s book and leave their girls well enough alone.
I very much enjoyed hearing your mum’s perspective. She struck the perfect balance between leaving you well, well alone, and advocating for you with all her might. I admire her hugely.
She's the least dance mum I've ever seen! 😂