My mom always tells me to smile before every single performance i do. I was doing a lyrical solo in a competition that was about saying goodbye to someone you love and my mom was just like “smile Lauren you’ll do great if you smile”. LIKE NO MOM ITS SAD AND LYRICAL! I’m sending this to her every time she says that to me.
That reminds me of something my mom said after a performance I was in. It was a technical piece where emotion wasn't really needed but musicality was. The only thing she could say was that I should have smiled more. Really?
i know this is late but GOSH the moms. my lyrical is someone STRUGGLING in life and family and my moms like" SMILE or you wont make itttttttttttttttttttttttt" no matter how much I explain to her imma send this to her as well:) Ur so relatable lol
I'm don't train super seriously, but my dance company has a recital every year and one of my teachers has been trying to get me to smile and look pleasant for the past 8-9 years. My face looks like I'm having the worst time of my life even when I'm having the best time. When I try to put any emotion in, it just feels like I'm lying to the audience and myself, it's just not comfortable for me to do it. Anyone relate?
Amanda Stevens I don't dance but I sing classical type music and my teacher says I look like I'd rather be anywhere else and I've had judges ask me if I actually like singing. I love singing but it feels so unnatural to smile especially when I'm trying to focus on singing which involves actually moving my mouth. I'm working on it though : )
omg YES!! And sometimes I get self conscious that I’m smiling too much in class cause the other girls are concentrating so hard they’re not smiling (not that I don’t concentrate in class I do but it was just that group. I’m in a different group now)
I like your comment about feeling the music and feeling the character or role, and letting that guide facial expressiveness. After all, what is the art of dance vs. acrobatics? Expression of one's true spirit within. Art is the spirit made tangible, no matter what the discipline or form. I just went to a modern performance and one of the dancers, while she had a relaxed expression on her face, never closed her mouth. It was really off putting and it's about all I remember of what could have been interesting and well executed choreography. On the other hand, classical ballet - because of the incredible strength required to hold one's core and stability while balancing, leaping and turning - causes the core muscles to recruit all the other muscles it can, including the neck, mouth, face and tongue: none of which actually help one keep one's center. This results in tense faces and necks that can make even the most technically skilled ballet dancer look like an automaton having a bad day. When I reached the age of 40 I returned to ballet, and my teacher said, "You look like the only person in class who is having a good time". My response was: I am 40. Why should I even do a plie if I am not having a good time? I don't smile always, but I do radiate whatever I feel inside, whether it is concentration, serenity, or joy.
lol this is so late but last year during my SAB audition the shank of my point shoe snapped in half and i almost died and the instructor just gave me this look of “what the heck are you doing” i highkey thought i was going to die
Well, I'm in guard and we were at practice before the homecoming game and someone caught a toss and her fake nail broke and she bled all over the silk...
Maya Pope I had the same problem when I started dance. So, have you recently started dance or is ballet something unfamiliar to you? If so your brain isn’t wired for the demands that ballet bring my best advice is give it time! If you had trouble with a combination go home and practice that combination. But overtime it’ll get better trust me! Don’t get discouraged.
My teacher told me once that when you start at an older age, jumping right into it your brain doesn’t make the connection and translation from the brain to actually doing the work. Express you concerns to your teacher if it’s affecting the way you dance he/she is there to help
I know this is old, but I struggle to remember choreography a lot too, in every style that I do (I do like 6 or 7 different styles, depending on whether you see modern and modern-jazz as the same style or not). What really helped me was when one of my teachers gave us different combinations for across the floor EVERY SINGLE CLASS. I'm not even kidding. It was legit every single class. In combination with learning a new dance almost every single class in another one of my classes and just doing so many different styles from different teachers, forced me to remember a lot of different dances and combinations for exercises. I don't remember most long term at all, but it is insane how much this has improved my ability to remember choreography. From my experience there is nothing that works better than just forcing yourself to learn very different things often. Not just things you do every single week. But entirely different things too. If you want to improve your ability to remember choreography you could try to at least once a week pick a video online about a dance class or where they learn you a dance that you haven't seen before. I hope that this will help you :)
This helps a lot. My old dance teacher told me to always smile, but smiling on stage while doing a ballet routine just doesn’t feel right. My natural instinct is to show true emotion. I mean isn’t that what dancing means, emotion without words?😊
Paige Higgins Yea I too am kind of puzzled when it comes to character say for instance Myrtha like how keep focused on the behavior of a character while doing the choreography
Paige Higgins I performed as Giselle last December and my 'trick' was staying focused on the story. Before the act started I thought about the story and how I would react. I felt that Giselle lent me her spirit just for that night and I always kept the story going on in my head. Once I get used to it, it wasn't really a big deal
What if you enjoy ballet? Sometimes it just makes me smile. Of course because I love it! Obviously it depends on what the emotion is but in barre sometimes I genuinely smile : )
hey so i am doing another ballet exam tomorrow morning, and it''s the Discovering Repetoire 2 exam. I have never done a disc rep exam before and the facials are a marking factor so I watched this! thank for helping me out :) ill edit this comment with how I did!
Hi Katie! As an adult beginner your videos have really helped me to break down the steps to learn them faster. Please could you do videos on frappes and rond de jambes as these are the exercises at barre that I struggle with the most.
That was really helpful!!! Usually when I'm nervous in class or look at myself in the mirror and see something I don't like (which means almost every single time) I bite my lip and I doesn't look nice! So thank you!
Katie, great advice! This also reminds me of the practice in yoga that you are actually looking at a certain spot (ex: in the air, on the floor, etc) when holding specific positions. (There's a word for it -don't recall it just now.)
Can you do a video on partnering? I recently joined a partner dance club at my school and I'm having trouble connecting with some of the guys, particularly those shorter than me. My wing span is so long that turns sometimes look awkward when he reaches up and over my head. Even though it's not ballet, any and all tips would be helpful. Thanks!
Another great video once again! Really enjoyed it. Can you do a video on how to overcome a fear of turning en pointe? For example, I struggle with basic passe pirouettes. I know I can do a clean double, but on some days I get so nervous of falling that I can't even do a single! Tips?
Thank you so much this video was very helpful! I have a question about the topic of "pull-up". My teacher says that term all the time but I am a bit confused on what it actually means. Could you please do a video on pull-up? Thank you so much love you xoxo
Cool n Craftsy it basically means to try to lengthen your back and to not be all slouched over so in a pilè it mean to drop your shoulders and straighten your back And you should also ask your teacher I’m sure that they will understand and be able to help you more in person then I can over a screen even if they are terrifying trust me I know I was always soooo scared to ask my teacher about anything but when I did it always helped so much Well good luck
Degagé 2:00 refers to your foot “disengaging” from one position into another. The correct term to describe that excercise would be “Báttement Jeté” which is like a beat that is thrown. Degagé can even be in tondú actually, if you were to tondú from fifth to fourth or something like that.
Hi Katie, I have two questions for you 🙂 Also, I just want to tell you that you're amazing and inspirational. Your dancing is absolutely beautiful and elegant. Thank you so much for continuing your RUclips channels. I have watched most of your videos. My first question is: I've just recently started dancing and I take a range of classes, and I usually do 4-8 classes a week, usually 3-4 are ballet, and the others are turning, kicks and jump classes, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and lyrical. I find that I have trouble translating the mirror image of my teachers doing the choreography and find myself doing everything on the opposite side, and becoming lost trying to translate and pick up the choreography. I have watched your choreography video and I am an even mixture of visual and audio learning, but I can't do visual unless they are facing me instead of the mirror. Can you please give me any advice on how to learn the combinations without having to translate what's happening in the mirror? The second is: A few years ago I broke my foot badly. I completely severed my third, fourth and fifth metatarsals which then moved completely down parallel to where they were meant to be attached and left the second metatarsal hanging by a thread. This happened in a straight line across the balls of my feet. I have facebooked you the X-ray picture. I had surgery and had wires put in and my bones fused along the wires as they healed and then they pulled the wires out of my foot from between my toes. Do you think that pointe is a realistic goal for a foot that has been injured this badly. It is feeling fairly strong and so far I haven't found any odd pains or lack of strength. I ride horses and so my ankle strength and foot strength is excellent. I understand that this is something only a doctor could answer safely but he has no clue about Ballet and your opinion would mean a lot to me. Keep on inspiring x You're amazing ❤ Love Amy x
Question: Could you make a video on jazz expressions? My teachers always tell me to smile, but when I do, I look awkward as heck. I don't know what face to make and it's a big problem. Thanks!
Hey Katie ! I love your videos so much, they truly help me out a lot !! But could you please do a video on being discouraged, unmotivated, and just feeling like you're not good enough for ballet ? Thanks a ton :DD
Hi Katie! I was wondering if you had any tips for strengthening my muscles without "bulking up". I'm a rather petite built dancer, and I've been a little nervous recently about too much muscle mass particularly in my thighs and glutes. I want to stay lean, but I don't want to be "too big". Thank you so much for making helpful videos!! xxx
Yes, same! I cross train more than I dance and I'm always concerned about bulking up primarily my thighs but also my glutes and hip area! What are some things we can do to slim that area out?
Dancing For My Savior One thing you can do is Pilates. It doesn't bulk you up but at the same time it strengthens your muscles. it is great for ballet. Katie has a Pilates video so go watch it.
This reminds me of the ballet, Appolo where he dances with the three muses. In the various versions I have seen of it none of the ladies are smiling. It's not really one of those kinds of pieces and would look weird if they were.
It's funny but I think that expressions matches exactly the type of sequence you are doing. I think Allegros are really fun to do, It's even what that word means - FUN. Petit allegro makes me laugh cause it is the quicker Allegro and Grand allegro is more about the grandiosity of the feeling. Adagios are more like Lana del Rey state of spirit lol, and I really love them because I am more like an introspective person.
Hey I'm 15 and have always wanted to do ballet, but due to financial problems never had the chance, however my family recently got a little bit more money and is now able to afford classes. I want to become a professional ballet dancer, however I'm not sure it its too late, because people usually get hired around 18-22 with years of experience. As a ballet dancer, do you think its possible that I could still become a professional dancer?
Myrna Albini Yes, you could, I heard of cases, but as you said, you have years to catch up, so you need intensive training. A weekend course at a local dance studio isn't gonna work for a professional career. And another thing to consider is your body: you're 15, your body is pretty much grown up as a girl. Do you have the physical traits of a pro? You have to be honest with yourself and ask a specialist. Otherwise, you're never too old to dance or to take adult ballet classes. It finally comes to how good of a dancer you are and how much you enjoy yourself. Best of luck to you from Romania! 😘
Myrna Albini misty Copeland started around 13yo and her family was poor. So 1. it's not too late. 2. Practice outside of classes, at home, an empty room during lunch break and after school, find a free afterschool program that has dance, etc., and know ur dance history.
Looking at weight charts is not a priority in this case, it's not healthy to try to be a certain weight. Everybody has a different body, and you shouldn't be trying to achieve a certain weight, it's not the weight that matters it's how you look and how you feel. Just eat healthy, I'm a ballet dancer myself and I'm vegan, becoming vegan really helped the way I felt and looked! I myself started dancing at 13, now I'm 15 and I know that I have a lot of catching up to do but if you really love ballet and if you work really hard, it's possible :)
i have an exam today and i've gotten used to the mask and not smiling and it's hard to hold a smile or expression and i'm replaying the music and seeing the vibe.
I am so glad I found your channel! I am 28 and just now getting into ballet. I see that in a lot of your videos you mention that you teach online classes. Are your classes able to be taken by mobile divice?
Hi Katie! I have recently been talking with my teacher and parents about doing the daytime Professional Training Program and I was wondering if you have any advice for how I can show my teachers and parents that I'm ready and have the stamina and ability to do it. Thank you!
Katy! I was wondering if you could make a video on musicality (what is musicality and how to improve your musicality.) My teacher was saying how I needed to work on musicality. Even though I play the piano I don't know how to use it to help my musicality.
One of the corrections that Roni Mahler gives that is great, I'll paraphrase as 'Don't look like a distraught wili while doing your plies.' I love this comment because you often see serious young dancers taking themselves very seriously will put on a look of extreme effort and concentration with that wrinkle between the eyebrows, subconsciously or even consciously, to show just how serious they are about their work. Great for Giselle but not great for the barre. :p It can become a bad habit that looks like stress and someone that will be delicate emotionally and difficult to work with.
what do you think about TV shows like "dance moms"? I personally think things like that should not be allowed. It's horrible and I feel so sorry for the kids on this show...
I've been looking for videos of how to make a proper batterie, that's it, how to make changements battus and all kind of little jumps, but battus. I couldn't find any video of that kind in all RUclips!!! So if you accept requests, can you make a video of how to make the jumps "battus", please? Thanks!!!
I should send this video to someone from my instagram 🤣 I'm an adult beginner and I posted a fondu combo video and someone messaged me saying my face looked angry and unapproachable lmao. Its hard to do so much at once
My teacher and friends have told me that they really like when I look smug on stage, but I have never tried to look like that and I don't want to give the wrong impression to the audience. In which situations would that look be appropriate?
I'm always reaaally confused about which facial expression Raymonda should "use" in the female variation of the wedding pas de deux. All ballerinas I watch are with this serious, closed expression, maybe looking noble or something, never looking happy, as weddings in ballet usually are. I want to understand that.
Thank you so much for your advice !! But there's one problem .. That my ballet competition for second variation need us (the competitor ) to cheorograph our own .. It's either ballet+comtemp or ballet+jazz or +hiphop.. But now I'm struggling which genre should I mix with ballet .. I acknowledge that I have a stiff body :( what should I do 😔 I'm might be sticking with ballet+jazz Broadway .. But I'm scare that my ballet teacher said I'm not suitable for that 😔
hi kathryn i have really flexible feet that does benefit me but it is a disadvantage while i'm jumping all the time when i do something as simple as a saute my feet don't touch the floor no matter how hard i try i can do them if they r slow but in class we do fast ones which is what my big problem is. my heels lift off the floor when i get to the ground and i alsohave really short achilles tendons which also doesn't help any advice?
My mom always tells me to smile before every single performance i do. I was doing a lyrical solo in a competition that was about saying goodbye to someone you love and my mom was just like “smile Lauren you’ll do great if you smile”. LIKE NO MOM ITS SAD AND LYRICAL! I’m sending this to her every time she says that to me.
That reminds me of something my mom said after a performance I was in. It was a technical piece where emotion wasn't really needed but musicality was. The only thing she could say was that I should have smiled more. Really?
i know this is late but GOSH the moms. my lyrical is someone STRUGGLING in life and family and my moms like" SMILE or you wont make itttttttttttttttttttttttt" no matter how much I explain to her imma send this to her as well:) Ur so relatable lol
Yeah lol
This reminds me of the time i saw a person dancing to a thousand years smiling
Who else does the cheesy smile
I have the worst resting b*tch face and I'm always stressed about messing up. It took my teacher ages to get my face to look natural and pleasant!
kerry lousie crossland
I do too
Same
kerry lousie crossland OMG I FEEL YOU.
kerry lousie crossland omfg saaaame
RageQuitGirl I got a trick for that think of sweet things ur gonna do after this then if u have pets think of how proud on u or ur family too!
I'm don't train super seriously, but my dance company has a recital every year and one of my teachers has been trying to get me to smile and look pleasant for the past 8-9 years. My face looks like I'm having the worst time of my life even when I'm having the best time. When I try to put any emotion in, it just feels like I'm lying to the audience and myself, it's just not comfortable for me to do it. Anyone relate?
Amanda Stevens I don't dance but I sing classical type music and my teacher says I look like I'd rather be anywhere else and I've had judges ask me if I actually like singing. I love singing but it feels so unnatural to smile especially when I'm trying to focus on singing which involves actually moving my mouth. I'm working on it though : )
I can relate soo bad
JessicaPanda My advice would be to approach it like you are acting through the song, as opposed to just trying to remember to smile.
omg YES!! And sometimes I get self conscious that I’m smiling too much in class cause the other girls are concentrating so hard they’re not smiling (not that I don’t concentrate in class I do but it was just that group. I’m in a different group now)
yes, and i cannot hold the expression
I like your comment about feeling the music and feeling the character or role, and letting that guide facial expressiveness. After all, what is the art of dance vs. acrobatics? Expression of one's true spirit within. Art is the spirit made tangible, no matter what the discipline or form. I just went to a modern performance and one of the dancers, while she had a relaxed expression on her face, never closed her mouth. It was really off putting and it's about all I remember of what could have been interesting and well executed choreography. On the other hand, classical ballet - because of the incredible strength required to hold one's core and stability while balancing, leaping and turning - causes the core muscles to recruit all the other muscles it can, including the neck, mouth, face and tongue: none of which actually help one keep one's center. This results in tense faces and necks that can make even the most technically skilled ballet dancer look like an automaton having a bad day. When I reached the age of 40 I returned to ballet, and my teacher said, "You look like the only person in class who is having a good time". My response was: I am 40. Why should I even do a plie if I am not having a good time? I don't smile always, but I do radiate whatever I feel inside, whether it is concentration, serenity, or joy.
Ethan Feldman Love this comment 💕💕
Thanks, Kary. Keep dancing your spirit, always!
True
Do you have any exam/audition horror story's?
My ribbons came out once. My bobby pins came out another time ... I think
lol this is so late but last year during my SAB audition the shank of my point shoe snapped in half and i almost died and the instructor just gave me this look of “what the heck are you doing” i highkey thought i was going to die
Well, I'm in guard and we were at practice before the homecoming game and someone caught a toss and her fake nail broke and she bled all over the silk...
This is so helpful! I really bad habit of biting my lip while dancing so this is a much needed video!
Same! Nice to know it's not just me!
Me too
I'm one of those people who just look stupid making any face in general
Amanda Hall's facial expressions in her Kitri Entrance variation is a good example of proper ballet expressions
Omg almost everyone in yagp has that creepy smile look
yessss
All your videos are so helpful and also you make me laugh...it's very reassuring.
Can you do a video on how to not get nervous at auditions??
I am struggling with remembering the combinations at barre.
Maya Pope I had the same problem when I started dance. So, have you recently started dance or is ballet something unfamiliar to you? If so your brain isn’t wired for the demands that ballet bring my best advice is give it time! If you had trouble with a combination go home and practice that combination. But overtime it’ll get better trust me! Don’t get discouraged.
My teacher told me once that when you start at an older age, jumping right into it your brain doesn’t make the connection and translation from the brain to actually doing the work. Express you concerns to your teacher if it’s affecting the way you dance he/she is there to help
I know this is old, but I struggle to remember choreography a lot too, in every style that I do (I do like 6 or 7 different styles, depending on whether you see modern and modern-jazz as the same style or not).
What really helped me was when one of my teachers gave us different combinations for across the floor EVERY SINGLE CLASS. I'm not even kidding. It was legit every single class. In combination with learning a new dance almost every single class in another one of my classes and just doing so many different styles from different teachers, forced me to remember a lot of different dances and combinations for exercises.
I don't remember most long term at all, but it is insane how much this has improved my ability to remember choreography.
From my experience there is nothing that works better than just forcing yourself to learn very different things often. Not just things you do every single week. But entirely different things too.
If you want to improve your ability to remember choreography you could try to at least once a week pick a video online about a dance class or where they learn you a dance that you haven't seen before.
I hope that this will help you :)
Yes! Can you do a video on Epaulment too? Thank you Kathryn!
This helps a lot. My old dance teacher told me to always smile, but smiling on stage while doing a ballet routine just doesn’t feel right. My natural instinct is to show true emotion. I mean isn’t that what dancing means, emotion without words?😊
my ballet teacha always told me to smile. she was... horrifying. but I loved her 😂😂
Perfect timing! I have four auditions this weekend for SIs! Thank you!!
Do you have any advice for how to look sad in a ballet? Ex. Giselle in Giselle
Paige Higgins Yea I too am kind of puzzled when it comes to character say for instance Myrtha like how keep focused on the behavior of a character while doing the choreography
Paige Higgins I performed as Giselle last December and my 'trick' was staying focused on the story. Before the act started I thought about the story and how I would react. I felt that Giselle lent me her spirit just for that night and I always kept the story going on in my head. Once I get used to it, it wasn't really a big deal
Can you tell me Lucila Oliveira like how do you act as Giselle like how do you transform her behavior?
Melody Princess Serenity I only did the second act with my Ballet school. We didn't do the first act so it was easier
Oh I see and from the looks of there faces when I see a Giselle performance it's usually like a regal but 99 percent somber
What if you enjoy ballet? Sometimes it just makes me smile. Of course because I love it! Obviously it depends on what the emotion is but in barre sometimes I genuinely smile : )
I think that's different because that's a genuine, natural smile not a fake big cheesy grin
I literally just got out of rehearsal for Kitri! I can't wait to watch this!
hey so i am doing another ballet exam tomorrow morning, and it''s the Discovering Repetoire 2 exam. I have never done a disc rep exam before and the facials are a marking factor so I watched this! thank for helping me out :) ill edit this comment with how I did!
Could you please to a video on tips for audition pictures specifically arabesque photos!
Hi Katie! As an adult beginner your videos have really helped me to break down the steps to learn them faster. Please could you do videos on frappes and rond de jambes as these are the exercises at barre that I struggle with the most.
That was really helpful!!! Usually when I'm nervous in class or look at myself in the mirror and see something I don't like (which means almost every single time) I bite my lip and I doesn't look nice! So thank you!
Can you please do a video on stress?? Like getting worried for exams, auditions, competitions, and school performances.
Kathryn your smile is the best, I love 💘 it😘😘😘
I just found your videos and I love them! I am 16 and I have been taking ballet for 7 years and now I look at you as a role model. :)
Thank you, you helped me a lot because I'm not the best in facial expressions.
Katie, great advice! This also reminds me of the practice in yoga that you are actually looking at a certain spot (ex: in the air, on the floor, etc) when holding specific positions. (There's a word for it -don't recall it just now.)
Thank you, this really helped me. Thanks for always giving good advices with examples😊
You are literally the best!
Could you make this series? E.g. acting/facial expressions in Balanchine pieces, happy pieces, death scenes, contemporary, etc.
Can you do a video on partnering? I recently joined a partner dance club at my school and I'm having trouble connecting with some of the guys, particularly those shorter than me. My wing span is so long that turns sometimes look awkward when he reaches up and over my head. Even though it's not ballet, any and all tips would be helpful. Thanks!
Jackie Walsh i
Thank you so much! I have always been trying to figure it out
I am really enjoying your knowledge and sharing.
So very helpful.
Beautiful
Another great video once again! Really enjoyed it. Can you do a video on how to overcome a fear of turning en pointe? For example, I struggle with basic passe pirouettes. I know I can do a clean double, but on some days I get so nervous of falling that I can't even do a single! Tips?
Was at Lincoln center today to get my ballet tkts .... was thinking of you !!! Can't wait to see sleeping beauty!
Thank you so much this video was very helpful! I have a question about the topic of "pull-up". My teacher says that term all the time but I am a bit confused on what it actually means. Could you please do a video on pull-up? Thank you so much love you xoxo
Cool n Craftsy it basically means to try to lengthen your back and to not be all slouched over so in a pilè it mean to drop your shoulders and straighten your back
And you should also ask your teacher I’m sure that they will understand and be able to help you more in person then I can over a screen even if they are terrifying trust me I know I was always soooo scared to ask my teacher about anything but when I did it always helped so much
Well good luck
Could you do a video on sore muscles and injuries?
I love what you said about the big grin.I was always told the opposite.
Degagé 2:00 refers to your foot “disengaging” from one position into another. The correct term to describe that excercise would be “Báttement Jeté” which is like a beat that is thrown. Degagé can even be in tondú actually, if you were to tondú from fifth to fourth or something like that.
Great video and so timely for everyone.
Hi Katie,
I have two questions for you 🙂 Also, I just want to tell you that you're amazing and inspirational. Your dancing is absolutely beautiful and elegant. Thank you so much for continuing your RUclips channels. I have watched most of your videos.
My first question is: I've just recently started dancing and I take a range of classes, and I usually do 4-8 classes a week, usually 3-4 are ballet, and the others are turning, kicks and jump classes, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and lyrical. I find that I have trouble translating the mirror image of my teachers doing the choreography and find myself doing everything on the opposite side, and becoming lost trying to translate and pick up the choreography. I have watched your choreography video and I am an even mixture of visual and audio learning, but I can't do visual unless they are facing me instead of the mirror. Can you please give me any advice on how to learn the combinations without having to translate what's happening in the mirror?
The second is: A few years ago I broke my foot badly. I completely severed my third, fourth and fifth metatarsals which then moved completely down parallel to where they were meant to be attached and left the second metatarsal hanging by a thread. This happened in a straight line across the balls of my feet. I have facebooked you the X-ray picture. I had surgery and had wires put in and my bones fused along the wires as they healed and then they pulled the wires out of my foot from between my toes. Do you think that pointe is a realistic goal for a foot that has been injured this badly. It is feeling fairly strong and so far I haven't found any odd pains or lack of strength. I ride horses and so my ankle strength and foot strength is excellent. I understand that this is something only a doctor could answer safely but he has no clue about Ballet and your opinion would mean a lot to me.
Keep on inspiring x You're amazing ❤
Love Amy x
Thank you so much! I will try my best to use these tips I just have a hard time because I often bite my lips while performing.
hey katie, could you give tips on how to improve the calypso jump?
can you do a video on tips for ballet interviews? I have an interview this upcoming weekend and I really need advice. 💜
Question: Could you make a video on jazz expressions? My teachers always tell me to smile, but when I do, I look awkward as heck. I don't know what face to make and it's a big problem. Thanks!
Hey Katie ! I love your videos so much, they truly help me out a lot !! But could you please do a video on being discouraged, unmotivated, and just feeling like you're not good enough for ballet ? Thanks a ton :DD
THANK YOU OMGG
Thank you sooo much my ballet exam is in a month so this helped me so much!
Hi Katie! I was wondering if you had any tips for strengthening my muscles without "bulking up". I'm a rather petite built dancer, and I've been a little nervous recently about too much muscle mass particularly in my thighs and glutes. I want to stay lean, but I don't want to be "too big". Thank you so much for making helpful videos!! xxx
Yes, same! I cross train more than I dance and I'm always concerned about bulking up primarily my thighs but also my glutes and hip area! What are some things we can do to slim that area out?
Dancing For My Savior One thing you can do is Pilates. It doesn't bulk you up but at the same time it strengthens your muscles. it is great for ballet. Katie has a Pilates video so go watch it.
+Dancing For My Savior contortion will help you strength train and tone and elongate muscles
Abby on Pointe pilates girl
Thank you, I really needed this!
I always thought the face was one of the main things to 'command the audience'
Daph Duck
in my classes, it's the Concentration Face. It's hilarious
yes but only where appropriate like centre work and rehearsals/performances
This reminds me of the ballet, Appolo where he dances with the three muses. In the various versions I have seen of it none of the ladies are smiling. It's not really one of those kinds of pieces and would look weird if they were.
I dont do many auditions but thank you this will really help for my exams
It's funny but I think that expressions matches exactly the type of sequence you are doing. I think Allegros are really fun to do, It's even what that word means - FUN. Petit allegro makes me laugh cause it is the quicker Allegro and Grand allegro is more about the grandiosity of the feeling. Adagios are more like Lana del Rey state of spirit lol, and I really love them because I am more like an introspective person.
0:49-0:56 lol! I enjoyed your wit there :-) You illustrated your point clearly.
Very interesting and useful!🌹🌹
Hey I'm 15 and have always wanted to do ballet, but due to financial problems never had the chance, however my family recently got a little bit more money and is now able to afford classes. I want to become a professional ballet dancer, however I'm not sure it its too late, because people usually get hired around 18-22 with years of experience. As a ballet dancer, do you think its possible that I could still become a professional dancer?
Myrna Albini Yes, you could, I heard of cases, but as you said, you have years to catch up, so you need intensive training. A weekend course at a local dance studio isn't gonna work for a professional career. And another thing to consider is your body: you're 15, your body is pretty much grown up as a girl. Do you have the physical traits of a pro? You have to be honest with yourself and ask a specialist. Otherwise, you're never too old to dance or to take adult ballet classes. It finally comes to how good of a dancer you are and how much you enjoy yourself. Best of luck to you from Romania! 😘
Myrna Albini misty Copeland started around 13yo and her family was poor. So 1. it's not too late. 2. Practice outside of classes, at home, an empty room during lunch break and after school, find a free afterschool program that has dance, etc., and know ur dance history.
Looking at weight charts is not a priority in this case, it's not healthy to try to be a certain weight. Everybody has a different body, and you shouldn't be trying to achieve a certain weight, it's not the weight that matters it's how you look and how you feel. Just eat healthy, I'm a ballet dancer myself and I'm vegan, becoming vegan really helped the way I felt and looked! I myself started dancing at 13, now I'm 15 and I know that I have a lot of catching up to do but if you really love ballet and if you work really hard, it's possible :)
Myrna Albini ⬆️
Yes you can my ballet teacher started dancing when they were 18 and they’re amazing dancers you can do it!
Great video, Katie! Thanks :)
Thank you so so much!!! you helped me tons!!
i have an exam today and i've gotten used to the mask and not smiling and it's hard to hold a smile or expression and i'm replaying the music and seeing the vibe.
Hi Katie, thank you for all of your wonderful video's! I was wondering, would you ever go back one day to teach at SAB or another ballet school? X
Love this. Thank you
Thank you so much for this!
I am so glad I found your channel! I am 28 and just now getting into ballet. I see that in a lot of your videos you mention that you teach online classes. Are your classes able to be taken by mobile divice?
Hi Katie! I have recently been talking with my teacher and parents about doing the daytime Professional Training Program and I was wondering if you have any advice for how I can show my teachers and parents that I'm ready and have the stamina and ability to do it. Thank you!
Thank you so much! I needed this lol
Katy! I was wondering if you could make a video on musicality (what is musicality and how to improve your musicality.) My teacher was saying how I needed to work on musicality. Even though I play the piano I don't know how to use it to help my musicality.
Sorry about how many times I used the word musicality.
what exactly is musicality? or rather what are auditioners looking for in terms of musicality?
I actually have an audition tomorrow! Thank you
Aubrey Madelyn Same!!!
You look exactly like my Ballet teacher. Ha!😀
Kate lives to dance SAME!
the video is very helpful.I will tell you good job.
maybe you could do a "how to improve your musicality" video for those of us who aren't great with keeping up with the music??
I always have such a focused death stare at barre and my teacher always tells me to smile
I’ve noticed frequently young dancers seem to have exaggerated raised eyebrows when they dance. Is that a thing they’re told to do?
If your in a musical theater a smile is needed but in ballet it doesn't matter whether or not you smile or not.
Hey Katie, could you do a video over entre trois and cinq. I struggle knowing the difference during class.
Yes that would be very helpful.
This is not really related to this video, but could you do a make-up video for your "Disney Me" or natural look? Thanks
Base it on a smirk and then go from there I think and really listen to the music
I also purse my lips together. AND ONLY IN BALLET😫 ugh it bothers me a lot
I am from Brazil
One of the corrections that Roni Mahler gives that is great, I'll paraphrase as 'Don't look like a distraught wili while doing your plies.' I love this comment because you often see serious young dancers taking themselves very seriously will put on a look of extreme effort and concentration with that wrinkle between the eyebrows, subconsciously or even consciously, to show just how serious they are about their work. Great for Giselle but not great for the barre. :p It can become a bad habit that looks like stress and someone that will be delicate emotionally and difficult to work with.
What do you do if your normal pleasant face is a big grin, because you're genuinely having so much fun?
what do you think about TV shows like "dance moms"? I personally think things like that should not be allowed. It's horrible and I feel so sorry for the kids on this show...
I've been looking for videos of how to make a proper batterie, that's it, how to make changements battus and all kind of little jumps, but battus. I couldn't find any video of that kind in all RUclips!!! So if you accept requests, can you make a video of how to make the jumps "battus", please? Thanks!!!
I should send this video to someone from my instagram 🤣 I'm an adult beginner and I posted a fondu combo video and someone messaged me saying my face looked angry and unapproachable lmao. Its hard to do so much at once
aka the 'stage-mom smile'
My teacher and friends have told me that they really like when I look smug on stage, but I have never tried to look like that and I don't want to give the wrong impression to the audience. In which situations would that look be appropriate?
Miriam Roach Coppelia, Balanchine's "Who Cares?", any playful pieces.
1:36
When Katie posts a video
What if I naturally smile when I dance whatever I do. Is that bad?
How do you survive a role that you've been given that seems above you?
I'm always reaaally confused about which facial expression Raymonda should "use" in the female variation of the wedding pas de deux. All ballerinas I watch are with this serious, closed expression, maybe looking noble or something, never looking happy, as weddings in ballet usually are. I want to understand that.
I'm so fascinated with ballet and your channel lol thank you
How should I be for Snow in Nutcracker?
Thank you so much for your advice !!
But there's one problem .. That my ballet competition for second variation need us (the competitor ) to cheorograph our own .. It's either ballet+comtemp or ballet+jazz or +hiphop.. But now I'm struggling which genre should I mix with ballet .. I acknowledge that I have a stiff body :( what should I do 😔 I'm might be sticking with ballet+jazz Broadway .. But I'm scare that my ballet teacher said I'm not suitable for that 😔
Im thinkig of strarting ballet but i dont know if i should do it and i cant do a split no matter what i do i cant do it
I have a problem with sticking my tongue out when I'm concentrating, unless I know how my expression it can be out. How can I stop that?
0:30 is it okay if I'm in color guard and our last movement is called joy?
For smiling..i forgot how to smile..so how do I get my smile back?
hi kathryn i have really flexible feet that does benefit me but it is a disadvantage while i'm jumping all the time when i do something as simple as a saute my feet don't touch the floor no matter how hard i try i can do them if they r slow but in class we do fast ones which is what my big problem is. my heels lift off the floor when i get to the ground and i alsohave really short achilles tendons which also doesn't help any advice?