10 things i would say to my younger student self at Vaganova

[@lucy-zh8uc]

Number 7 really got me. As a ballerina I sometimes get to this mindset where I regret social interactions or a "normal life" because I think it will affect my ballet training and that is not true! We all deserve and need a social life because is our nature as human beings. I never heard someone speaking about this and I think is a very important matter. You have all my respect, Isabella!

[@ursula868]

A lot of dancers think there is something noble about continuing through pain and injury. It's not like going to battle wounded, where the fight will be over within 24 hours. Your body is the only one you get and it has to last your entire career. When I hear stories like yours, or Shale Wagman's terrible injury while dancing at Mariinsky, it breaks my heart a little bit. Opportunities will come and go, but injuries can be career ending. Injuries when you're young and have barely even begun your career are soul crushing.

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

It’s not just dancers. It’s also athletes, men in general, and women and men in military or emergency response careers. The “pushing through pain“ mindset is always being praised by sports commentators when somebody ignored an injury and won the gold medal for example. That is heroic. On the other hand, complaining is a sign of mental and physical weakness and for military etc. a sign of cowardice, which is one of the worst possible insults. In the past 20 years, the military etc. are making much bigger efforts to offer mental health services and to normalize using those services. I’m not sure if sports have progressed at all unfortunately. If you worked your whole life to go to the Olympics, and you hurt yourself in the warm up, every athlete is going to choose to compete even if they’re told it will make the injury worse, or even that they might become permanently disabled later. They will feel convinced that if they don’t compete, they will regret it forever in addition to having wasted at least four years of their life trying to qualify. Under those conditions, the threat of making the injury worse or even of potential future disability is a nebulous concept which might not happen. It’s very easy to believe it’s noble to ignore the pain and the fear and to compete. The Hollywood ending would be winning the gold medal. Then the athlete will be praised and all the up-and-coming kids in that sport will be told how great this person is for pushing through the pain. I don’t know if change is possible. The invincibility mindset is a psychological self-defense mechanism which is very powerful. I know because I had it too and I pushed through the pain … Trying to convince highly motivated, competitive and ambitious youngsters to report injuries and illness is going to remain very difficult, I fear. I’d love to hear any suggestions, though. PS. I love Shale Wagman. He is incredibly gifted. I just watched some of his videos from when he was around 10 years old. Breathtaking.

[@arbaros22266]

HI Isabella, I've been loving your channel! Listening to you talking about the difference between the RBS and Vaganova to me just screamed a video in itself, I would love to hear about everything (teachers, mentality, training, the other kids, the audition process, the rigors, styles, why is Vaganova so much harder...), I believe Maria Khoreva and Claudia Dean made a video like this together, but I feel like you have much more perspective as youf have been to both..

[@balletwithisabella]

I’ll do more of this then!!

[@arbaros22266]

@@balletwithisabella Thank you!!

[@snabeyratne]

Wonderful presentation. Full of sharp observations, keen insights, and valuable tips. Enjoyed it very much.

[@tiffcat1100]

Ditto ❤

[@pmart6461]

Love this video! Please share more with us. I danced many years ago and I dreamed about training at the Vaganova school. Now it’s truly a joy to see and hear about your experience . You’re a lovely dancer and a wonderful teacher. You inspire me to put my dancing shoes back on! 😁

[@katarinarabekova3396]

You are a great teacher and inspiration. Your talks and podcasts always hit the spot, whether is it making me realise I should change something, that I'm doing something wrong, making me realise new things, gaining new experience or getting motivated, thank you very much!

[@averycutecat1852]

please have more such videos -- they are so helpful! I had knee pain several months back (from dancing and skating). I kind of ignored it and pushed myself through the practice until I had to wear knee support to practice. The teacher suggested anti-inflammatory diet, salt bath, and physical therapy and my knee pain reduced a lot since then. It is so easy to ignore the signals from the body even as an adult student.

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

That was really great. Thank you for being so honest. I am not a ballerina, but so many things apply to me as well.

[@trevormorris-kk7bp]

😊self understanding so important in life and ballet which you have demonstrated so well!

[@terapode]

What great advices, they are fit for any sport. I wrote them down and will pass on to my jiu-jitsu students. Thank you.

[@georginareid3828]

So much respect……. 🙏thank you for the honesty……. Your obviosly a very intelligent young lady and there are so many interesting points in this video ….

[@hanqing10]

Truly an amazing video! I'm sure your tips and encouragement could work for those who are going to a larger ballet school with vigorous training.❤❤

[@brendastevens9077]

This helped very much. Thank you, Isabella!!😊🌸

[@lauragolphenee5914]

What wisdom you are sharing. I would think you could be a guest speaker for any person or organization.

[@vivv1667]

More videos like this please!

[@karennorris7880]

Hi Isabella, Why don't you audition for American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet or Boston Ballet? We would love to have you in America! 😊

[@GB4011]

Maravilloso video. Escuche atentamente y valoro cada consejo. Graciassss!!!!

[@dudamendesmili1071]

I found your channel recently and have been loving everything I’ve watched so far! Have you ever made a video on your daily routine in vaganova? Because in this video you mentioned that even though you already trained 6 hours a day, it was different there, could you explain how so? I think that would be really interesting! Thanks for making such inspiring content!

[@dianesheridan1014]

Excellent information, thank you for your insight 🥰

[@takumihoitsuka5670]

❤️❤️❤️❤️☺️thank you so much.

[@junebug2705]

Love these videos!!💖💖

[@MelHunt-bu6no]

Beautifully articulated ❤️❤️❤️

[@annicarbone6643]

Potresti mettere dei sottotitoli in italiano? Grazie

[@rachelo8294]

Why was the floor sloped?

[@balletwithisabella]

Yes very!! 😅

[@surquhart64]

Theatres are sloped in Europe/Russia as it improves the view for the audience, and intensifies the sound. It was an idea developed from earlier theatre ideas which date back thousands of years. An example are ancient Grecian theatres which were built in the 'round', with the audience seating sloping upwards, away from the stage in a circular manner. Better for viewing and acoustics. It gained momentum and developed in the Middle Ages, when plays and dramas became more available and popular for the common man, becoming more pronounced in the modern era. Also called a 'raked' stage. The stage slopes downwards from the back curtains towards to Orchestra pit, and the audience seating and wings slope upwards away from the orchestra pit. In ballet it requires intense work for the muscles/joints, and a reset of your balance mechanisms as it can throw your sense of proprioception 'off'. Especially if you're used to a more level stage.

[@user-ct6wu3zv3n]

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[@alizevalencony9068]

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