Can I Do Ballet If I Don't Have A Dancer's Body?

[@jutta3378]

I wasn't born with a dancer's body but always harboured a secret love for ballet. I'm now in my 60s and rediscovering my "secret love"! I find your tutorials so inspiring and joyous, so glad I found your channel. Thank you, dear Tiekka, for making the beauty of ballet accessible for all shapes and ages.

[@everydayballet]

Thank YOU!!! Your kind words warm my heart. I’m so delighted you are enjoying my videos!🙏🥰🩰🌸

[@kaylajames9334]

I am totally blind and I am trying to do your ballet workout. I did one today and I am not sure if I did all of the moves correctly but I tried. Thank you for your channel. I have dance ballet a little bit before but was still a beginner and the teacher that taught me I think she and I weren’t working out for her classes, but she was the only one who teaches the visually impaired ballet. So thank you for this channel and I hope I can do well.

[@everydayballet]

You are most welcome! I’m so glad you are doing ballet with me! I imagine you must have good body awareness and muscle memory… My teacher used to put me in the corner of the studio where there were no mirrors. She said, “Tiekka, you must feel your movement; not look at them.” This is so true! I hope you find helpful guidance in my words and descriptions. Welcome back to ballet!💖🩰🌸

[@michellethiesen7972]

I'm 225lbs and physically disabled. I've been doing ballet (from both your channel, and Kathryn Morgans) every couple of days as well as walking and gentle stretching every day. I've been taking things slowly because I don't want to hurt myself. But I've already noticed how much easier it is for me and I've lost some weight. I've loved ballet since I was a child and never though I would be able to dance ballet. I'm so happy and excited at what I've already been able to accomplish and I can't wait until it gets even easier and I feel comfortable to take in person classes.

[@everydayballet]

I’m so glad you are doing ballet and enjoying it! It sounds like you have the right approach of moving with steadiness, kindness, and respect-Bravo!!! And I am absolutely delighted that you are enjoying my videos and bringing ballet into your life. Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey! 🙏💕🩰✨

[@izzydraws464]

I’m a curvy dancer and often having body issues. Feeling like I’m not skinny enough and not fit enough. Seeing this video makes me feel so much better. That all bodies are different and sometimes we have to make modifications for ourselves to make it better. I do have a question though, what if I can never perfect any of my moves? For example my arabesque and middle splits, I can’t get my middle splits and my arabesque isn’t high enough. What if I can never get them right, does that make me a bad dancer?

[@everydayballet]

I’m so glad my video helped you feel better! High arabesques and middle splits are not what make someone a wonderful dancer! Artistry is so much more important than “perfect” moves. I encourage you to be patient and diligent as you work on your technique. At the same time, exercise your JOY! The more you allow yourself to feel good and engage your body with respect, gratitude, and delight, the more your unique beauty and spirit of dance will shine through and utterly eclipse any perceived “imperfections”. I hope this helps! 🙏💗✨🩰

[@izzydraws464]

Thank you so much!

[@tammygant4216]

I'm one of those nontraditionally shaped dancers. I started as a much older dancer and I was /am pretty fluffy and curvy too. I definitely had to /have to battle my internal judgey critic many days...but I love ballet too much to give up that fight. Great words of encouragement in this video. I think it would have been an even stronger message to show nontraditional dancers in action. Even more encouraging. Thanks for validating those of us who do this despite the stereotypes. All the best

[@everydayballet]

I’m so glad my video resonates with you. Most of my students are “non-traditional” (I like that descriptor! And I agree about showing that, which is available on my website.). Hope you’ll join me for more ballet! 🙏💕🩰

[@xochilguevara3429]

Looking forward to the modifications video!

[@everydayballet]

It’s coming! 🥰✨🩰

[@patriciacoveney1]

Me too

[@JGreen-le8xx]

Tiekka always looks amazing! ❤😍😇

[@everydayballet]

🙏💖🩰😊

[@uatz]

Literally a fairy godmother younger version

[@everydayballet]

That’s so sweet of you 🥰🙏

[@especiasuy]

Hi, Tiekka, I hope you are doing great. I've just watched this video because I'm, yet again, trying to figure out something about being overweight and taking up ballet. I signed up for classes to start in February; what I'm looking for is to correct my posture, gain mobility and flexibility, keeping in mind that I need to get back in shape since I'm already 34 and I don't want to age like milk. I need to lose about 50 lbs I gained in the last ten years, which make me hate the way I look. I know that muscle tone, core strength and posture will make wonders for my current state, but is it realistic to expect to lose weight significantly? I've been researching online and the girls I found taking up ballet in conditions similar to mine haven't lost much weight, yet their progress is remarkable. It's worrying me already and I haven't started. I'll be walking a mile to the studio and back (it's my everyday walking routine since two months ago), so I guess that's helpful, and I'm introducing changes in my eating habits. What are your thoughts on this? Thank you so much! I love your channel!!

[@everydayballet]

It sounds like you're making some wonderful changes, and I'm so happy to hear you are adding ballet to your life!!! In addition to strengthening, stretching, and toning the body, ballet is a journey of self-discovery that can build great confidence and joy! As you describe the weight you want to lose and the way you currently feel about your body, I find myself hoping you will begin your ballet training with the objective of bringing more delight to your life. Yes, ballet will shape your body in ways that will make you look taller, leaner, more graceful, etc. But how much weight loss is associated with this transformation is not knowable, as each person is different. That said, I have found that when a person engages their body in a joyful and kind way, the focus shifts to the happiness they feel and staying motivated becomes effortless. Finding joy in your body is fundamental to helping you love yourself (no matter what the scale might say on any given day). And when you are no longer hating the weight or the way you think you look, I can promise you that your body and mind will feel so much lighter!! AND I am sure that doing ballet regularly will help you lose weight over time. I've seen this kind of transformation in others and it is SO INSPIRING to witness someone grow in skill, compassion, and personal joy! This is my wish for you. 🌸🩰💖

[@especiasuy]

@@everydayballet thank you so much for your beautiful and thorough reply! I really am choosing ballet instead of other physical activities because I think it can bring something to my soul that's been missing for a while... I played the piano since I was a little girl, but after my teacher passed away I was devastated, and several things that followed that event hurt me deeply, and I haven't been able to go back to it (it's been almost five years). However, I still keep my love for classical music and I feel this is a very suitable way for me to find the path home again, albeit from a different direction. I always found ballet fascinating but from a distance because, as many, I thought I was too late to the party. I feel this reconnection will help me rebuild my original self and widen my horizons. I'm not saying I will magically get back to playing the piano like I did by talking up a new activity somewhat related to it; I feel this will help me channel my grief over it, easing my mind and my soul, and finding new motivation may allow me to break this negative circle. I think I can find courage to face music again, to face my image, and with the advantage of doing something good for my body as a result of using it to enjoy myself in spirit. This makes sense in my head, I hope I am being coherent.

[@everydayballet]

Thank you for your thoughtful response. I am so sorry for your loss and the grief and trauma associated with the death of your piano teacher. I hope that you find healing and hope on your journey. As someone who knows and loves classical music, I think you are so right to choose ballet as a possibility! That said, different teachers have different approaches, and not every ballet teacher will instruct with compassion. As you are probably well aware, professional ballet has a particularly brutal reputation, and many teachers believe in a perfectionistic standard that leaves a less-than vibe in the room. So I would just say that if you find your studio experience leaves you feeling less-than, unseen, unsupported, or in any way treated with unkindness, THAT has to do with the instruction and NOT ballet itself! I started Everyday Ballet as a love letter to ballet and the very tender, exquisite part of a person that longs to know its grace, beauty, and power in their own lives. I have found that compassionate instruction is the key to experiencing profound meaning, connection, and expression through ballet training. AND it makes for incredible progress!! Please remember that the beauty you feel is Beauty that IS ALREADY IN YOU. If somehow the ballet training is compounding your negative feelings about yourself, it may be that 1) you are being very harsh with yourself, or 2) your instructor is bringing a sense of harshness/judgment to the training. If it is the latter, please consider changing instructors rather than giving up on ballet! I KNOW that ballet can help heal your fractured sense of self and bring a new sense of meaning, beauty, and joy with it! 🥰🩰

[@especiasuy]

@@everydayballet I've heard that several times online since I started developing an interest in ballet. I will definitely take that into account. I chose the studio of a well accomplished dancer from my country, and former director of the national ballet company. As a side note, I also know his sons, who went to the same school than me. I asked for an interview (they actually recommend having the interview before signing up), and it was held by one of the teachers. After that I met the director. They were very kind and reassuring, and their approach is to prioritise students having a good time while making progress. Last week I ran into the younger of his sons on the street, who greeted me enthusiastically and already knew I signed up (he teaches there sometimes, and has his own studio). It feels very promising and welcoming, but things can always happen. I'm really glad to have taken this step. I will definitely let you know how things go when I start!!

[@Ikigai747]

Whats the issue with not getting accepted at ballet schools just coz u dont have a perfect ballerina body, that's such a ridiculous concept!!

[@everydayballet]

Yeah, the competitive ballet world is brutal and unfair that way. 😔 Just know it’s not a reflection on you or your dancing! It is, as you say, ridiculous! 💕🌸🩰✨

[@Ikigai747]

@@everydayballet People like you are the reason this world is alive today. You really make it a better place I mean it. Thank you for existing, lots of love from India .❤️

[@Jiafei.YeHuanXiang]

@@everydayballetProbably makes those companies missing out on many talented dancers, some of the best ballerinas I’ve seen don’t have a “ballet body” and are so stunning and full of emotion in their dance.

[@dewiarianti5354]

can i be a ballerina without taking course? Thankyou

[@springytalks]

Hi! As a ballerina myself, I can tell you that you can definitely practice at home and even learn some ballet movements! But, the truth is that you most likely won't be able to become ballerina without taking professional ballet classes with a ballet teacher. Sure, there are many videos that can teach you a lot, but the biggest problem with learning ballet through videos is that person teaching you in the video cannot see you, nor any mistakes you make, so they can't give you any corrections, wich could lead to you doing ballet movements incorrectly, wich is very dangerous. Ballet is incredibly difficult and technique is super important. Without a proper technique or without any supervision of professional, there is really low cha ce you could learn ballet or do it professionaly. Of course, I don't wanna discourage you, becouse everything si possible if you really want to make something happen!💕 I wish you all the best, good luck with training!

[@dewiarianti5354]

@@springytalks thankyou

[@everydayballet]

As mentioned in the other comment, becoming a professional ballerina takes a good 10 years in the studio with a very good ballet teacher. However, it is possible to learn the basics and enjoy ballet training for fun through a comprehensive video program. I offer accessible explanations of some basic steps for beginners in my other KZbin videos, so that’s a good resource. My online program has even more guidance! That said, there is nothing that replaces having personal feedback and corrections in a studio setting because every body is different. But you can learn a lot at home! I hope you will try it! Just go slowly and pay close attention to the details. My programs are designed for people to learn ballet for themselves in a safe, fun, and nourishing way. I am also a professional ballerina and generally speaking, professional level technique takes intensive, supervised training over many years. But you can definitely explore and love your Inner-Ballerina with a home practice! Hope this helps! 💕🌸🩰

[@everydayballet]

🙏😊💖🩰

[@dewiwinarko9648]

@@everydayballet thankyou :)