So you want to dance: Part 6 of series Part 8 of series Postings discussion This link allows you to see others thoughts on this piece and contribute to the debate yourself if you want. We look to guarantee this link for a number of years, though after 3-6 months the page may be closed to further additions. Ballet.co's Doing Dance forum reviews by Anjuli Bai

This raises a very interesting question and it means walking a very fine line. It is true of both children and adults that the ballet makes demands on the body that it would not ordinarily be asked to do in general life. If you are the parent of a young student or you are an adult student, you need to take responsibility for what happens in class. There are demands which have a reasonable goal and a reasonable chance of success. We are talking about dance for mostly recreational learning and enjoyment, rather than strictly for a vocational goal. So, for the sake of this conversation I am going to avoid discussing training at a vocational level, though of course that also means one must work with great care and thought.

I know dancers are very limber and flexible, what happens if I can never do a split?

Well, dancing is certainly not about doing splits. One can work toward a full split, but the success or lack thereof in dance is not dependent upon attaining a full split. This is true of all the different types of flexibility; turnout, height of extension, backbend, etc. There is a difference between working thoughtfully toward these goals and being consumed by them. Your teacher should guide you carefully to work to your best, not a preconceived best, a dogmatic best. Your individual best. There does come a time when you have to be satisfied that what you have obtained is your best. Every body has limitations.

Maybe if I just stretch all the time......?

Stretching is something that should be done only when completely warmed up, for maximum safety and efficacy. And, it should be done under the supervision of a knowledgeable teacher. A good rule is nothing to excess, this includes pain. Actually, it especially includes pain.

Are there any things, props, machines that can help?

I think it's another good rule to avoid any artificial means. The body stretching against itself such as in doing a proper grand battement; or the body stretching against the floor, such as in trying for a split or leaning forward across outstretched legs; or the body against the barre, is fully sufficient to produce the desired goal. All stretching should be done under the guidance of a teacher.

And, I would add, don't let anyone push and pull you around. It is much safer for your body to stretch against itself, than to have anyone push and pull you around. A simple touch to indicate what is needed is enough, in my opinion.

Someone in class told me that my knees aren't straight enough, and someone else told me that my feet aren't arched enough.....

Well, it's always one thing or another that seems to need "fixing." But how and if it gets fixed is the rub. Everyone one has a different construction to knees and legs. To some extent one can work, by correctly using the ballet exercises, to rectify some problem areas. But it has to be remembered that there is a point beyond which the body will not go without great harm accruing. If you have naturally bowed knees (to whatever extent) this is something that can't be changed. You can learn to work with it, around it, and make it look better, but you can't change the basic structure. Unfortunately I have heard and seen some horror stories of dance students, and I am sorry to say some dance teachers, who did some pretty drastic things to try to alter the structure. One only goes down that road at great risk.

Suppose I am asked to do something I don't think my body should be doing?

Well, here's the fine line I started talking about earlier. You have to make a decision - it's your body and you are going to end up living in it long after your dance classes are behind you. You have to make choices. Many students are terribly intimidated and want to please the teacher and do what everyone else is doing, and therefore simply can't find the fortitude to say "no." But, sometimes the answer has to be "no." I have had that happen to me and I simply told the teacher quietly that I could not do it because of the risk I would incur. A responsible teacher will accept that, and even be glad that you told her.

Could you give me an example?

Yes, I can. I discovered that by doing grand plies (except in second position) I was putting my knees at risk. So, I faced the choice of either eliminating grand pliés from my vocabulary of movement, or end up with an early exit from dance. I can't tell you the time I had telling various teachers along the way that I would do two demi pliés instead of one grand to fulfill the demands of the music. Teachers glared, classmates sniggered, but the choice was mine. I chose the health of my knees. I have to say that after eliminating grand plié from my movement (except in second position) it never affected my dancing at all and I danced on for fifteen more years.

You are the guardian of your body.