The Balanced Ballerina

I am loving exploring the Discovering Repertoire syllabus with my students.

This particular group are having so much fun working through the Level 2 Class exercises and I’m so proud of them for tackling any challenge I throw at them!

Before anyone misinterprets what I’m saying…

I am absolutely not talking about the very real and valid reasons people sometimes need to take a step back.

Life is complex and I respect that completely.

I’m talking about the everyday quiet opt-out. The ‘this is a bit hard so I’ll just…not’ drift away from the things that challenge us, grow us and remind us what we’re made of! 💪🏼

Ballet taught me to do hard things and I’ll never stop being grateful for that lesson.

Would love your thoughts on this topic… 👇🏼

The moment my students walk on stage, I’m immediately transported back to what it felt like to be them. Waiting patiently in the wings. That strange cocktail of terror and excitement we call adrenaline.

I find performing nerve racking. I always have.

But watching my students perform? That’s a whole new level of nerves unlocked. Because now I’m feeling it for them too - all of it - and I can’t do a single thing except stand side stage and hope with my whole heart that everything they’ve worked for comes together in three minutes.

What people don’t always realise is that their teacher is right there with them - feeling every step, holding our breath during every balance, living every moment.

We’ve stood where you’re standing. We know exactly what it takes to walk out there.

Which is why we are so incredibly proud every time you do.

Last year I entered a relatively small, packed studio to take an open ballet class.

Absolutely no air conditioning. No windows. It was so hot that the mirrors were foggy.

Very different to my climate controlled studio that everyone still complains about being too hot or too cold… 😅

I nearly passed out from the heat. I also couldn’t stop smiling.

There’s something so magical about a room that’s just a little too hot, a little too full and completely alive with movement and energy.

Take me back there…

I’ve been thinking about all my adult ballet students who transition from studio to street after class… this one’s for you!🩰

Whether I’m running errands or squeezing in a meeting between classes, one of my quiet goals this year has been to pull myself together in an instant AND not spend my entire life looking like I’m permanently in activewear.

Completely random goal, I know. But here we are. 😄

For everyone who will ask — the bodysuit is from and I own it in navy too. I just checked their site and this particular one doesn’t seem to be available anymore, but they have plenty of other beautiful options worth a look. 🤍