It's problem page time again on DREAMCATCHER, and reader Anael has a question for Summer Tanberry...
Anael says:
I started doing ballet at five and it's my passion, always has been and always will be. I do pretty well in my ballet exams, especially the last one, Grade Three. I'm now well into Grade Four work amd the exams are approaching fast. The trouble is, I started exam Practice lessons later than everyone else, so I don't know the exercises as well as I should. It's not just me with this problem but the exams are very close and I have three exercises that need a lot of polishing up. I've managed to catch up on the main dance, but the rest needs a lot more practice! We cannot pay for extra lessons so that's not an option... can you give me some advice?
Summer says:
It sounds as though you are a bit of a perfectionist like me... which makes this a real challenge! Although time is short, try asking your teacher if you can attend any extra classes in exchange for helping out with the younger ones or helping behind the scenes at dance shows. This has worked for me in the past, so has to be worth a shot! If not, get together with a couple of dancey pals and go through your moves... you can help each other. My dance school always gave out music CDs, downloads and tapes to help us practice at home, and that is the main thing - go through your music and your exercises over and over until you know just what you're doing and it all feels natural. If you put the work in now, those last few lessons will help hugely - it will just be a case of listening to your teacher's suggestions for polishing those moves. At the end of the day, all you can do is give it your best try. You may do better than you think, but if don't get a merit or a distinction this time, that's OK. There were reasons for it, and no ballerina gets perfect results every single exam. Learn from this and make sure that next time you are able to attend all the lessons from the start... and move on, with confidence, to the next grade! Best of luck!
Cathy says:
I remember the time and effort my daughter put into practicing for her ballet exams... it's genuinely hard work, and much dedication is needed. As Summer says, chin up and do your best! Have YOU ever had to work for a dance exam? Do YOU have advice for Anael? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!
Anael says:
I started doing ballet at five and it's my passion, always has been and always will be. I do pretty well in my ballet exams, especially the last one, Grade Three. I'm now well into Grade Four work amd the exams are approaching fast. The trouble is, I started exam Practice lessons later than everyone else, so I don't know the exercises as well as I should. It's not just me with this problem but the exams are very close and I have three exercises that need a lot of polishing up. I've managed to catch up on the main dance, but the rest needs a lot more practice! We cannot pay for extra lessons so that's not an option... can you give me some advice?
It sounds as though you are a bit of a perfectionist like me... which makes this a real challenge! Although time is short, try asking your teacher if you can attend any extra classes in exchange for helping out with the younger ones or helping behind the scenes at dance shows. This has worked for me in the past, so has to be worth a shot! If not, get together with a couple of dancey pals and go through your moves... you can help each other. My dance school always gave out music CDs, downloads and tapes to help us practice at home, and that is the main thing - go through your music and your exercises over and over until you know just what you're doing and it all feels natural. If you put the work in now, those last few lessons will help hugely - it will just be a case of listening to your teacher's suggestions for polishing those moves. At the end of the day, all you can do is give it your best try. You may do better than you think, but if don't get a merit or a distinction this time, that's OK. There were reasons for it, and no ballerina gets perfect results every single exam. Learn from this and make sure that next time you are able to attend all the lessons from the start... and move on, with confidence, to the next grade! Best of luck!
Cathy says:
I remember the time and effort my daughter put into practicing for her ballet exams... it's genuinely hard work, and much dedication is needed. As Summer says, chin up and do your best! Have YOU ever had to work for a dance exam? Do YOU have advice for Anael? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!
Thank you so much Cathy for putting my dilemma on the page, and thank you Summer for your very helpful advice! Thank you so so much, I really appreciate this!
ReplyDeleteIf you like my post please post a comment! Thanks!!!!!
Anael! XXXXXX
I think you should just dedicate your spare time to it and use YouTube to help you because you want to pass this exam
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind advice. I will definitely try that! I hope you enjoyed reading my post!
DeleteAnael! XXXXX
I love you summer. Summers drea mis my favourite book, I read it for the first time then as soon as I finished I went back to the start and read it again. I dance as well but ballet, jazz and lyrical✨
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool! Thanks for reading mu post!!
DeleteAnael! XXXXX
Yeah I go to a dance boarding school in L.A! Sorta like the one that summers friend Jodie went to, but with ballet, jazz, and contemporary/lyrical!! I have even met some of the dance moms characters and they are amazing✨
ReplyDeleteI am Tayla_Dance btw if it comes up on my sister Sophie's account
ReplyDeleteSummers dream is my most favourite book ever,it is so realistic and emotional I just love it! I have read it like 5 times.
ReplyDelete