DianeW88 and other ballet moms - my dd would love some advice from your dancers

[CindyH in NC]

Just a little background: My dd age 12 has danced classical ballet for 6 years now but has only taken multiple classes per week for the last 2 years. She completed her first year on pointe in May and is working very hard preparing to audition for a more intense preparatory program. This summer she will be attending 2 week long ballet intensives in our local area - one of which will be at the school she plans to audition for in August. While she is not naturally flexible she continues to work hard at improving in that area.

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However she struggles with learning combinations quickly. Does anyone have tips or techniques she could practice to help in this area? I have looked online but we haven't found anything practical for her situation ( ie. she doesn't have time during class to write down the steps in order and by the time she changes she is no longer sure about the correct order ). She tries hard to concentrate and pay attention but this is a struggle for her. She would love any tips from girls and moms who have found ways to improve in this area. Thanks a bunch.

[DianeW88]

I'll ask my dd this afternoon when I see her. Honestly, what has probably helped her the most is being dyslexic. LOL She sees things whole to part, and it is very easy for her to quickly envision and entire piece and then she mentally breaks it down into steps. She memorizes combinations freaky fast.

 

I can tell you that most serious dancers will mark out the combination with their hands and feet standing in place while the teacher is giving it. This helps your body understand it better. All dancers have a combination "shorthand" that they do with their limbs. It's funny to watch.

[I talk to the trees]

 

I can tell you that most serious dancers will mark out the combination with their hands and feet standing in place while the teacher is giving it. This helps your body understand it better. All dancers have a combination "shorthand" that they do with their limbs. It's funny to watch.

 

 

I agree with all of the above. My dd's teacher always had the girls "walk it and talk it" - do the shorthand moves and say the combination out loud- before they actually ran the combo. Dd would even say the moves when we were walking the dogs or walking through a parking lot. She is a very verbal kid, so this really helped her.

[LadyR]

I don't know if this is a factor, but we have noticed that sometimes dancers who have the same teacher for awhile get used to their style and their combinations, which are often the same or very similar for each class. Then when they have a different teacher for class (or at a summer intensive or a master class), they struggle a bit.

 

I wonder if doing memory exercises at home would help, especially sequence memory.

[DianeW88]

My dd said that if your dd is struggling, have her ask if the class can mark the combination first.

 

Also, what kinds of combinations is she having a hard time with? Across the floor combinations in class or choreography? Because all dancers take a while to learn a variation. Repetition is the key for that. My dd writes down the choreography for any new roles she has to learn. She will also practice her part off to the side in the studio when the ballet master is concentrating on someone else. The best dancers are never sitting on their bums during rehearsal.