Quitting Gymnastics and starting dance??

Question

I've done semi-competetive gymnastics for 2 years and I'm kinda bored of it. I would like to start ballet and acro. Do you think I should start dance, and do you think my experience with gym would help me become a better dancer. I would like to start pointe, so do you think I might be able to go on faster then usual since I already have really strong ankles and legs (I know I would have to learn all the ballet steps and names and stuff too) Thanks!

Answer 1

well itook gym for about q year during my dancing and i had a really arched back which is BAD for ballet/dance

i think you should stick to gym

Allie

Answer 2

Hi Mishi,

Let me start off by saying that just because you're getting bored of gymnastics doesn't mean it's a good idea to quit.  I was quite bored of ballet around my eighth year (I'm pretty sure I was 12 or so around that time); however, had I quit, I wouldn't have become the dancer I am today.

In addition, dance and gymnastics are likely to go hand in hand quite nicely.  I am reasonably sure, though I am not a gymnast myself, that if you took dance concurrently with gymnastics, you would be able to apply one to the other and vice versa and become a better gymnast as well as dancer.

However, if you are intent on quitting, I'll answer your questions.  I think physically, your gymnastics will assist you and perhaps push you a little bit ahead in your classes.  You're already strong and know a thing or two about taking care of your body, flexibility, and control.  However, artistically, I think you'll have a lot to learn.  Obviously, classical ballet is very artistic, and gymnastics does not really prepare you properly for ballet in that aspect.  Also, mentally, ballet class will be a bit of a surprise.  It's much harder and not only do you have to be strong and flexible, but you have to apply them correctly so as to not hurt yourself, as well as making it look like it's the most pleasant and natural thing in the world, rather than painful and difficult.

Pointe is a different aspect altogether.  I think there is no way in a million years that if you walked into a ballet class and said you had two years of gymnastics under your belt, they would start you en pointe sooner than everyone else.  While your experiences strengthening your ankles and conditioning your legs might help you a little, you also have to be quite strong in the deep core ankles and muscles that are extremely difficult to strengthen.  Here my answer to a question I answered earlier today:

"To get onto pointe, you need to have very strong muscles in your feet that are very difficult to strengthen. Like Tomato said, it's very helpful to get an exercise band (or Theraband™) for strengthening ankles and deep arch muscles. Try these websites for exercise bands:

http://www.discountdance.com/frame_set.p...

http://www.thera-band.com/store/index.ph...

Some exercises I recommend are the following. First, you want to strengthen your calves and ankles, which can be done by doing multiple relevés or "killers". For your first time I recommend 64, and progressively increase in number each time you do them (usually I increase by increments of 8). I recommend using music for that, so if you have a ballet CD, or even just some of your favorite songs, play that while you're doing your killers. This exercise should burn in your inner thighs and calves. It strengthens the inner thighs, calves, ankles, and tarsels.

Next, you want to take your towel or resistance band and put it flat onto the ground longways. Sit down in front of it and put your foot on top near the edge. Now, scrunch your toes in and out, in and out so that the towel or band moves toward you. Once you get to the end, turn it around and do it again. I would recommend this rotation twice on your first time, progressively increasing each time you do the exercise. You should feel it in your entire ankle, inner arches, and upper arches. This strengthens the deep supporting arches, tarsals, metatarsals, Achilles tendon, and deep core muscles in your feet, which allow you to safely and securely go en pointe.

Your teacher will look for the following things before letting you go en pointe. First, they will want to see that you can go on 3/4 pointe in regular ballet shoes or barefoot. 3/4 pointe is involves going up not completely on the toes or rolling over, but right in the middle of the pad of your toes. This requires strength and you may not be able to get it and hold it immediately, but as your feet strengthen, it will get easier.

Next, your teacher will want to see impeccable technique en flat. You can't be expected to safely and effectively perform steps en pointe if you can't safely and effectively perform them en flat. You will need at least a triple pirouette in impeccable form, excellent barrework, and good stamina.

Your teacher will also want to know that you've been dancing ballet for at least 4 years, give or take depending on the level of professionalism of your school. Obviously, there are exceptions, but most of the time the school is pretty strict about their minimum experience requirements and abides by them."

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

That will give you a basic idea of what you need to do and what your teacher will expect of you before you go en pointe.  For help with ballet terms, please visit ABT's Online Ballet Dictionary:

http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/...

Good luck and hope this helped.  Remember, always feel free to contact me with further questions.♥

Answer 3

wow, that answer was perfect.

a releve

- start with bent knees (or in plie)

relevé ["raised"]. A movement in which the heels are raised off the floor. The rise may be smooth or aided by a slight spring, depending on the school. A dancer in such a position is said to be "in relevé."