Hi! My name is Kirsten, and I am former professional ballet dancer turned High-Performance Coach, helping dancers break through the mental challenges that block them from dancing and feeling their best.
TwinTalksBallet is my outlet to serve the world-wide community of dancers through weekly videos that speak to the specific mental, physical, and strategic challenges that dancers encounter in their training, professional careers, and the commonly unfathomable existence beyond. Here, I share vulnerably about my own journey as a dancer, and, as a professional mindset coach, thought-provoking questions and insights that call dancers to a healthier, more objective perspective.
This isn't just an online space to learn how to get your splits, it's a place for dancers to understand their mind, their motivations, and their potential beyond what their body can do so that no matter where their path leads them, they can proceed with confidence and joy.
What you say is sooo true! And the problem isn't only in ballet. In ballroom dancing, one partner can be initiating on the beat, while the other is arriving on the beat. And each dancer thinks the other person can't hear the music. What a mess!
Interesting take. I am a professional equestrian and the perfectionism required in Grand Prix Dressage and Jumping is similar to the perfection required in ballet. I am also an instructor. If I am teaching a class in which the student's goal is to become professional it is different than a class for stdents who like to learn dance for fun and exercise. In horsemanship we also have both, and I teach the two types of classes extrememly differently. In the professional classes I am strict and always pushing for just a little more. I don't coddle complainers and if a young student complains too much I talk to the parents. Who really wants the child to do ballet? The child or the parent? In recreational classes I take a much more laid back approach and overlook many sloppy attempts, as long as they dont endanger the student. We deal with physical movements in which we can hurt ourselves, which is why I am strict about breaking ever move down into tiny bits and build perfection from the ground up. I had very STRICT, not mean, instructors as a youngster and they helped me achieve my goals. I think people today cant handle positive criticism, are overly sensitive and have the power, through social media, to take their frustration out in ways that are retaliatory. If you cant stand the heat get out of the fire.
Omg 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Dance is an expression of the apreciation for music This hit me so hard... it is so true and so beatiful. It made me cry because it is the purest reason i chose to let this artform grown big inside me, and never got a word that could clarify this to my consciousness
“I begun dancing at 4 but wasnt serious about it until i was 13” Man dance world parameters are fucking insane. I think it is the only profession where your 4 year old life can count in your curriculum. It isn’t even your own life choices.
Oddly, I'm not a dancer, I'm a singer rehabbing from a vocal injury. Your videos have been so helpful in facing the anxiety, the feelings of loss, the attack the injury has made to my self-worth, I highly recommend them to anyone in the creative arts.
Ughhh my dance teacher, constantly puts other students in the spotlight and shows favoritism.(side note I dance flamenco as a recreation) I absolutely love your channel it has helped me immensely with having to deal with how I react to her and other students
I regret not getting other opinions when my Skating Coach said it was Skating or Pointe. He said Pointe will stiffen up your knees for skating. I had planned to dance professionally as young as I can remember. Then at 10 added Figure Skating. I wanted both. However my family made me choose.😪❤️❤️
The "whole person" topic is spot on. It reminds me of an interview with a very good ballroom dance couple. They said they were interested in all kinds of art, music, theater, and would often add an extra day when traveling to competitions in order to visit a museum or take in the local culture or something. They said "our dancing is inspired by the world of art". A few years after that interview they became world champions.
I really want to begin ballet as a 21 year old, I'd love to make it a part of my life in any signifigant way but if I could go pro at this age as an adult I'd love to, but it's not my goal immediatley just a dream, rn just to start taking classes, get good tecnique and get on pointe eventually when I'm ready.
I think this is one of your best videos (even though I tend to think that about every video that you make) because I feel like this is a mentality that is so prevalent among dancers. I'm very excited to apply this new mentality in my dancing. Even just thinking about it as I was listening to your video I felt so much relief as all these mental blocks that I put up because I felt like I wasn't good at anything were finally challenged by what you said
I Love this video so much!! My teachers always said I was a natural turner. When I got back to ballet as an adult. I was shocked when I did a double piorette when I thought my singles felt way harder than I remember. Then I started having doubts which made no sense to me until your video. I never questioned as a kid, how to make them even better, I just heard it from teachers and parents. They actually would say, Oh your strength is in turns, your jumps need work. I was very inflexible in my thinking then. I can really understand what your talking about here.😊💝
I'd like to confirm that talent means nothing. I have observed so many untalented dancers rise to incredible skill levels with just a healthy portion of discipline and good teachers along the way. Excellent video!!!
This video was incredibly helpful! So many important points to consider as a teacher. I think every dancer/teacher can relate to each experience. I have much more room for improvement cause if I get better then my students get better👍🏽 such a beneficial video❤
I wish I'd had you as a teacher when I tried to pick up where I left off of ballet in my early 30s. I took classes and did performances from 5 to 11. For some reason my parents didn't continue funding my lessons right when I was about to advance to en pointe. It really devastated me so I promised myself I'd continue someday when I grew up. Then I joined an adult class at my college and got constantly ignored by the teacher because she only cared about her star performer who was 10 years younger and more graceful than me. She ignored everybody else in the class actually. I got so angry watching that girl showing off I rage quit. I should have just taken a private class. You have so much good advice here and really care about your students!
I’m just wondering, is it really hard to get into the ballet program? I want to go to the U for a ballet major and I’m worried that I might not be able to get in.
