It's probably also because if you look towards the bottom of the audience, from their point of view, it seems like you're looking down. Always keep your chin up!
Mine says that you should dance to the people at the very top of the second balcony because those are the people that love the ballet so much that they come back every night. So they can’t afford expensive tickets.
I love your comparison to skaters. I’m a figure skater and started ballet as a supplement to my training. It’s become so much more than that to me though and I really hope I’ll be able to teach one day, despite starting late.
I'm so sorry Karen about your struggle. I hope your sons can get the help they need. Keep fighting for them and align yourself with good professionals and other mothers who have been through this and triumphed so you can get the encouragement and support that you need. Good can happen!
Brenda Anne Du Faur thank you so much! Actually things improved somewhat in the last three years with both of them. We are all works in progress. Ballet appreciation entered my life when I needed it the most ( about 5 years ago) Just yesterday, after another morning of Covid, Politics, Heat, etc ( we are having a heat wave in my region), I watched the Royal Ballet’s re-broadcast of The Sleeping Beauty. ❤️ Stay safe Be well Have Hope!
Hi. Ms. Kathryn! I'm Carl from the Philippines 😊 I've been watching your videos since last year and I have been getting a lot of very helpful insights from your videos! Starting late in ballet, your videos have helped me progress as I can say, a little bit faster than normal. My friends actually ask me what was my secret and I just tell them, I have a ballet teacher online (who probably doesnt I know I exist) and I link them your channel. I can't thank you enough for being generous to us, your subscribers, for sharing your knowledge to us. I wish you all the good things in the world and Merry Christmas!!! 😊
So good to have this video to share with my students. I can tell them the same things and it does them good to hear it from your lips and experience. Thank you for being the voice of caring common sense and inspiration.
Thank you so much! Because of you (and my hard work) i placed runner up in the finals and got another award. I'm doing inter found at rad awards. Thanks
I am not a dancer and do not ever plan to be, but watching your videos about dance is so interesting to me! I am a performer, but of music. Funnily enough, the big ideas are pretty similar. Playing with musicality is more important in pushing you ahead than playing with good technique, for instance. Anyways, thanks for the video, very interesting! X
I feel like if you are Clara in the nutcracker that's only who teachers notice. It's not fair to people like me because the Clara's at our studio are 4 feet and 5 inches. They were taller but every year they got shorter and I missed my opportunity. I try my hardest every class but because I'm not short my teachers don't like me. Your videos help and inspire me to get noticed but it's hard for me.
I'm so early oh my gosh, I love you so much you have helped me through so much in my dancing, especially starting late and still wanting to be a professional
This was really helpful to me as a classical instrumentalist- I'm always amazed by the crossover between art forms and the need to transcend technique is universal. I'm a bassoonist in college and was first drawn to learning about ballet when I found the similarities between making bassoon reeds and treating pointe shoes. I applaud you and thank you for sharing so much valuable information on this channel :)
Kathryn, I love u soo much I have an audition tomorrow and watching all these videos r helping sooo much, even the old ones. I just want to say thank u and u r the best
Thank you so much for this!!!! Very tired of seeing people ignore musicality and artistry for tricks. I hope this helps convince people of what's important!
Thank you so much! I just competed at YAGP today and remembered your tips! I danced Prelude, from Les Sylphides and it really helped to remember dancing for the whole theatre.
I just got told that I'm in my ballet school's production of Napoli, in May. So exited to start rehearsing! Found this video really helpful (as all your other videos. You're channel is truly amazing and really inspiring!)
This video is literally the most helpful video I have ever watched in my entire life. Thank you so much Kathryn! I'm dong Esmeralda and Princess Florine variation at YAGP Chicago in January, and you've helped me so much.
Hey Kathryn, I'm in need of some advice! I am going to audition for SAB this coming audition season in hopes of being asked to stay for the winter term. My dream is to be in the New York City Ballet! I have attended PNB, Walnut Hill, and Ballet Chicago for summer programs and have been asked to stay at two of these places; but it did not work out. My concern is that even though I have some of the Balanchine aesthetic built into me, am I too old to be asked to stay at SAB? I just turned 17 as of this last November. Would they even consider me? I look up to you, you're such an inspiration to young and old dancer. You have such a drive and love for this art form and I hope you make videos forever because they are so helpful! Thank you so much for all that you do with this channel and I hope you continue to make amazing videos! Thanks!! -Sam
I’m doing Esmeralda Act 1 variation (not the one that everyone knows) and probably one from Paquita for the Miami International Ballet Competition. I saw that you will be a judge, I’m so excited!!
great video ! I have a competition next month and I'm doing bluebird . Could you please do a make up tutorial or suggest me which of your stage make up looks is more suitable ?
This video was so so so helpful! Thank you Kathryn! I am thinking of auditioning for the SAB summer intensive, but I feel like they won't even look at me because I have not danced much in Balanchine style.
Just make sure you use solid ballet techniqye! A lot of students at SAB didn't know Balanchine style before auditioning and still got in. That's what the school is for, to teach the *style* of Balanchine. I have a friend who is Vaganova trained, quite the opposite of SAB, but got accepted because she has artistry and technique, even though she didn't know the Balanchine style well/at all, apart from watching RU-vid and learning on her own.
i need help. my foot is REALLY flexible, as i used to walk on my toes when i was younger. so i am wayy over the box, have no support, scared to dance and i feel like i am going to snap or break my foot. i currently wear bloch european balance and i need someones help what shoe has the hardest shank! i feel like i am the only one and i am scared that i am going to injure myself.😟
I have the same problem, I wear capezio with an elastic instead of a drawstring, I still have problems but it helps a bit. I was also told to wear double backs as they are extremely strong
Wow you are so much like me, I had trouble going over my box and I had Bloch European Balance too! I was going to get my second pair but they were out of my size. I ended up switching to Capizos and got a shoe with a harder box and now I don’t have that problem any more. I will try to find the box I don’t remember what they were called. Sorry I spelled a lot of words wrong
Not doing a competition this year, but I'm doing a pas de duex with my friend. The wedding pas from sleeping beauty for his spring talent show!! I'm also in the corps of Paquita both act 1 and 2. I'm a spanish dancer (or a matador depends on who fits what costume.) in act 1. I'm a corps dancer for Act 2, it's my first role in a platter tutu!!!!!
Thank you for the reminders & encouragement. Next weekend is YAGP NC ~ I'm doing Gamzatti & Coppelia. Today I'm driving to Harid for the Houston Ballet audition. Your videos are so helpful. Love listening to you. Wish I could meet you. 😊 💗Hannah
This video was so helpful! I'm not doing a ballet variation, but I have a competition this February for a new - classical piece. I was wondering if you could make a video about favoritism is class and how to deal with it. Some teachers at my dance school are very harsh, and they play favorites all the time. I feel like I will never have a chance to shine because of those teachers, and it's hurting me and making me less confident about myself and my dancing.
Hi Katie, thank you so much for this video, I have a competition in January and I'm doing La Fille Mal Gardee (the 2nd act Lise) and it's incredibly fast yet you have to be so calm aghhh😒 but this gave me so much confidence so thank you!!!💕💕
Hi Kathryn! Loved this video so much. I'm doing Grand Pas Classique next year, this tips are so important, thank you so much for making this video. Love from Chile
I'm dancing Aurora wedding variation next year. I've seen your comentary about the wedding, but can you make a video helping me how to really play that character well ? Like you said there are going to be lots of other girls doing it and I wanna stand out. I usually stand out because of the artistry (my technique is not the best in the room) but Aurora seems so tricky to embody lol
Think about what's happened to her so far. She's getting married to her true love who saved her from an evil curse. She's still young and vibrant, but a bit more mature now that she's getting married and growing up. She goes through a lot, channel that joy into your dancing and it'll shine!
I'm dancing Raymonda (the slow one) and talisman for YAGP. What do you suggest for getting into character for those roles? What should I focus on? Thank you!
Yeah i could go to a really good ballet school but its reeeeaaally expensive and it sucks, but I guess its fine because I live in tokyo and even the smaller schools are pretty high level. Im still kind if bummed though
Do you have any tips for building upper body strength and technique? My teacher says I have great legs and feet but i need to work on my upper body. I'm not really sure what to adjust!
Hi Ms. Morgan! Next Friday I’m doing the Launceston city competitions (which is one of the largest competitions in Tasmania, Australia) in the under 14s classical solo class and I’m only 12! Then the Tuesday after, I’m doing the Burnie eisteffods ( which is the next biggest ) and am in the same section again. I’ve been watching some of your tip vids so what would you recommend for arabesques or double pirouettes or even just make up! Pls reply!
This video really helped me so much! I am doing YAGP for the first time this year, and have been stressing, but these tips helped. The variation I'm doing is Kitri Act 3, any tips on the character? Thank you Kathryn!
I'm auditioning for abt summer intensive and Huston ballet summer intensive. Should I go for a triple pirouette in a combination or a double. Is it bad if I only can do a single on the other side?
I would work really hard at the studio and at home to get at least a double on the other side. I would practice your pirouettes on your bad side twice as much as your pirouettes on your good side.
I went to both abt and houston and at the time of my auditions my turns weren't great. I could barely squeak out two on pointe. If turning isnt your strong suit, try to make sure you're seen in something that is. Usually I play it safe in auditions and only do as many turns as I know I can do without a doubt. The people teaching and assessing the class will appreciate quality over quantity. : )
When I auditioned for ABT there werent, but my audition for houston did have fouettes. Luckily at auditions there isn't a lot of space, so they were only asking to see 8-16 I believe. But the teachers know that everyone learns fouettes at different times and with different styles, so if it's something youre not good, it doesn't mean you won't get in. There was a girl in my audition who fell down during hers and I saw her that summer
I have to agree about just being honest about yourself and just dance like you want to be there. I have a question about eye contact in Ballet class such as spotting and I am terribly poor at do you have any suggestions?
Hi Kathryn ! I'm probably going to do YAGP next year, but I haven't picked a variation yet. Do you think that the 4th Raymonda variation ( I think it's called La Claque, 3rd act ) is great for competition ? Btw I'm 16. Thanks a lot, love from France !
It’s really sad but the best performer doesn’t always win. So many of these competitions are bought and paid for and winners have been chosen before they even perform. It’s the sad truth. There is definitely money that changes hands. Competitions are money makers.
