Ballet State of Mind

Ballet work is multitasking. It is a daily struggle for perfection. You have to come in focused and ready to work hard. These are constants and are embraced by most of the students in our class. Something missing though is the particular mindset I utilize when approaching a ballet class. Yes, work is striving for proper alignment and muscle use, but it is also a state of mind where you tell yourself you look beautiful and you are capable. There is also a degree of acceptance that some things won’t be happening today. Our bodies reset every day, meaning they may not be on the same page as our heads or where they were the day before, so something that went great yesterday could be the hardest part of class today. But by opening our minds to this and allowing our bodies and mind to catch up eventually, the act of taking class can feel less like actual work. It can be something you genuinely enjoy. Getting rid of the expectation to be perfect all at once, you can embrace the process and getting to know your body. Not to say you are working any less, it may actually allow you to work better because there is nothing negative floating around in your head. There is a point also where you have to trust your body to do the right thing so you can enjoy the feeling of dancing and moving. A positive, open mindset will make ballet class and the never- ending work involved a much more satisfying endeavor. And for me, it is an integral part of how I work in ballet class.