Finding Freedom Amongst Constriction

Personally, work in ballet class centers itself around taking the wide kinesthetic sphere I usually have in a contemporary class and shrinking it until it fits like saran wrap over my body. My awareness in ballet starts from the inside and extends to the surface of my body. I look at where my body naturally sits and I reposition it so that it is better suited for efficient classical movement. This inside to outside approach goes from bones to muscles, and I sense these changes by using my nerves, my proprioceptive self if you will. My familiarity with the steps allows me to focus more of my attention on the placement of my body in relation to my vertical plane. Consequently, the work for me doesn't stop when the class is over. Work becomes an everyday occurrence, constantly making sure that my body remains in this aligned vertical position so that, when I arrive to class, I don't have to spend unnecessary time finding the vertical. For me, the effortless look of ballet stems outward from this place of intense placement and boundedness.