Back To The Pointe

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It’s been months since I last wrote a post here, and until last week it had been ten weeks since I had last attended a ballet class, and here’s the reason why.

Shortly before Christmas 2017, I came out in a horrible black bruise all the way from my third metatarsal to my ankle. I thought I’d broken my foot, as it was quite painful to walk on never mind dance. I had an x–ray and soon found out that it was not broken, but instead that I had tiny fibre tears all along my peroneal tendon. I was advised to take a break from ballet. With the Christmas holidays approaching that wasn’t a hard task, but I was wary, as I had booked onto The Ballet Retreat, which was in Leeds, on the first weekend of the New Year. I did attend The Ballet Retreat and I had a wonderful experience there, meeting such wonderful people within the ballet community. My foot seemed fine, so I returned to my classes as usual. Within a short space of time the pain came back, so I stopped. I gave my foot a chance to recover and I focused on my studies.

As a final year student studying costume, I lead a very busy life.  Particularly over February I wasn’t able to attend any classes, as I was just so busy. With my dissertation finished now and a costume, portfolio and textiles samples left to complete, it’s been hard to find time to do anything but my degree.  I love my course and the work I am producing, but I also love ballet.  

I felt the need to return to ballet both physically and mentally. I could feel my body and mind needed to dance. So finally after a long ten weeks away from ballet, I made time to attend a ballet class last week. The class was at KNT Danceworks in Manchester, with Karen Sant. I took the pre intermediate class and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I used to take the following class and the pointe class after the pre intermediate class, but as it had been so long since I had last danced I decided to take it easy. I was also conscious of my studies and the time it takes to travel back to Huddersfield, and therefore I left after the one class, as I didn’t want to have a late night. To be honest I felt worn out, my body hadn’t been worked properly for months. I grinned to myself though during the class as I started to plié and tendu, the exercises coming back to me through my muscle memory. It felt so good to dance. There are many things that I need to work on now that I used to do with such ease, but I was delighted to be back in class!  

With less than 10 weeks until my final ever university hand in, I’ll be squeezing in what I can of ballet, but soon I’ll be able to plié and pirouette as much as I like. Bearing in mind my foot though, I’ll be taking my comeback slowly. I think it’ll be a little while before I put my pointe shoes back on, but I hope to return to it soon and the wonderful classes I had been taking with Fiona Noonan as well as those at KNT.

I love ballet and I always will, it’s been heartbreaking to have taken so much time away, but it has been beneficial, for I have comeback stronger and with an increasing desire to dance! Ballet is fantastic for the mind and body.

As for my university work, I enjoy it despite the long hours. My project is on The Firebird and if you would like to see what I have been working on the last few months, please feel free to check out my Instagram account here.

Amelia x