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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
