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

Introducing Amelia Sierevogel

Amelia Sierevogel when she first attended Fiona Noonan's ballet class

© 2017 Amelia Siervogel: all rights reserved
Reproduction kindly licensed by the copyright owner

Amelia Sierevogel

As a new contributor to this blog, I should like to introduce myself. My name is Amelia Sierevogel and I’m currently on my placement year, studying BA (Hons) Costume with Textiles at the University of Huddersfield.

I’ve always been interested in the world of ballet but never took classes as a child as I studied gymnastics instead. My parents were able to finance only one hobby each for my siblings and me. I gave up gymnastics aged 16. For two years between then and starting university, I was rather unwell. I had contracted glandular fever and was beginning to suffer from severe migraines.

When I moved to university I wanted to find an activity that I could invest myself into both physically and mentally to help improve my health. Of course, I naturally chose ballet having always wanting to learn it.

I took my first ever ballet class aged 18 with Fiona Noonan in Huddersfield. A teacher who is most inspiring. This class was also where I first met the lovely Jane Lambert – a lady I find most knowledgeable and passionate about ballet.

When I first started ballet I used to sickle my feet, twist and sit in my hips and my jumps were awful – I was like a spring that couldn’t quite articulate through my feet! However, I still had flexibility from being a gymnast as a child and with strengthening exercises, sheer determination and the help of Fiona I corrected my errors and it’s safe to say I have progressed quickly.

As I am currently on my placement year, I’m not living in Huddersfield at the moment. Instead, I moved home and started to commute to my placements to save money. Of course, this meant I needed to find somewhere to continue taking ballet!

So I enrolled myself at Ripon Dance Academy. I first attended their adult class, which was taken at a steady pace and was enjoyable, but I didn’t find it particularly challenging. Instead, Miss Carole and Miss Laura, the wonderful teachers at RDA, suggested that I attend their intermediate ballet class. I started this class the following week. The age range in the class is from about 14 to 18 and now they have me aged 21. The girls in my class are lovely and so talented, Miss Laura works us hard and I feel that I am being pushed and challenged. I have learnt so many new steps over the last seven months and in November was allowed to start pointe work! – a truly magical experience.

Currently, in class, we are preparing for a Showcase, which will take place at Ripon Grammar School on 2 April 2017. I’m very excited but I’m also quite nervous, as I haven’t performed on a stage for about six years. This performance will be spectacular for Ripon Dance Academy and I’m sad that I will be saying goodbye to them after this performance.

This is because I shall be travelling to Australia for four months to undertake my placements in the costume departments with the Australian Ballet and Opera Australia. This will, of course,l be an amazing experience and I am looking forward to it! Naturally, I will also be looking to take class in Australia and watch performances.

Ever since I started two and a half years ago, I have found my stress relief, health fix, enjoyment and passion in ballet. I strive to improve and become the best dancer I possibly can. None of which would be possible without my amazing teachers or other classmates. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you as a young adult dancer, reflecting on classes, reviews of performances and dance products, and perhaps some insider costume knowledge.

Amelia x