Merde

When my sister and I were little, we had the opportunity to try a lot of different sports and activities. At various points throughout my preschool, elementary, and middle school years, I played soccer, baseball, and volleyball; took swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, tennis, gymnastics, piano, and voice lessons; and joined swim team, math team, and Girl Scouts. I also - for a couple of short years when I was very young - took ballet. 

I wasn't good. 

I actually wasn't good at much of what I listed above; soccer and singing were the only two arenas in which I ever shined. But I enjoyed dabbling in all of those other arenas except baseball...I HATED every second of the short season I played this dreadful sport.

So I left ballet behind, at least until Hallie started dancing nearly 12 years ago. As she became more and more invested, I became - by default - more and more invested as well, and a few years ago a handful of moms and I started talking about how we should probably try ballet ourselves. We knew ballet would be good exercise, and we thought taking a class or two might also help us better understand our daughters and their passion. 

The studio we attended prior to this year wasn't able to add adult classes to its schedule, but our current studio was willing to give it a try...and the rest, as they say, is history.

I went into my first class at the beginning of January with a positive attitude but low expectations - I knew I wouldn't be good at ballet, and while I was committed to trying my hardest and sticking with it for the semester, I was worried. Worried I would embarrass myself. Worried I would embarrass Hallie. Worried I just wouldn't be able to do it. Worried I'd hate it. Worried I'd love it. I worry a lot.

But it was fantastic. Our teacher, Mrs. Aya - who is also one of Hallie's teachers and an Artistic Director at Elements Academy of Dance, which she owns with her husband - is a wonderful teacher. She met all of us moms exactly where we were (which was the VERY beginning) but has also started pushing us every so slightly out of our comfort zones as the weeks have gone on. She is patient and kind, explains everything in ways that make sense to people who don't have a dance background, and doesn't make us feel bad about our lack of flexibility or the amount of time it takes us to grasp a new skill. 

Our very first Thursday class...

...and our very first Tuesday class.
Some of us come every week, some of us drop in when we
can. Some of us come either Tuesday or Thursday, some of
us come both days. Everyone is welcome anytime!

After our first class, many of us made appointments to be fitted for and purchase our own ballet shoes. (If we were going in, we were going ALL in.) Within the first month, it became clear that the studio could add a second adult ballet class...so now I'm taking ballet twice a week. 

My goals as a ballerina aren't lofty - I just wanted to try something new, and now that I'm invested, I also want to learn how to move my body in new ways and to improve. Unsurprisingly, I have no desire to take the stage in The Nutcracker or "go pro" 😂 - the simple ballet life is the life for me.

~

Want to join us? We're a no experience required, no pressure, no judgement group, and we'd love to have you. Send me an email (erinlferris at yahoo dot com) if you'd like more information about our classes!