Tiny Dancer? I think not.

November 26, 2008 9:30 PM

I took two years of ballet when I was 15-17, and loved it! I got hooked, took it about 4-5 times per week, and worked so hard that I ended up starting pointe before heading off to college. Its been almost 10 years, but I want to get back into it. Wrench in the works: I'm more roly-poly than teeny-weeny.

I have tried yoga and incorporating other exercises into my life but after continuously avoiding the gym, I've realized that I need to be absolutely absorbed in whatever exercise I'm engaged in to stick with it. I loved ballet and went to every class excited (and it definitely helped my self confidence, because I was a quick study) and I think it'd be a good way to bring back some enjoyment (and movement!) into my life. However, I've gained quite a lot of weight since then (almost 50 pounds, in fact.) I've got terrible self esteem as it is, and my weight gain has even brought about quite a bit of social anxiety (I mean, hell, I'm even using my sock puppet account for this question.) Ballet seems like the worst possible endeavor for someone struggling with weight issues since its no secret that the environment of ballet is one for lithe young things. But I find myself doing pirouettes every time I'm sock-clad on a hard wood floor, and I really want to find a gentle way to get back into it.

So, my questions for you, Mefites: Is there a gentle way to get back into ballet for, well, a fat person? Do you have any anecdotes, advice, or hell, even encouragement? Do you know of any classes geared towards the larger danseuse in the Boston area? Or is a 5'4'', 180 lb woman doomed to a tutu-less life?

posted by Sock Muppet Acct! to human relations (21 answers total)

As long as you're strong and flexible I would think that modern dance would be much more comfortable than classical or contemporary ballet in toe shoes — and certainly, easier on the feet at first! Then as you get in shape and regain your confidence you could add ballet classes again.
posted by nicwolff at 10:05 PM on November 26, 2008

I do not know about dancing ballet as a 'fat person', but I do know about it as someone who first tried it at the tender age of 35 - and loved it.

In Seattle, I went to a school that had classes specifically aimed towards adult dancers, particularly those who have never tried it before. We had fat people, thin people, men, women, transgendered folk, football players, a woman recovering from a back injury - they all were welcomed by the teacher equally. The classes were reasonably priced, fun, noncompetitive, and they had classes aimed at all levels of dancing. No one felt shy or 'different'. And I loved it!

However, the one thing they *didn't* teach was dancing in toe shoes. We used standard ballet slippers.

I'd call local dance stores and/or dance schools, and see if they have any info.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:33 PM on November 26, 2008

Just to clarify, I don't intend on dancing in toe shoes...I am more interested in intermediate type courses where I could focus on dancing again instead of how I look in pink tights!
posted by Sock Muppet Acct! at 10:37 PM on November 26, 2008

An acquaintance is 50 years old, 200 lbs., and active in thrice-weekly ballet classes which she adores. Her instructor is encouraging, and her classmates are tall, short, heavy, skinny, cursed with trick knees, bad eyesight, etc. They have become very close and supportive. Alas, this adult ed class is in the San Fran Bay Area, but if you search, I'm sure there are similar classes in your 'hood.

Here are some tips if you're resuming ballet:
Do extended warmup stretching.
Don't overtax your knees and hips.
Substitute demi-plies for grand plies.
Do plies-and-rises rather than jumps.
At first, minimize work in 4th and 5th positions, and do small 3rds until you've gained muscle strength.
Avoid lunges.
Don't lock knees.
If a movement hurts, stop.

You can do it.
posted by terranova at 10:38 PM on November 26, 2008

Check out Big Moves. And definitely investigate local dance studios - just call and ask about their intro class. I've taken a bunch of random dance and exercise classes, and I always LOVE the wide variety of bodies, personalities and abilities in those kinds of classes. Inevitably each person has their own little area of strengths and weaknesses, and I just love that people come as they are.

Also, NIA is a kind of dance-movement-exercise thing. I've never done this per se, but they even have it at my small-city YMCA. I'd bet that a semester of NIA would boost your body confidence, coordination and stamina enough to jump back into ballet, if you so choose.

Do you think you're interested in ballet in particular, or dance in general?
posted by barnone at 10:44 PM on November 26, 2008

Check out this place. Adult ballet: "Whether a first time enthusiast or a returning dancer wishing to re-tune skills, participants in this class will focus on the enjoyment of learning classical ballet technique as an art form and wonderful mind-body exercise." You can buy a package or just a single class to try it out!
posted by barnone at 10:52 PM on November 26, 2008

Dance Complex gets great reviews on Yelp. Here is their ballet overview.

Do it!!
posted by barnone at 10:55 PM on November 26, 2008

Sorry - hit post too soon. José Mateo seems to be the Big Ballet Place in Boston. They have Adult classes and offer drop-in pricing if you'd like to try it out.
posted by barnone at 10:59 PM on November 26, 2008

Call around to dance schools in your area and ask if they offer classes for adults.

There´s no reason for someone to avoid ballet as a recreational activity because of their size, just as you might see people of all heights and body types playing basketball for fun even though they look nothing like the pros.

Do find a class geared towards recreational dancers, instead of professionals. Find a studio where you feel comfortable. If you come across one of the rare teachers who might give you trouble, take your money elsewhere.
posted by yohko at 11:56 PM on November 26, 2008

Oh, if you are worried about the pink tights ask about dress codes. Many adults wear jazz pants or shorts over their leotard.
posted by yohko at 12:00 AM on November 27, 2008

I've been to adult ballet classes where people had a pretty broad range of body types. No pointe work- we were at a less-advanced stage, so your experience might be different- but the class was fun and accepting, and most participants wore black yoga clothes.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:18 AM on November 27, 2008

You asked about ballet specifically, but since you mentioned body size as a factor and asked for encouragement and anecdotes...may I suggest belly dance too? It's the most body-positive, curvy-girl-friendly form of dance I know. It completely changed my life. It boosted my confidence and vastly increased my comfort level with my middle-aged, size-16 body. Every class I've taken in various styles of belly dance - particularly tribal style, which has an "earthy" image - has women of all sizes and shapes, looking radiant and having a great time. The sheer joy and enthusiasm of this dance is an endless source of wonder for me.

I took ballet, jazz, and modern dance when I was a youngster too - started about the same age you did, and majored in dance for a year at a community college. I didn't discover belly dance until I was in my late thirties, and when I did I fell so deeply, madly in love with the art form that I wished I'd started studying it when I was much younger, since my knees were in much better shape then. If only I'd known about it and taken it seriously earlier in life! But I harbored a number of misconceptions about belly dance that kept it from registering on my radar as a serious art form worthy of extended study. I had some vague image that belly dance meant wearing nothing but pink sequins and chiffon, performing in middle eastern restaurants, and delivering belly-grams door to door. Fortunately, I discovered how wrong I was. Belly dance is quite diverse.

I think you should dance in whatever way appeals to you, so I say go for it! That said, I can't possibly recommend belly dance highly enough. Feel free to MeFi mail me if you'd like more info. Happy dancing!
posted by velvet winter at 2:19 AM on November 27, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'm a beginner ballet dancer - did two years of it in primary school, and decided earlier this year that I wanted to try both ballet and contemporary. There are all sorts of shapes and sizes in my class, but it doesn't matter - people will notice you for your ability, not your appearance.

I'm not fat, but I'm not exactly whippet thin either. It is such a huge confidence boost when you do better than the lithe young things with the perfect dancers' bodies (I do feel mean for feeling that way about it though).
posted by minus zero at 3:13 AM on November 27, 2008

Maybe try to find a studio that isn't all about the giant mirrors everywhere, especially if the class will have a mixture of younger/older people in it. Even if you're not particularly mirror-aware or mirror-sensitive, it's a _lot_ of time looking in a mirror.
posted by amtho at 7:58 AM on November 27, 2008

I think the moral of this post is, "go somewhere with an older clientele who won't be all snobby about weight."
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:11 PM on November 27, 2008

When I was in my teens I was very serious about ballet, I went to class 5 day a week and danced with a company. I remember this lady that used to take class with us twice a week. Compared to us, she was old (35), and was on the heavy side. We all admired her for having the guts to work out with us. She wore a dark leotard with pink stockings, ballet shoes and a skirt made of one layer of chiffon.

Remembering her inspired me. I always loved the discipline of ballet and would return to it over the years. Never wanting to go back on pointe, I always wore ballet shoes. Now I'm the older, (47) heavy lady. The younger ones are very encouraging and make me feel welcome. I too wear a single layer chiffon skirt. It is sheer enough for me to check my position in the mirror, yet gives me the confidence to appear in public in a leotard and tights.

Go for it!
posted by JujuB at 5:39 PM on November 27, 2008

Maybe try to find a studio that isn't all about the giant mirrors everywhere, especially if the class will have a mixture of younger/older people in it. Even if you're not particularly mirror-aware or mirror-sensitive, it's a _lot_ of time looking in a mirror.

The mirror should be a tool to help you adjust your alignment and placement, whether you are a new/returning student lacking muscle memory or a prima ballerina at ABT.

I know well that it can be easy to forget that crucial fact and start minutely obsessing over bodily imperfections, but the reason it's there is to help you, whether the teacher is busy correcting one of the other twenty students in the room or is currently focused on you.

A corollary to this is the 'dress code'; the form fitting stuff is so you and the teacher can properly see the alignment and placement. Overly baggy workout wear can obscure the overall line and placement of your body; if your alignment/placement/form is out of whack, it can lead to injuries. Baggy pants, for example, would make it difficult to judge if a student was dangerously forcing their turnout from the knees or ankles instead of from the hips.

When I taught, there were a wide variety of body types and people in my Adult classes as noted by others above. The common thing that linked them all was a love for dancing. I actually loved teaching the Adult classes, since they *all* really had a passion for it and were more tightly focused and asked questions. (Not that I didn't love teaching the kids as well, but it's totally different dynamic, especially factoring in some of the Ballet Moms.)

I say go for it!

PS - If eventually you find yourself wishing for that special torture only pointe shoes can provide, your teacher can inform you at what point your body would be safely ready to start some beginning barre work.
posted by romakimmy at 4:28 AM on November 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

Yes, go for it!

I also second checking out belly dance classes if you can't (or even if you can) find adult ballet classes in your area. I too took ballet in my teenage years (from 12-16 or so) but as an adult I tried a belly dance class and got absolutely hooked. The movements are more body-friendly than ballet (I took one ballet class three years after belly dancing regularly and wound up so sore I couldn't walk the next day) and there are women of all shapes and sizes. Dance in general is a wonderful form of exercise and expression of one's self. Good luck!
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 3:20 PM on November 28, 2008

It´s nice that so many of you enjoy bellydance, I think it is a wonderful path to body acceptance for many women and a fun form of exercise. Perhaps the OP might enjoy trying it if she has not before.

To the OP: If your passion is for ballet, don´t feel like you have to substitute something else for that because of your age and weight.
posted by yohko at 12:40 PM on November 29, 2008

Hi all, just wanted to update: I found a studio near me that is beginning adult classes this week! I spoke to the instructor about my concerns (being open about your fears does a surprising amount of good!) and apparently there are only 4-5 women enrolled, of all shapes and ages. I'm really excited and I wanted to thank everyone who has chimed in with advice and encouragement! I will update again when classes are over so that someone else stumbling upon this thread and in the same predicament can see that its possible to follow your aspirations regardless of whatever is standing in your way. Thanks again (and wish me luck! :)
posted by Sock Muppet Acct! at 5:10 PM on December 2, 2008

That sounds great, Sock Muppet. With a class size that small, you will get a lot of personalized attention from the instructor. Enjoy, and good luck! We'll be cheering you on from this corner of the Internet.

Let us know how it goes!
posted by velvet winter at 11:07 PM on December 2, 2008