want to move up a level, teacher doesnt understand

thumper1126 · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

Hi I'm 13 and this past year just restarted taking ballet at level two (out of the 5 levels at my school). at first i was only taking one class a week with the ballet director, then i upgraded to two classes a week. the second teacher was new and didn't know me well, and it turned out i had to take the exams with her because i was on vacation during the second exams. the lady kept me in ballet 2 (all the kids are all younger than me) OR she gave me the option to do teen beginner ballet, which would be wayyyy below my level. and i thought that was pretty unfair. i worked hard all year to get into ballet 3 (and was better than most people who got into ballet 3) and on my report card it said everything was good except for my extension, which was average.

now, i've been taking twice a week summer ballet classes at a more prestigious school because i'm on vacation (the northwest florida ballet company) at intermediate level (the equivalent of ballet 3) and have been doing fine.

how should i explain to the ballet director (who can be kind of mean sometimes and scary) that i should be in ballet 3? should i have a parent call, because she's very intimidating? or should i just switch to another school thats better? I really don't want to be stuck with obnoxious 8-year-olds for another year.

I really love ballet and want to improve & get on pointe but i think if i stay in teen beginner ballet or ballet 2 I won't be challenged. Help, please!

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1011 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Welcome thumper1126! :D I think you should talk to your ballet teacher and tell her what you think and that you have attended summer ballet classes. :)

thumper1126 · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

well what should i say to her? i don't want to blatantly point out that i think i should move up a level because if she doesn't think so it would be embarrasing. i'm thinking of calling the front desk or having a parent call.

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1011 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Yeah, a parent calling or you calling the front desk is probably the best. :)

MiaMi · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 46 Location: Miami

I agree with PR, I would try that out before expressing any other options. Let us know how it turns out. Good Luck!

BDCBallerina · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 24 Location: On the Dance Floor

OMG! I completly and tottaly undestand!

I'm 12 and I restarted (I had taken ballet on and off before) full time at a dance studio where I live. Though When I started I was 11. My grade level was all in Level 4, but after watching me in summer camps for placement the teachers and director decided to put me in level 3 and another level 3-4 class. The level 3 class was fourth graders and the level 3-4 class is 5th graders and I'm a sixth grader (now a seventh grader)! It's so frustrating because (not to brag) but I know i'm the best in my levels and I know that i'm probably even better than most of the kids in the level I should be in (ive seen them preform and watched there classes)! It's so annoying because I know I'm the best, they have even told me I'm great, yet they seem to want to keep me in these younger kids classes. And the director is really intimidating and mean and well just overall strict and scary.

There's another studio where I live that's director has great credentials so I'm thinking about taking classes there and where i'm going now and seeing how I like it. If I had gone there in the first place I probably would already be on pointe! Instead of waiting 4 years like my current director would make me, i'm going to try out the other school so I'll know if I'm missing anything. One thing is for sure, i'm not going to let my director get in the way of my moving up in ballet!

BDCBallerina · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 24 Location: On the Dance Floor

ohh BTW, I dont know about your director, but I had my mom call and in person talk to the director, and she gave my mom a HUGE lecture on why it is important to stay at a slow pace and because she acts like ive never taken ballet before (I had my first class at age 6!) that I need to catch up and stay with the younger kids! But hopefully your directors not so mean!