r/BALLET • u/MinaHarker1 Ballet Mistress • Jul 04 '25

Constructive Criticism Question for Recreational Adult Dancers

Hi all! I’ve been teaching ballet to kids and teens for many years now, but this summer, I just started teaching my first adult ballet class. Most of my adult students are beginners. My question for the adult recreational dancers on this sub is this: what words of advice do you have for me? What do you wish the wider dance world knew/understood/appreciated about adult rec dancers? Thank you!

Edit: thank you all for the very helpful feedback! I will keep these things in mind with my adult dancers.

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u/Dry_Pop_2764 Jul 04 '25

Adult student for around a year and a half now. Explaining WHY we’re doing something (eg: foot articulating exercises help flexibility as well teaching the basic way to move feet for a jump/how to push through the floor) can be SUPER helpful.

Reminders every so often that ballet is hard, isn’t a natural movement, and to work on personal best vs technical perfection. Most of us know we’re not going to be the next Anna Pavlova, but ballet also draws a lot of type A perfectionists who get discouraged when they can’t keep up with a frappé combination or pirouette perfectly.

Don’t discourage plus size! It’ll be harder for us but we’re at least as dedicated at your straight sized women.

Patience!!! We’re trying lol

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u/taytay237 Jul 04 '25

I don’t know what a frappe combination is, so now my brain is picturing dancing with a coffee 😂

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u/malkin50 Jul 04 '25

I always picture someone knocking on a door with their foot.