r/BALLET • u/Just-Echo-8918 • 1d ago
Constructive Criticism Ballet teacher being harsher on me recently, is this normal?
I'm an adult doing ballet for over 1.5 years, I take between 3-4 90 minute classes a week (as well as an additional pre-pointe). For the most part, I've been really enjoying the process, but I noticed that my teacher has been giving me a lot more corrections (and harsher ones) in the recent months. I know that 1) I'm better than I was 6 months ago, but didn't receive as many corrections then and 2) there are some other beginners in the classes who make the same mistakes but don't get call for it. I wear a mixture of gym clothes to class, and sometimes, a leotard with ballet tights. Most recently my teacher told me I needed to be wearing only a leotard and ballet tights, but I look around the class and at least half of the others are still in yoga wear / gym clothes. I'm trying to be optimistic and take it that my teacher wants me to progress, but can't help but feel puzzled by the recent turn of events. If anyone has any insights, I'm all ears!
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u/EbleyJo 1d ago
I can't offer expert insight as I've never been the teacher in this scenario but when I've experienced or witnessed this across aerials, ballet and yoga, it has always seemed that the teacher can see the person is putting in the work and taking their training seriously and wants to progress.
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u/baller_unicorn 1d ago
I always took it as a compliment when my teachers gave me a lot of corrections. It means they take you seriously and want you to keep progressing.
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u/kachaz310 1d ago
She’s challenging you and she has higher expectations of you because she does know you are better than you were 6 months ago. Especially if you’re in pre-pointe. She’s just taking it to the next level.
Now, I think you should wear whatever is comfortable. But, it sounds like she is using you as someone to look up to for us new beginners and wants you to look the part.
All in all it sounds like you’re doing awesome!
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u/CrookedBanister 1d ago
Corrections in ballet aren't about calling out mistakes! They're about a teacher seeing you're at a place where there's real potential for growth and then guiding you to it - part of the learning process. It's actually extremely common to get more corrections as a teacher gets to know you better, because as they do and as you gain more experience, they can better see what you need and give you focused, detailed help that goes beyond the basics. It's really, truly not them being harder on you, it's you having advanced to a point where you have enough basics down that you are ready to fine-tune things.
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u/Mental-Reward9239 1d ago
Totally right! People need to change their verbage from "Mistakes" to "Input". It is not a put down but for a variety of reasons already mentioned here, a sign that your teacher recognizes. your hard work and wants to help you advance. On the other side of the coin, if the input was regarding a lack of attention or readiness, let's say, to start a combination, then that is a negative on you.
Technical corrections are what every dancer is after! Wear the leotard and tights so she can see what you are doing. I agree that if you are prepointe then she needs to see more for your progress. Pointe is serious business and should not be looked as a pleasant pastime. It takes commitment. I am a teacher and not a student btw.
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u/Tasty_Marsupial8057 1d ago
Take it as a compliment (and a challenge). S/he has decided that you’re worth the effort so rise to the challenge! You should be proud of yourself.
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u/happykindofeeyore 1d ago
When I have a beginner, I never say anything about what they are wearing! I want them to feel comfortable. However, if they are serious and keep coming back and improving m, I’d probably encourage them to wear more appropriate attire, although I’d never demand an adult wear tights.
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u/thetimeisyoga 1d ago
Can you share about why you wouldn't demand an adult wear tights? Just curious :)
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u/happykindofeeyore 1d ago
Because I dislike wearing them myself :) I prefer a Leo and bike shorts… and at the end of the day I would never demand anything of my adult students except proper footwear and safety.
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u/Mental-Reward9239 1d ago
Bare legs are great so biker shorts work better than black leggings! I prefer pink or nude tights but let my adults wear what they wish.
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u/Mental-Reward9239 1d ago
I can add that it might makes some adults self conscious of their body...? However, if you want to see the lines of your leg and muscles, pink or beige tights are a fast track to improvement. That is why all children training are required to wear them. If you are just there to enjoy the music and move, then that is a different situation.
I let my former adult class wear what they want but I can see and give more input to those wearing proper attire. I figure that some adults are sending the message... leave me alone. I will still give everyone positive attention and some input. Everyone pays for class and deserves that.
I don't say anything about this either to beginners and low intermediates even thought it bothered me! Put your hair up off your neck! Long hair with a headband??? No
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u/princessbizz 1d ago
You can't give alot of corrections to beginners because there is too much information. It would be overwhelming. Since you have been dancing for a while and showing improvements, you are ready for more challenges.
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u/dgojilli 1d ago
You're an adult, so I'd imagine that your primary reason for taking classes in ballet - or any other activity - is to enjoy yourself. In any learning situation that you are paying for no one can or should be treating you with anything other than respect, kindness, and honesty. As an adult you have the right to do - and wear - whatever suits you.
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u/Dancefoodie 1d ago
I think the comments here are great! Harsh corrections are awesome because it shows that
They care
They feel like they can push you and you have the potential to be pushed
What I'd like to add is it's important to draw the line between constructive criticism and just flat out mean energy. I'm also an adult ballet learner and I take it quite seriously + I make my teachers know I take this seriously. I take classes with 3 different teachers and I recently had to stop learning from one of them because her corrections were becoming unhelpful and worst of all, mean spirited. Like she would walk over to me at the barre, give me the death stare in a non-joking way and be like "Um hello? Use your brain? Your foot is not directly behind you in tendu.". Whereas my other teachers who are strict, ON ME, yet constructive would give me the correction like "Hey your foot is not directly behind you in tendu and I can see it's because you're not engaging your glutes correctly. I would like you to try thinking of bla bla bla." or something like "I need you to start pushing for that triple pirouette because you're too comfortable doing doubles. Class is the time for you to make mistakes."
I don't mean to make this about me or anything but just hoping to shed some light on the differences between the two types of criticisms. I think the main takeaway is, if you know you're getting new corrections as you progress, you're doing something right as there is ALWAYS something to fix in ballet.
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u/dinos_ahoi 1d ago
I agree. Corrections are great, they don't always need to come packaged between compliments but there's also teachers who use them as a punishment or to put you down.
If your teacher starts complaining to others about your mistakes, uses corrections as thinly veiled insults or consistently treats you with disdain that's not helpful and a good enough reason to leave. If they make mean comments but dismiss them as just a joke or something they didn't really mean you can still leave, you don't need to put up with being insulted.
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u/Mental-Reward9239 1d ago
OMG. I cannot stand teachers like that and I have been a ballet teacher for 42 years. They are my anti hero. Nobody has the right to be rude. That is bringing their psychological crap into the classroom. Good for you!
I had that happen to me as a professional dancer and I actually left a ballet company because the Director was toxic.
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u/Jumpy-Ad6345 23h ago
When you say "gym clothes" I'm wondering if that means sweat pants or anything loose. Your teacher might just want to be able to see your lines better. There's a point where corrections are kind of pointless because everything would be a correction, but also a point where you have to make tiny tweaks so you don't get hurt. Corrections are a good thing.
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u/dowhatotterbedone 22h ago
I was going to say this as well. She probably wants you to wear a leotard and tights so she can see your alignment and other things that may be covered by baggier clothes.
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u/Jdl28110 20h ago
Ballet attire makes it easier for the teacher to see muscle activation and makes sure you are understanding the correction, something you will learn about ballet is that is all about the journey, there are muscle you have never use before in that unique way and it takes time for the brain to "map it", so if she wasn't giving you the corrections more than likely you weren't rdy and if you continue with ballet you will be thankful that she was so harsh on you because you will soon realize if you don't understand those correction you will more than likely start compensating with other muscle leading to imbalance and injury...
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u/YogaNerdMD 19h ago
Congratulations and welcome to the funny upside down world of ballet corrections :D
The worst fate you can have in a class is being ignored. Time is precious, and your teacher (if they were like mine) will only spend time correcting students they think are worth their time. You have shown you are willing to work hard and you are able to integrate corrections - that's HUGE! You will come to crave it because it means you're worth their time, and that is no small thing <3
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u/house_shape 1d ago
agree what everyone else is saying-- more corrections means she sees your potential and wants you to improve! The leo/tights request is so that she can see your alignment better and give you better feedback.
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u/nompilo 1d ago edited 1d ago
Corrections are a sign that the teacher thinks you are good enough to benefit from the feedback. You're getting more corrections *because* you are better than you were six months ago, your teacher recognizes that progress, and thinks you have the potential to keep progressing!
Of course there are other people making the same mistakes. At the beginning stages (and honestly, for a long time afterwards), we are making LOTS of mistakes, all the time. The job of the teacher is to figure out which mistakes we are ready to correct, and give us that feedback. If your teacher is letting other folks get away without pointing out their mistakes, it's because they are not ready to work on that error yet--but you are. It's a compliment.