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Published on: Thursday February 1, 2018

February 1, 2018

Starting ballet at the age of 22 felt like a daunting task. Now on my third week of learning, I felt mentally prepared to face one of the more classical styles of dance.

Ballet Beginners with Gareth was a delight.

As I walked into the studio, the barres were out and many of the participants were stretching. I quickly got chatting with two lovely ladies who were doing the same thing as me and trying out different classes (this was also their first attempt at ballet).

We began the class with an introduction into the five basic ballet positions (now I can legitimately claim I know what second position is), we then developed these into exercises that gradually got more challenging.  My tutor Gareth did come over to my barre a few times and show me the specific steps if I needed some guidance, which I found really helpful.

For the second half of the class we removed the barres and practiced our steps without support, occasionally adding in the odd pirouette and changing the direction of our bodies. Towards the end of the class we took part in some rather exciting group travelling steps which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The music was very relaxing, I found myself singing along to piano versions of classics from Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals.

Lastly, I must mention Gareth, He was the ballet teacher of dreams, stern but funny, no-nonsense but friendly. He instructed the class with passion and I couldn’t stop smiling the whole way through.

Next Wednesday I’ll be trying something a little different, Yoga with Richard, better get practising my downward dog!

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