| Not to ruin your vacation by focusing on back to | | | | Are you more stressed now? Is it harder to |
| school organization, but that little bit of stress (or | | | | organize your life or have you given up on that |
| big chunk) that is running at the back of your | | | | for a while? Have family obligations and school |
| mind already, could be channeled into changing | | | | been overwhelming? |
| your life direction for the new semester coming | | | | If you are a typical ballet student, you are |
| up. | | | | generally more organized than others your age. |
| Back to school fashions abound on TV ads. You | | | | You have to be, to keep up with just getting to |
| are immediately immersed in the images of | | | | class and maintaining acceptable grades. Get a |
| everything you do not have. Isn't TV wonderful? | | | | picture of how the next stage is going to play out |
| As an artist, your career success depends on | | | | for you - stretch for optimism! Nurture your spirit |
| your uniqueness. But right now, fashion and school | | | | with some quiet time, with a parent, friend, or by |
| and social profile demand a horrible conformity. | | | | yourself. |
| Ironic, life is. | | | | Whether you are a pre-teen, teen or young adult, |
| In the world of ballet wear, excluding pointe shoes | | | | I would say the same to you that I would say to |
| and toe padding, a catalog of leotards and tights | | | | an adult. Journal or make lists if you find yourself |
| from the 1960's would not look too much | | | | worrying. Take action on the things that you can. |
| different than dance catalogs and an online ballet | | | | Know what you need to do every day to make |
| store do today. Less variation then, but leotards | | | | your routine less complicated. That is a big way |
| are leotards and tights are tights. | | | | to nurture your spirit, even if it doesn't seem |
| Pointe shoes are a different story. Start fitting | | | | spiritual. |
| and ordering shoes now. It is a good time to car | | | | If you are involved in ballet because of a |
| pool with some friends to a distant and bigger | | | | compulsive disorder of any kind, you have |
| dance wear store, try different brands, and | | | | probably done all your preemptive moves in |
| explore more options. If you are among the men | | | | preparation for the coming back to school days. I |
| in ballet and want to try pointe shoes for | | | | encourage you to start a blog, or use dance |
| developing better professional footwork and | | | | forums and tell us how you do it. For one thing, |
| virtuoso balance, start looking now. You may | | | | you could get support for creating a more |
| have to special order your size, and you may not | | | | balanced life. And you will have come up with |
| want them in pink. | | | | details and insights that we in the less intense |
| If you are changing dance studios, you can use | | | | mode will never think of. We need you. |
| your power of visualization to imagine your first | | | | You are still growing and experiencing days of |
| class. Everything feels good. The other students | | | | fatigue and low moods. This is normal. Learn what |
| are smiling at you. The teacher is pleasant and | | | | you need to know about nutrition and health, as |
| helpful. You feel included. You are so relieved! | | | | much as you can. So much information is at your |
| Keep up, or start foot exercises for your intrinsic | | | | finger tips, if you want it. |
| foot muscles. This will lessen the sore calves and | | | | My ideas are far less important than any that get |
| shin splints that you may get from returning to | | | | provoked for you in reading articles like this. Get |
| class after a long break. Do a gentle barre at | | | | more tips from the many experts on how to |
| home, and do your stretching. | | | | train your brain, prepare for pointe shoes, eat |
| If you are a serious student already working out | | | | well, and balance body and mind. The days before |
| every day, remember to rest properly, relax and | | | | going back to school used to feel like a run-away |
| stretch well to maintain good muscle tone. | | | | train to me. Fortunately, by the time I saw all my |
| Right now you are older, stronger and know | | | | friends, and got the schedules figured out, it felt |
| more than you did a year ago. Do a private | | | | like the engineer and brake man knew what they |
| check on how your life has changed since then. | | | | were doing, after all. |