What's wrong with Anaheim Ballet?

Okay, so those people who know me won't be easily able to imagine me in a tutu and pointe shoes, especially if they've seen me spinning fire or wielding a sword. BUT it doesn't mean that I'm not aspiring to be one.

This post isn't so much of a post about me and my dreams, it's more of a rant about the ballet world and the ballet community.

First thing I want to say, before I forget, is what is everyone's problem with Anaheim Ballet*? The amount of articles and blogs and ballerinas who have something to say about the dance school seem to have only negative points!

Anaheim ballet is a podcast that also post their weekly videos online. They start each video with the same narration, in which he says 'Ballet is for everyone, and now it's for anyone who has a computer', and because of this simple slogan, everyone seems to be set against them!

Now obviously, I am well aware of the dangers of teachings oneself ballet, especially pointe work. Like myself a few years ago, most aspiring ballerinas assume that pointe work is easy with little risk except for sprained ankles, as it looks so effortless, and almost everyone who has learnt ballet can work up to it by the time they're twelve. What isn't realised, is the fact that the twelve-year-olds who dance en pointe have usually been doing ballet since before they could walk, and have lessons four or five times a week. Pointe work is dangerous, and can leed to bleeding toes, blisters and bunions, as well as more serious problems like foot deformities, weak ankles and tendonitis if not taught properly, and teaching yourself is a definite 'NO'.

But people seem to be taking AB's slogan the wrong way - the way I see it, is that they are not saying that ballet can be learnt from the internet. This is reinforced by the fact that they have never recorded a podcast with any form of tuition. The closest thing to a lesson that I have found is when they asked their dancers for advice about tying pointe shoes. I see their slogan as saying 'nobody is wrong for ballet, and now the experience can be shared through our podcasts'. I find them rather enlightening, as they follow dancers' progress and give an insight into their lives, and how ballet affects it.

It's a bit like an encyclopedia in that respect - it doesn't tell you how to do something, but it does tell you facts relating to the topic.

Man, now I have a headache.

So I'm going to end my rant, and hope that somebody, somewhere is reading this. Not so I can get comments and get views (although they would be awesome... *hint* ...), but so I can get my opinion out there, and so my voice can be heard.

Out for now

Pebz x



* Anaheim Ballet
- http://www.anaheimballet.org/
- http://www.youtube.com/user/AnaheimBallet