"adult" ballet class: when grown-ups aren't that much different from teenagers

In January, I discovered something I had been dreaming about for years.

A land where it's acceptable to wear nothing but tights and a skin-tight leotard.  An excuse to break out my basket of bobbie pins to create a perfect bun on my head.  A place where french is the primary language spoken-- with a LOT of translating.  And a place where I can plie, releve, echepe, twist, turn, wobble and awkwardly lose my balance without feeling ashamed or watched by anyone.

I found an adult ballet class!

I am new in my city, and I had been going through a really hard time leading up to the holidays.  As of the new year, I made it my goal to start trying new things, looking for ways to fill my evenings to distract me from my stress and loneliness, and means to get more physically active as well.  I signed up for yoga and pure barre classes, spoiled myself with a pair of lulu wunder unders, and started to get back into running too, discovering an amazing park in my city with fantastic trails!  Then, I discovered an adult ballet class.  WHAT!  Such a thing exists?????  I took ballet lessons from age 6 to 18, though my studio was NOT very serious or intensive... but I still loved the art of dance and I knew the basic positions... and still owned tights, a leotard, and a couple decent pairs of slippers.  I started going to class and I absolutely LOOOOOVE it...  it is the absolute highlight of my week.  It is the perfect level of difficulty as far as technique and pace- and it is such a great physical work out!  The rest of the week I am constantly thinking about my posture and my turn out.

I have been to about 5 or 6 classes now, and have a feel for the types of people who are taking the class.  Some are like me... some danced when they were younger but didn't pursue it after high school... some are trying it for the very first time... some danced even in college and have the perfect body and form... and at least one also attends the intermediate/advanced classes and makes sure EVERYONE knows it.

How are grown-ups like teenagers when it comes to "adult" ballet?  There are those girls who stand in the back of the room and whisper all during class.  There are those who get frustrated with the instruction and just stop participating altogether.  There are those who stand closest to the teacher, compliment her and enact every suggestion (okay that might be me... but I was always this way).  There are those who are painfully shy and who don't say a peep (even before or after class)... but still try very hard.  There are those who are just plain talented and perform everything with exceptional form and balance.  There are those who question EVERY instruction the teacher gives and correct every mistake she might make instantly, and pretend like they are only asking for clarification of a combination but really just trying to point out a flaw or that is it "TOO EASY".

The slacker, the snob, the teacher's pet, the nerd, the jock, and the BITCH.  We're all there.

Glad my Monday night ballet class reminds me so much of my Monday nights from 7th-12th grade..... aaaaah the nostalgia!