Still Dancing

The teachers from the ballet school use a curriculum that had pushed me in ways no other classes had.  This valuable training led to results that I liked and was not willing to let go of.  I designed a schedule that dictates when I practice ballet at home, and when I do practice I make sure it matches the intensity of how hard the teachers worked me at the ballet school.
I decided that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings would be devoted to ballet.  At the beginning of each new week I create a barre, center, and series of pointe exercises that challenge me.  And challenging it's been.  At the end of the week I evaluate how I did, then based on that I come up with different combinations for the next week.
On Monday afternoons and Saturday mornings I take class at the studio I had been going to before I made my surprise return to the ballet school.  Even though these classes can't compare in difficulty to what the ballet school offers, I still find it important to work with a teacher.  I also think it might be good to have easier days.  They allow me to give my body a break while still being able to work on perfecting my technique.
My training at home takes about two hours, starting between 8 and 8:30 and lasting until 10 or 10:30.  My commitment to this routine has proven to be worth it. I haven't lost anything, but instead I've continued to improve.
It may sound crazy but what I love about ballet is the grueling process of refining technique and building the strength to achieve what may have seemed impossible before.  This is why I will never stop dancing.  I'm thankful to God that he has shown me the place where ballet belongs in my life.
I also still enjoy watching ballet performances, even if I don't care to be in them, which reminds me that I want to write about the night I went to see the Nutcracker, in my next post.