tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66203163636644003592024-03-05T23:39:15.147+02:00Pointe Til You DropThe Adult Ballet ExperienceJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-74480032490729812802018-03-30T13:05:00.003+03:002022-10-20T13:56:31.445+03:00To That Special Ballet Teacher
To that special ballet teacher, who not only teaches you about technique, but helps build your confidence, nurtures your inner artist, raises the bar/re, pushes you to the next level (and the one after), encourages you time and again, corrects your mistakes, teaches you to correct yourself, praises and raises you... to be the best dancer you can be.
Ma chère professeur, dear Marie... I missJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-2222876552795155382017-03-21T15:23:00.001+02:002017-03-21T16:26:34.207+02:00The Balletlove Interview
A while back, Singaporean dance wear company Balletlove.co asked me if I would like to do an interview. As it happens, Balletlove.co is not just a dance wear company, but they also offer adult ballet classes. Which is probably why they're also interested in the adult (recreational) ballet experience... Not that it is so different at heart: professional dancer or not, we all share the love Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-29856747808148324702016-09-04T19:05:00.001+03:002016-09-04T19:59:35.473+03:00Down-to-Earth Étoile Michal
One of the (many) fun parts of dancing for fun, and then blogging about it, is that you get to meet some pretty cool and inspiring people. Other ballet students, teachers - and professional dancers. Most of the time, we get to see performing artists only on stage... But what we see on stage, is merely the glittering tip of a dancer's life: the culmination of years and years of hard work, talent,Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-14351140984350334142016-09-03T19:57:00.000+03:002016-09-03T19:57:04.898+03:00Love Sprung from Hate: A New Romeo and Juliet
Review: Nataliá Horečná: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo ja Julia)
The Finnish National Ballet, August 26, 2016
Nataliá Horečná: Romeo and Juliet. Pictured Linda Haakana and Ilja Bolotov. Photography (c) Sakari Viika / Finnish National Ballet
Going to see the Finnish National Ballet's new Romeo & Juliet without any expectations is impossible. For one thing, there's the iconic play by Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-51947985030471417032016-05-31T09:04:00.000+03:002016-05-31T09:04:47.783+03:00The Charismatic Dancer
Talent and technique - all of the dancers at the International Ballet Competition (IBC) Helsinki have plenty of both. Every day I've been awed by their highly fine-tuned instruments and athletic feats, in class and on stage. Double-split sissone ouverts (I don't know the correct term), over-head attitude tambourine kicks, tours en l'air, multiple pirouettes (as much as ten), double fouetté turnsJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-74003772009952314332016-05-28T01:46:00.003+03:002016-05-28T23:57:53.125+03:00Work to Impress, Dance to Express
Multiple pirouettes, tricky steps on pointe and acrobatic jumps are eternal crowd pleasers, and rightly so - after all, it takes exceptional talent and years of training to achieve such technical feats. If you're a strong jumper, or a natural turner, that's what you want to show (off). Dance to impress the audience, and most of all, the judges. But there's more to ballet than athletic tricks, noJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-69519946911463898572016-05-25T16:08:00.001+03:002016-05-25T23:44:34.855+03:00Dance Like No One is Judging
Dance like no one is watching, is what we often hear... All you have to do is be in the moment, listen to the music, apply what you have learned - and enjoy the dancing. Easier said than done. I don't perform on stage, so class is never just warm-up, but the only place where I get to dance. Ballet is my passion, not profession - which doesn't mean I don't take practice seriously. Sometimes, too Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-74181316764045507392016-05-17T23:42:00.000+03:002016-05-18T10:56:58.198+03:00Aim High, Enjoy the Ride - Six Alumni of IBC Helsinki 2012 Look Back
Four years ago, I worked as a volunteer at the International Ballet Competition (IBC) Helsinki. It was an exciting experience, to see the inner workings of such a prestigious competition, and most of all, to meet all those talented and hardworking young dancers. I could not help but be drawn in, and keep my fingers crossed for everyone! And while IBC is a competition with a total of 80.000 € Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-48973124422947554572016-02-08T19:49:00.000+02:002016-02-08T21:26:35.668+02:00The Night I Saw Zakharova
Svetlana Zakharova as Nikiya in La Bayadère, The Finnish National Ballet. Choreography and production: Natalia Makarova. Photographty (c) Mirka Kleemola / FNB.
Svetlana Zakharova. First, I have to admit that I've never been a fangirl of the Russian ballerina. Despite her perfect physicality, 180° turnout, sky-high extensions, incredible feet and crystal clean technique. Her dancing is Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-54388221722654795222015-12-31T17:44:00.000+02:002016-01-05T11:41:42.625+02:00My New Year's Dance Solutions
1. Remain curious. Be open to new ideas, suggestions and corrections.
With ballet practice relying so much on repetition, it's easy to get settled into the same old routines. But developing your muscle memory is more than going through the motions. To make exercises into dance, you have to stay awake and alert. What is it that you're really doing? Are you applying all corrections as well Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-23389545241867147042015-08-12T14:37:00.001+03:002015-08-12T14:37:15.201+03:00 Back to Being a Ballet Student
This is my teacher Marie Greve. Before she came to Helsinki, she was a Principal Dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet, and before that, she danced at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. She's danced all the big roles: Juliet, Giselle, Odette/Odile, as well as choreographies by Bournonville, Balanchine, and Forsythe (to name a few). Alexei Ratmansky created Anna Karenina on her, and John Neumeier his LittleJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-40253749050251893662015-07-05T16:36:00.001+03:002015-07-05T17:21:30.037+03:00Hiatus
It's been three weeks since my last ballet class. In the past nine years, three weeks is the longest I've gone without dance. Now I'm looking at five more weeks, at least. My best case scenario: back at the barre by the 11th of August. The more likely scenario: sometime in fall, hopefully before winter. At least I'm not sick or injured, so that's good. I'm struggling with my dance budget, is Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-51227022405641784272015-06-23T19:50:00.003+03:002015-06-23T19:56:51.621+03:00All That Jazz and Ballet Too
When I looked at the Kuopio Dance Festival's course programme, I searched for ballet classes first. That's my main focus, everything else comes second. I was delighted to see Arja Tervo teaching the professional morning classes and the adult intermediate course (among other levels). Arja substituted at my studio for six weeks this past spring, and I really enjoyed her friendly manner, Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-67192312089815781092015-06-12T20:29:00.004+03:002015-06-13T00:02:47.733+03:00Kuopio Dance Festival, Day 1: Here Comes the Rain Again
Finnish National Ballet Summer Tour: Snork Maiden is about to be entangled by some flesh-eating Angosturas... Excerpt from Anandah Kononen's ballet Moomin and the Comet. Artists of FNB. Photography (c) Johanna / Pointe Til You Drop.
The first day of the Kuopio Dance Festival began with sunshine but ended in rain for the Finnish National Ballet's Summer Tour.
Because of the moist stage, allJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-2425650318500718732015-04-29T01:48:00.002+03:002015-04-29T01:48:20.293+03:00A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Finnish National Ballet
A Midsummer Night's Dream, choreography by Jorma Elo. Pictured: Samuli Poutanen as Puck, with students of the
Finnish National Ballet School. Photography by Sakari Viika, courtesy of Finnish National Ballet.
Stars sliding down from the sky, moonlit fairies, a secret forest, magic love potion, confused lovers, dreams and awakenings, mirth and happy endings... It was a wonderful eveningJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-39625003625661977842015-02-23T16:59:00.001+02:002015-02-24T13:15:30.052+02:00My Ballet Habits
"A pirouette is not a pirouette unless you complete it." I was practising my turns on the side, when I got the correction/reprimand from our guest teacher. It was not the first time either. My own teacher is equally strict about it: you do not mark your arms in turns, and you always finish your pirouettes. In other words, cultivate only good habits.
Bad habits, once they have imprinted Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-50421460057951799722015-01-20T19:10:00.002+02:002015-01-20T19:23:41.955+02:00Quality, not Quantity
Quality, not quantity. How many times have you heard it, and still felt frustrated because you can't developpé your leg past 90 degrees or turn multiple pirouettes? Today, we had an adagio/stretch exercise where the last developpé a la seconde turned facing the barre. On my right side, it's a struggle every time. I try to lift my knee as high as it allows, but when I extend the leg, it feels Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-13870282138835549252015-01-19T14:18:00.000+02:002015-01-23T14:30:44.521+02:00Dancer's DNA
My DNA dictates that I do not have a beautiful body for ballet. My hips are too wide, my popo too square, my thighs too round, my arms and hands not graceful enough. My DNA dictates that I lack turn-out, hyper-mobility, and that my arabesques will always be low. My DNA dictates that I will never look like a ballerina. Well, to hell with those dictators!
My DNA has given me a strong body. It Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-39594191524278263102014-12-16T20:50:00.000+02:002014-12-16T20:50:01.690+02:00When You Feel Small, Dance Big
Sometimes, when we are doing agadio, arabesques and attitudes, I see myself in the mirror and think: it's never going to be beautiful. I'll never have the turn-out, lower back flexibility, hyper hip mobility, slender shape, whatnot. Now let me tell you this: it's a train of thought that will get you to Nowhere quicker than you can passé retiré. Don't go there. Instead, take the opposite track.Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-29943344444321279972014-11-24T22:57:00.000+02:002014-11-24T23:21:19.652+02:00Pretty in Purple
Every adult ballet dancer should have at least one perfect go-to-leotard, the kind that makes you feel pretty even on a shitty day. I have two, in my favourite colours of purple and blue. Both have half-length sleeves, which is probably not a coincidence. Let's just say that upper arms loose some of their firmness once you hit forty... I also have some lovely camisole and tank styles, because Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-36737135815939463882014-11-10T22:49:00.002+02:002014-11-10T23:10:26.615+02:00Dance Away
It was my third class with our guest teacher, and the tricky exercises were at last familiar. Not easy by any means, but I was no longer getting lost within all those changing directions. Time to focus on technique and corrections. But with a huge studio full of students, there was no time for any personal feedback. I had to fall back on myself. And as soon as the music started, so did the Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-74628084579031803542014-08-11T12:05:00.000+03:002014-08-11T13:32:37.113+03:00From Beach to Barre
Another summer coming to an end... My dance studio's fall/winter semester begins today, and I have my first morning class already tomorrow. I'm happy, because I've missed those classes, but I'm also feeling a bit of fall melancholy... Not quite ready to make the transition from life at the beach to schedules, adult responsibilities and outerwear. Thankfully, there is dance. What would life be Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-41924687876792246272014-06-15T14:32:00.001+03:002014-06-15T23:24:16.619+03:00When Kenneth's Friends Came to Dance
When I first found out about Finnish National Ballet's end-of-season ballet gala "Kenneth & Friends," I was over the moon... Tamara Rojo would dance in Helsinki! Oh my goddess! Friedemann Vogel from Stuttgart Ballet! Maria Kochetkova! Not to mention the divine Isabelle Ciaravola! As well as FNB's own beautiful dancers. I was doing a happy dance in my living room - until I realised that my Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-68560789084680950582014-04-08T22:31:00.004+03:002014-04-08T22:48:12.385+03:00Ten Questions, Ten Answers
Dear Readers and fellow dancers, it's time for another questionnaire... I hope you have time to answer as many questions as you like! To start, here are mine:
1. What is your favorite time for ballet class?
How about always? Ok, seriously. I love my morning classes, because nothing gets in the way between waking up and taking to the barre. Except for a good breakfast, you can't dance Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620316363664400359.post-12206739104787905412014-02-17T23:02:00.002+02:002014-02-18T18:11:59.050+02:00"You Should be Doing Triples"
"You should be doing triples." Just something one of my teachers said last Saturday, during pirouette exercises. Before that, I had managed a few wobbly doubles and a couple of fairly neat singles. Okay, I was really tired (late Friday night), but that's not my excuse. The truth is, that after twenty years of ballet, I'm still working on turning consistently clean doubles. With Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06703652246667999345noreply@blogger.com9