Dear Colin,
I want to know if I should start ballet, but not as a professional. People have always told me that I look like a ballerina. I’m thin with long arms and legs, and I’m flexible (I don’t have much trouble doing the splits), but I’m 17 and I haven’t been en pointe at all! Secondly, my feet are totally flat. What should I do?
America CT, 17

Dear America CT,
If you are not aiming for a career in dance then there is no problem. There is no benefit in learning to dance en pointe at a young age. In fact, the later you start the better because you’ve had time to prepare your body for the demands of pointe work. Having said that – a dancer’s body, legs and feet need to be prepared for pointe work to prevent injury. Only a teacher who is working with you will be able to advise when you are ready. So, go for it. Dance is a lot of fun and if you already look like a ballerina then you are halfway there!
Best wishes,
Colin

Brett Chynoweth, Mitchell Rayner, Sarah Thompson and Noah Gumbert. Photography Jeff Busby

Dear Colin,
I am 73 years old and want to learn ballet. Can you tell me where to go? Please help. I have a good attitude and lots of time now that I am retired.
Bryan

Dear Bryan,
I applaud your attitude, congratulations! The key to a healthy retirement is to maintain your physical fitness and dance is an ideal form of exercise. Although there are many dance studios that offer dance classes for adults, may I suggest that you try social dance rather than ballet? Ballroom dancing, bootscooting, and square dancing are not only fun to do but also a great means of socialising. Meeting new friends and having fun while you maintain your physical fitness; is there a better way of spending your retirement?
All the best,
Colin

You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com

Photography Jim McFarlane

Every week we receive some wonderful emails quizzing us on The Australian Ballet dancers’ feet, training regimes, lifestyles, diets, tutus, pointe shoes, and their life after ballet. Recently, one email in particular caught our eye. Blog reader Azura wrote to us about her great grandmother, a young vaudeville performer who was known as Babs St Clair the Musical Mascot …

Hello Mr Peasley,

My name is Azura (I know, I have the same name as that ship ). I am 13 and a ballet student. I don’t have a question for you, but I do want to share some pictures and some press clippings with you of my great grandmother, Josie Melville. My great grandmother spent most of her childhood on stage as a small vaudeville performer and in J. C. Williamson’s productions. Her first name was Elsie but her stage name was Babs St Clair the Musical Mascot. Babs was one of three girls chosen to be supernumeraries for Anna Pavlova’s Adelaide tour in 1929. I have inherited my great grandmother’s press clippings book and a thesis written about her, which was going to be turned into a book. I will one day donate it to The Performing Arts Collection in Adelaide as we have been told that there is not another press clipping book like it. Babs’ dance teacher was Louise Larson and this is what she had to say about my great grandmother in 1923 in a journal called Pam: Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Colin,
I just completed my first year of Cecchetti ballet, and have discovered a deep passion for it. I can’t imagine a world without dance now, and I would adore it if it could be my career. I understand the difficulty of this, but I would still like to try. What can I do to improve my technique?
Mikhaela, 14

Dear Mikhaela,
One of the biggest joys of learning to dance is discovering that you have a passion for it. It is this passion that will help you improve your technique. All you need to do is to continue attending classes and you will be amazed at how quickly you improve. One thing you should remember is that learning anything worthwhile takes effort and commitment. As our Artistic Director David McAllister says, “talent is work”! But dance is well worth the effort, because your training will give you heights of exhilaration and a sense of purpose that few other endeavours can provide. Mikhaela, follow your dream!
Best wishes,
Colin

You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com

Image: Karen Nanasca and Noah Gumbert. Photography Jeff Busby

Dear Colin,
My 13-year-old daughter dances and loves it, she aspires to become a professional one day. However, like many girls, she’s insecure about her weight. Could you suggest a diet and exercise plan that would be safe for a person her age?

Much thanks,
Janet

Dear Janet,
Nutrition is such an important subject that The Australian Ballet always gets the advice of a dietitian/nutritionist to help its dancers, and I suggest you do the same.  By assessing the amount of dance training your daughter is currently doing and her eating habits, the dietitian will be able to guide her in her quest to become a professional dancer.

Best wishes,
Colin

You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com

Image: Kristy Corea and  Sarah Thompson Photography Jeff Busby

I am 14 years old and a very keen ballet dancer. Over the last year I have really worked a lot on strengthening and improving different elements of my dancing. I have been fairly successful and have seen a very big improvement in myself as a dancer. One thing that I have had trouble with, though, is my turnout. Could you offer me any advice on how to achieve better turnout?
Beth

Dear Beth,
Turnout is governed by individual anatomy. Your range of turnout can be improved but only by a small amount. I suggest you see a dance physiotherapist and have your range of turnout checked and ask for an exercise regime to help you improve it.  Please remember, though, that although turnout is essential for a classical ballet technique, how you utilise it is more important than how much you have.

Best wishes,
Colin

You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com

Image: Lucinda Dunn. Photography Jim McFarlane

Dear Colin
It is my dream to join The Australian Ballet, but my Mum says that I should have some plans for when my dance career finishes.  My question is how long is the average dancer’s career and what do dancers do when they retire?  Also is it possible to study while dancing professionally?
Lenore

Bravo Mum!
I believe that education is the most important detail that should be considered when planning a professional career in dance.  All full-time schools now insist on students gaining an academic education at the same time they study dance.

Dance is physical, so the duration of a career is dependent on the physical well-being of the individual.  Just as all sports people come to a time when their body will no longer react the way they need it to, the same applies to dancers.   This is usually around the late thirties.  However, this is not the main reason to have a good education.  The reasons people cannot or do not continue to dance are varied and it is only sensible to be prepared.

A large number of the dancers in The Australian Ballet are in the midst of or just completing further education courses.  So yes it is possible, in fact it is actively encouraged by our management.  This broadens the dancers’ opportunities when they do decide to leave.  Ex-Australian Ballet dancers have become lawyers, health professionals, IT technicians, travel consultants, actors, designers and a few are even dance teachers!

Best,

Colin

Dear Colin,
Can you tell me what a male ballet dancer is called?
Kathy

Dear Kathy
That’s exactly what they are called – male dancers! Originally in Italy they were known as ‘ballerinos’ but this was never used outside of that country. In France they are called ‘danseurs’ and this is occasionally used in other countries, but in English speaking countries the regular term is simply ‘male dancers’. In The Australian Ballet they are also know by the rank they have obtained in the company – corps de ballet, coryphée, soloist, senior artist and our top rank, principal artist. You can learn more about our male dancers on our website.
Best wishes,
Colin

Dear Colin,
My nine-year-old son Orlando is only one of two boys enrolled in our local small town dance school.  Although he is extremely dedicated, how can we encourage his continuing involvement in dance during future years when his resolve may be tested?
Rhonda

Dear Rhonda
The main problem with learning dance in a small town dance school is the lack of competition for male dancers.  Males need to feel challenged so that they do not lose interest.  As there is only one other male in the school, I suggest that you stimulate his interest with DVDs of dance, especially ones where the male dancers exhibit athletic as well as aesthetic excellence . It would also be a good idea if his teacher occasionally rewarded his hard work by allowing him to join a higher class. Finally, ask the teacher of the school to join The Australian Ballet Buddies programme.  This allows the students of the school to correspond with a company dancer and, when the occasion arises, meet with them.  More information can be found on our website .
Best wishes,
Colin

You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com

Images: Tristan Message takes a Boys’ Day class. Photography Jim McFarlane
Kevin Jackson. Photography Justin Smith

Dear Colin,
I am 13 years old and LOVE to dance, especially classical ballet. I would like to audition for The Australian Ballet School soon. Can you tell me what they are looking for when they select dancers for the school?
Hannah

Hi Hannah,
Like all full-time dance schools, the Australian Ballet School chooses gifted students who combine a passion for dance with a physique that can withstand the demands of vocational training. This is especially important for The Australian Ballet School because it is dedicated to producing technically strong classical ballet dancers with an emphasis on artistry and purity of line.

You can discover more about the School, including audition details, on their website.

Wishing you a successful future in dance,
Colin

You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com

Image: Ako Kondo and Jessica Fyfe from The Australian Ballet School in rehearsal for The Dancers Company 2009 tour. Photography Jessica Bialek

Dear Colin,
I have been dancing for ten years now, and I’d really like to become a professional. How does one become a dancer? What do I have to do? Do I have to be a certain body shape or type, and have certain abilities?
Regards,
Amelia

Dear Amelia,
Dance companies usually advertise in dance magazines and/or in the arts section of the weekend newspapers. However, companies like The Australian Ballet, which has an affiliated school, seldom advertise. These companies only offer new contracts at the beginning of each year and on the rare occasions when they have a vacancy during the year. Musical comedy companies also advertise in the newspapers, but if you want to know when more opportunities are available – television shows, commercials, industry shows, cabaret and theatre restaurants – it is worth considering joining a theatrical agency.  These people make their living from discovering when dancers are wanted and will work hard for you, however they will charge for their expertise.

If you have a company that you really admire, discover as much as you can about it. The dancers they are already employing are the type of dancer they prefer, so by seeing them in action you will discover the dance and performing abilities that the company require. If they match yours, then you should write for an audition. If the company is interested in you they will keep you in mind when vacancies become available.

Before writing your letter think about why you want the position and why you think the company would give it to you. Match your skills to the company’s needs. Highlight your strengths and mention all of your training which you feel will be of use to the company. Include a copy of your resume, some current photos and if possible a short video of your work. Four or five days later, follow up your letter with a phone call. Always remember to be polite. You will need to establish good relations everywhere you go. Your career will depend on it.

A career that I hope will be very successful,
Colin Peasley

You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com

Jarryd Madden and Brooke Lockett. Photography Chloe Ferres

Dear Colin,
I’m curious as to the origins of the term ‘chookas’. David says: “ … all the ‘chookas’ cards have been written … ” I’ve seen it mentioned in Dance Train and sometimes in newsletters from my daughter’s dance school, but (although I know it means something along the lines of ‘have fun!’ or ‘good luck’) where did the term come from? Why is it used, and is it only used by dancers? Come to think of it, does it have anything to do with ‘lame ducks’ which has got to be one of the weirdest ballet terms ever!
Jen Stosser

Dear Jen,
I have been told that the use of ‘chookas’ to wish a performer good luck is uniquely Australian. It seems to have come into use during the early days of J.C. Williamson’s dominance of the theatre scene in Australia. In the early 1900s chicken was regarded as a treat (even in my experience ‘chicken in the basket’ was the most expensive dish on a menu). As most shows paid fees depending on the box-office take, a full house meant that the performers would be able to afford a chicken meal. The cry ‘chook it is’ was shortened to ‘chookas’, and eventually used by performers to wish each other a successful show regardless of the number of people in the auditorium.

For dancers in particular it is far better than the alternative term for good luck, ‘break a leg’!

Cheers,
Colin

You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com