Open Class for a Ballet Dancer

     Moving into my Junior year at Butler, I've found myself falling into a pretty standard routine for my supplementary training. Generally, when I'm at school, I find the curriculum to be extremely stimulating. There's enough variety between the ballet classes to explore several ways of moving, and enough other forms of dance presented to us to diversify our education. While the program does offer many important aspects of dance, it does not offer everything. It is important for the modern day dancer, ballet or otherwise, to explore several different ways of moving. That's why whenever I have the opportunity, I force myself to take open class.

Photo by: Allie Martin Photography

    If you're lucky enough, you live close to a major city that offers all kinds of dance. Your breaks can be filled with West African dance, Gaga improvisation classes, hip hop, or even Irish step dance. If not, it is important that you make the time to visit a major city (Chicago is only a bus ride away, and cheaper to fly out of than Indianapolis Airport) to explore these options. Taking open class is a skill that many ballet dancers lack. We get comfortable doing our style our way with our teachers.  If you only move one way, you're only marketable to a few companies. And if that's what you want then fine, but good luck trying to find a job!  

    Many students enter Butler with the idea that after their four years, they'll get a contract with a ballet company and that will be the end of it. Frankly that's not always the case. You have to be ready to open your mind to other ideas, such as freelance work. Most freelance work requires you to do things you've never done before. A lot of projects and directors involved with freelance work will watch open classes at places like Broadway Dance Center. You taking class may be an audition for someone you don't even know is watching. You have to always be on your A game and willing to try and go for anything.

   This is a scary thing for many "Trina's" but I'm telling you, it's a necessary part of the business. If you've gotta dance, you've gotta work and go that extra mile. You may never get to be in a professional ballet company after you graduate, but you also may do work that no one else you've ever danced with has the opportunity to do. Lots of traveling companies are project based, allowing you to see parts of the world you've never seen before. Opening yourself to new ideas is what college is all about!  So go the distance and take lots of open classes when you can!  Chances are you might find a way of moving that you never thought you'd enjoy. 

This post was written by Niklas Nelson, a member of the class of 2017 (pictured above).