Hi, my name is Salem and I'm a devoted ballet dancer from New Zealand.
I am a freelance dancer and dance teacher.
This is my journey to have a career in the profession that I am so passionate about, and I have done it my way.
Today was Salem's last practice session for the year.
It's not open tomorrow either, pity as Salem really wants to do some work on his dances and to do some more pointe practice.
Normally he doesn't take his pointe shoes to the gym as the floor is incredibly slippery and he is constantly having to wet his normal ballet shoes so he isn't slipping all the time. Unfortunately we can't use rosin there.
So we put yoga mats on the floor which worked quite well and used the step ladder as a barre.
Salem hasn't been doing as much pointe practice lately due to being so busy with all his other dancing but is now very determined to put loads of practice in and to have a dance choreographed and ready for competitions towards the later part of 2014.
We are thinking a demi-character dance would be good.
Salem is now on to his third pair of pointe shoes and we aren't colouring them yet until we decide on costuming, that's if his feet don't grow before then.
His last two pairs of pointe shoes were Bloch Sylphide's but we decided to go for a Grishko pair, not sure what they are called but they fit him perfectly and have a slightly longer vamp and are nice and narrow.
He says they are very comfortable. So we are sticking to these ones now.
Last Acro class of the year.
So we will end this year with a photo of Salem's Acro class, we hope you had a great Christmas and wish you
Friday night was the last class of 2013 for the Intermediate Lyrical/Jazz/Acro class.
It was a very fun class with everything done to christmassy songs, lots of tinsel, pom poms and rewards of chocolate for doing the splits ....... always a good thing!!
But it still means plenty of practice for a dancer.
This week Salem had two lessons with Jonty as Jacqui was away.
Jonty said that Salem's feet have improved so much in 5th position, is looking very good.
Thank you Michelle for all your work with getting Salem to position his feet correctly.
At Salem's practice sessions at the gym this week he has been going through all his competition dances, and some jazz, contemporary, barefoot and some impromptus for all styles.
And added in some acro for good measure too. Always good at the end of a session as he is very warmed up and flexible.
Practicing Headstands
His acro is going well and is getting to master headstands.
Salem has just finished choreographing an acro dance to a good old 80's song, "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats.
Salem performed it for Jonty on Thursday and Jonty was most impressed.
Over the next week or so, Salem is having a break from lessons and just doing a couple of practices at the gym and some at home. Our front lawn is great for practicing dances and acro. If Salem doesn't do any dancing, he doesn't know what to do with himself!!!!
It was the last class for the Grade One Ballet Class for the year, so everyone was allowed to get dressed up for class. Two of the class weren't there today but it looks like everyone had a good class.
Salem was Ballet Santa and at the end of the class Salem gave everyone a couple of little chocolates.
He has loved being teacher's assistant to this class this term and is looking forward to continuing next year.
Doing this class is also helping him learn what the BTDA syllabus is like for the younger grades and will be a big help for him when it comes to exam time when he does his BTDA Intermediate exam.
I have just started a fundraiser for Salem to help raise the money for him to go the National Boy's Ballet Summer Camp in Sydney next summer. This will help with air fares and the cost of the camp.
