I’ve managed to find an absolute beginner ballet class on Sunday afternoons, at Central School of Ballet. But the first lesson I’ll be able to attend is in January 2012. I’m looking forward to that. Let’s hope I don’t get too addicted.

It’s funny how I started pole partially because I wanted to improve my climbing, and totally got addicted to pole, such that my climbing now takes a back-seat compared to my pole training. And now I’m intending to take up ballet to improve my pole (improve grace, flexibility, stamina, core strength) – I hope I don’t end up relegating pole!

Although, having said that, it’s probably easier to continue ballet for a longer time, up to an older age, than pole, because it probably requires less brute strength and is probably less taxing on the joints. But I won’t know for sure until I try it out.

In the meanwhile, I’m getting quite discouraged and bummed out about pole. I was really hoping I would be able to pass Level 5 by the end of 2012. But now, this looks like it’s unlikely to happen: my climb eagles seem to have flown away, cat ripples (a.k.a. “caterpillar” to others) seem more like squirming worms since I’m struggling to get my bum off the pole and push it backwards and upwards, struggling with starfish into superman, haven’t strung together or practised 3 of the 4 required assessment combos in a long long time (if ever), and in particular I seem to have lost my bow & arrow and pencil (both pencil mount and hangback into pencil).

So I’m thinking, even if I pass, this will be very much a scrape-through, barely-there type of pass, which isn’t great, and probably not that safe to be training on the next level. On the other hand, I’m probably not going to be able to train at the next level in regular class anyway, so it probably doesn’t matter whether I scrape through or not, since I’ll be continuing my training privately and safely. But still, I’d like to be officially assessed and passed by the founder and principal instructor of the school – it feels like it’s more valid somehow, although my private instructor / teacher N is really lovely and strict too. And if I sign up for regular class next year, it will be N who assesses me. Which is probably good because she has better visibility on my ability, but at the same time, the wannabe teacher’s-pet in me wants a stamp of approval from E, the principal instructor. Childish, I know.

I’m wondering if I should try to push through anyway, and get N to coach me on the assessment combos this weekend, or if I should just continue with my longer term training plan, which will strengthen me anyway and be useful for my would-be performance sometime next year (i.e. I would like to perform a choreographed routine, ideally with a partner – less embarrassing and daunting – otherwise solo).

I guess I’ll see how I feel on the day itself. I’m probably especially bummed out today because I’m a bit tired, and achy (left calf aching), and my left shoulder hurts.. it feels a bit messed up, like I put too much pressure on it. I was really quite rubbish at – Handstand – during my Wednesday class (way to go, descriptive handstand name! It’s the one from an inside angel going into splits) – I kept sliding down in my inside angel, and it was a pain because I was stuck on a faraway pole with no access to mirrors. Need to really book a good pole in future! Hopefully my shoulder recovers in time for class on Sunday. On the other hand, I’m also really happy that I was practically doing front/back splits on both sides (left and right legs) on Tuesday in my other school’s “booty class“ it was the closest I’ve ever been to being completely flat on the ground, probably because Ed completely exhausted all my leg / butt / hip muscles, which gave up on trying to fight the split and just allowed me to slip all the way down to the floor. It’s a real shame I don’t have pictures.

Anyway, tomorrow will be a better day, I hope!