My first exposure to ballet, as far back as my memory allows, would be the Barbie Nutcracker movie. Despite its clear areas for improvement in hindsight (i.e., the 2000s-character animation quality and the somewhat grainy screenplay), the effortless grace exuded by Barbie Clara in the Grand Pas de Deux with the Nutcracker Prince was certainly groundbreaking for a 5-year-old’s mental capacity.
This initial fascination with ballet evolved into more of a mature appreciation for the art itself, especially after enjoying several ballet performances put up by the Houston Ballet. Putting into perspective the grueling long hours of practice and the almost superhuman demand for the strength, endurance and flexibility required to perfect the form, the fluid ease of the ballerinas on stage only appears tenfold more impressive.
Despite all my aesthetic appreciation as a connoisseur of the arts, I never once imagined that a normie like me would have the opportunity to learn to dance it until I came to Vanderbilt. One day, while doomscrolling with a new location-based algorithm in our college town, a Nashville Ballet advertisement popped up on my Instagram feed to promote a beginner ballet lesson for $5.
Naturally, I was determined to uncover the hidden trap in something that seemed too good to be true, yet I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were no fine print nor hidden fees associated with this package. For $5, I could sign up for any lesson that worked with my schedule, and that was it. Never one to say no to opportunities that come my way, I sent the website to my friend Erina and enlisted her on this side quest to try out the lesson — neither of us having dance experience of any kind.
Saturday rolled around, and it began with a small hiccup. We showed up to the lesson almost 15 minutes late, having grabbed VandyBlenz before the class, which meant we had to hover awkwardly by the door bearing the badge of shame for around 30 seconds, as the class was already well underway. The instructor was more than gracious enough to pause the class momentarily and usher us in. No feather was ruffled from our tardiness, and Erina and I quickly made our way to the back of the studio room by the barre.
It soon became apparent to me that I had made an error in booking the more advanced beginner class instead of the amateur one, but thankfully, whatever feeling of unease I had didn’t linger for long. The instructor was more than happy to come to the back of the room and catch us up on the five rudimentary ballet positions. The placement of my feet came easily enough, but the slope in my shoulders would soon prove to be a source of constant correction as I tended to droop them if I was not paying enough attention. Satisfied that Erina and I knew the basics of what to do with our arms and feet, he led us to the barre at the room’s very front to keep a closer eye on us.
At that point, I was still feeling a little self-conscious from the instructor’s first-timer-exclusive attention showered upon us, but the contagion of his patient warmth and the positive energy of the class were undeniable. There was not the least bit of competitive judgment, and everyone was simply there to have fun and take part in a unique form of art. Being in front of the room allowed me to survey my classmates and ascertain what walks of life they were from. There were men and women of all age groups — students and young professionals in Nashville, Tennessee, like us, as well as those who experienced a bit of difficulty shifting their weight on one leg. Empowered by the uplifting dynamic in the room, I felt ready to tackle the more advanced moves that the instructor was beginning to introduce.
Both modern pop and classical music tracks were played to accustom us to the rhythm, and he helped along by counting the beats aloud to our benefit. “Within softness, there is steel” — this Chinese saying exemplifies the revered grace of ballet we get to admire on stage. The core engagement and muscular tension demanded of a dancer is surprisingly difficult to hold, even for the most basic moves. Reaching the stage-like finesse we have taken for granted would certainly take innumerable trials of unseen errors and quiet failures in the rehearsal room.
The pace of the class picked up relatively quickly for us first-timers, as it was at the advanced beginner level. The last 20-30 minutes of class were spent rehearsing the routine in the center of the studio floor, where we were split into groups to try to replicate what we learned from the past hour — only without the aid of the barre to support our balance. Because of my previous athletic history, I already knew how to engage my core effectively, so I felt wired, pumped and, dare I say, somewhat graceful as I stretched, elongated and spun while remaining balanced. I was far from perfect by a long shot — but trust me, that would never be expected of you. Just bring your energy and openness to have fun on the floor.
Our final takeaway is that we would 100% recommend this experience to anyone on the fence about taking this class. The instructor, Graham, with his joy and expertise, still made it a beginner-friendly experience for us, despite our skill level mismatch. Everyone was also so welcoming that Erina and I even spent some time getting college advice from two young professionals after class in the hallway. However, the highlight of this excursion was interviewing Melissa Mangold, an administrative coordinator and teaching faculty member in the Nashville Ballet’s Children’s Division and Academy, who let me in on all the different ways Nashville Ballet brings more faces into the studio.
The $5 lesson is only a piece of everything Nashville Ballet offers for the goal of sharing its joy with the community and overcoming ballet’s history of “being accessible only to people who have a certain level of means,” Mangold said.
Nashville Ballet strives to extend these opportunities to students in Title IX schools, as they can discover their interest through movement lessons by teaching dancers and the chance to dance for free — shoes, classes, uniforms and any performance fees paid for.
For children in local areas without access nor exposure, the company “can provide things like giving them tickets to see our shows like the Nutcracker or a scholarship to come and dance with us,” Mangold said.
She also spoke about the “Holiday Magic” program coordinated by Community Engagement Manager Brianna, where she will provide free show tickets to local nonprofit organizations based in low-income or marginalized communities.
“I enjoy giving the gift of communication, inner dialogue and especially another way for kids to navigate their bodies, their minds and their souls. If I can give just a teeny tiny piece of gift, that’s my favorite part — giving the gift of movement to other kids,” Mangold stated.
Take this as your sign to try out the ballet class. There is an academy of passionate, brilliant, local ballerinas in our Nashville community who cannot wait to share their love of the art with you. Low pressure, no sweat and you may discover a lifelong hobby — or at the very least have a great time.
