And its this:  The women really need to be admired!

Yes, they really do want to be looked at and desired.  In every class there is bound to be at least one "leotard queen" (i.e. a woman who is into wearing leotards, enjoys it and wears it likes she means it!).

But the case is ballet culture desires a lot of smiling and encouragement.

As a man you are expected to be upbeat, optimistic and SMILING all the time. ( I swear my mouth hurt from all that smiling!)

Anyway, the women expect and demand attention from the men (and this goes for all the women---don't be caught being selective or the other women will shy away and the one you are going after might feel singled out and shy off).  Instead, consider yourself a vat of honey from which all the bees (ballerinas) are free to stop and help themselves.  If you do this soon you will have them flocking.If someone singles YOU out, be curteous but see the other "bees" too.  Don't get into the small clique routine in which you only talk to one or two people in class and everyone else might as well be on Mars.

Also, don't get into a rappore with the teacher alone to the exclusion of the other students.  Many teachers do strike up a rappore with the males in the class (but don't let yourself into a position were you are talking to the teacher alone to the exclusion of everyone else).  Find an excuse (many times there is a line) to break away and perhaps walk out with some of the students.

Alright, I hope this stuff made some type of sense.

Ballerinas really like male attention, and I say this to the exclusion of the males age or looks.  In my last class I had a guy who must have been 45 yrs old, but he had way more class than I did, and had more of a rappore going with the class than I ever had.  Women just thrive off attention and emotion, especially ballerinas!

Ok, the downside is all this attenion to the ladies is bound to leave you psychologically exhausted at the end of the day (but that is why they call women vampires isn't it?).  Hang in there!  If you don't feel like going to class a particular day, don't.  In fact, the more scarce you are in class, the more desirable your presence will be once you show up.

Allright, now shape.  Try to get rid of the bread and the sugar, do crunchies (and the ilk) and you will be in good enough shape.

I mentioned previously community college classes are preferable to a studio class if you can get one (the girls are older + no dress code).

Also, don't forget to be especially nice and attentive to the leotard queens because if you pay no attention to them, they will feel odd and stop wearing their skirtless leotards to class!

OK, I hope I wasn't babbling too much.  I just want to expose the psychology of a ballet class as far as a male is concerned.

So please, smile, be poised, be attentive,and don't take anything too seriously (you are wearing tights for Chrissakes!!)

Happy Dancing,

J.S.