I went through the drill sargent many times over before I found yoga and discovered the concept of "internalizing." I never had a "center" before that. I had different arrangements of my body parts that would stabilize me. I had sequences of technical movements that looked good to an observer. But was I dancing ballet? I think not!
The way so many kids, teens, and adults learn ballet is based on the technical rather than the expression of sealf.
Today in ballet I feel the dance, be it a barre exercise, a center exercise, an exercise across the floor, etc. That way I leave a ballet class energized rather than pissed because I couldn't do this that or the other thing correctly. I express myself in each exercise and feel good about the feeling I can express even if the technique is not perfect.
You said: "This time around I found private instruction to let me analyze, investigate, and be "FREE"! (notice how I said "let me") Ballet can be really interal, egotistic, and self expressive once you get a decent repritoire of movement under your belt, and if you have a choreographer or self expressive mind. One of the great things about ballet is all the steps can transition from one to another (basically why turnout and flexibility, strength, and endurance are so important). >...just another point of view."
An admirable point of view!
balletboy
PS: I have to be honest about one thing. I believe turnout is important to ballet, but not everyone can have perfect turnout. I'd give a little on turnout. (Maybe that's because I don't have perfect turnout and that always frustrated me.) But "flexibility, strength and endurance" are key![/i]