I am a male Indian classical dancer in the Chicago suburbs who has had a break from dancing for about 4 years now. That translates to not being in good shape because of a job in the fast moving corporate world. I do try to keep up my dancing along witht the job (which I do love) as much as I can.

I have had to refuse a lot of opportunities to dance in the last few months because I am not in shape and these opportunities were places where I just had to go in, rehearse for a couple of days, and perform choreography that is very familiar to me. Something I could have done very earily. Felt pretty bad that I had to refuse them.

Anyway, wanting to get back in shape again, the closest thing I can find to a dance focussed exercise/stretching routine (besides basic get-in-shape stuff like jogging and some cardio at the gym) seems to be starting some basic preliminary ballet routines. Hence this post.

Could someone give me ideas for studios/teachers who I might look for in the NW suburbs of Chicago? I would need this person to be very patient since I have never done anything with ballet before and my dance training and technique (Bharatanatyam - Indian classical dance) is VERY different in approach in its approach to movement. My idea is not to become a ballet dancer, but to use the ballet training and exercises to get in shape and improve posture so that I may perform Bharatanatyam well.

Someone in the Arlington Hts, Palatine, Schaumburg, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove area of the NW suburbs is preferred.

Any pointers will be greatly appreciated! Regards,Vinod

• Re: Preliminary ballet training - Chicago - balletboy - 15.03. 21:09:37