The Magical 3rd Class
This month, instead of two ballet classes per week, I’m taking three. The additional class has already made a difference.
The most obvious effect is that the improvement of technique accelerates dramatically. With only a day or two between each class, there is simply no time to forget. This got me thinking about the marginal benefits of adding a fourth class. Then a fifth and a sixth! Could I effectively reach the elusive 10,000 Hours by just increasing my weekly attendance? I took my question to Ballet Bob and he countered with a firm, “Definitely not.”
Bob explained that ballet is powerful in shaping bodies and the most crucial element in this shaping is alignment. Here, small, gradual doses of change work best since proper ballet form is so unnatural. By adding too many classes at once, the uninitiated body becomes exhausted and begins to rely on bad (read: lazy) technique. Poor technique compromises proper alignment and long-term advancement therefore becomes unlikely. In short, the law of diminishing returns kicks in.
Three classes per week is perfect. The body has just enough time to recover while achieving proper alignment through correct muscle memory and slow strengthening. Any less than three and the mind and muscles start to forget. As well, strength is only maintained, not increased. But with more than three classes, the muscles, tired from too many classes, will rely on bad form. It’s key then, to have the patience to gradually develop proper, albeit slow-growing, alignment and strength. Once this happens, add more classes so that you never forget it.
There is an old dance adage that says, “Miss one class and you will notice. Miss two classes and your teacher will notice. Miss three and the audience knows.” Put differently, you (and maybe even your teacher) will notice that progression quickens by moving from one, to two, then to three classes per week. But until your skeleton becomes abnormally perfect and your muscles freakishly strong, don’t do more than that.