My first ballet class was many years ago at the age of sixteen. I took it very seriously, pouring over every aspect of ballet and keeping binders full of my notes on technique, corrections, dance anatomy, ballet history and repertoire, and so on. Sadly, I was disappointed in every teacher I tried beyond my first ballet teacher...until I found Eric. It took fifteen years, five teachers, three cities, and four ballet schools to find him, but it was worth the wait. When I moved here I had not danced for over six years because I was so uninspired from my searching. I was prepared to try many teachers in the area, but I stopped looking around after taking just one class from Eric.
Eric's classes are positive and energetic, with just the right amount of humor woven into the hard work. He offers practical theory to help us understand the mechanics behind a step, breaks them down into simpler movements, explains which muscles are used and why, and gives real-life examples or mental imagery to help things click. This multi-layered aspect to Eric's teaching helps new dancers feel less overwhelmed, and helps experienced dancers reach new levels of execution or artistry.
I think Eric is the only ballet teacher I have come across that I would unconditionally recommend to beginners through professionals of every age, and every dancer in between. His approach to teaching is perfect for both the serious dancer and those who want to dip their toe into the water to try ballet for the first time. He is accessible, knowledgable, experienced, kind, and patient. He has a great way of making new students and new dancers feel at ease while adding in extra challenges for experienced dancers to improve their strength and technique. His classes are hard work, but oh so rewarding and fun.
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