Get on your toes

Ava Bharucha

While ballet is practised the world over, for viewers, the art form is pretty much the same everywhere. However, the method and style of training differs greatly with different forms. There are three schools of training - the European, the French and the Russian. The Russian way is the Vaganova style. Our school works with this style, which today is the mother of all styles," says ballerina Ava Bharucha. After a year of only online classes, this Friday, Bharucha is set to helm her first in-person class post the lockdown, at the Waterstones Club in Andheri. The endeavour is being supported by Sportsfort, a sports management company.

This one-hour demo session combines elements of gymnastics with ballet, inviting children from ages five and above to learn the basics. "Gymnastics is the best way to train the body, because the demands of a ballerina's body are no less than that of an elite athlete. A ballet dancer needs a huge amount of back and limb strength, and the best way to get this, especially for children, is to gothrough the gymnastics route. For adults the process is different," she says.

The session will be broken up into two segments - a 20-minute acrobatics and gymnastics section and a 40-minute part dedicated to choreographic and artistic work. For younger participants, these elements will be combined into an acro-ballet routine, to help them develop strength and range. At the end of the session, the attendees will have to showcase their own routines too. "All that's needed is a pair of cycling shorts, a vest, socks and the hair to be combed into a neat bun behind the head," concludes Bharucha.

On: August 27, 5 pm onwards
At: Waterstones Club, Mumbai
Log on to: in.bookyshow.com
Cost: Rs 500