I have done ballet since I was five years old, so I was very excited to take ballet class every week during my semester in Kyoto at K.Classic Ballet Studio.\u00a0\u00a0 Initial contact was a bit daunting, as it involved painstakingly reviewing rather simple emails to make sure they didn\u2019t involve any embarrassing keigo mishaps.\u00a0 My first day at the studio, I was very nervous, wondering how out-of-place I would look and feel.\u00a0 However, as we took our places at the barre to begin class, I felt completely at home.<\/p>\n
The etiquette in a typical ballet class shares a lot in common with that of Japanese society.\u00a0 Politeness and humility, especially toward one\u2019s teacher and to older students, are essential, as is following the rules of classical dance.\u00a0 Uniformity is emphasized; the students all wear a similar style of leotard, tights, and ballet slippers.\u00a0 Even the Japanese rule of not wearing street shoes indoors applies to ballet studios.\u00a0 I realized that having grown up taking ballet classes helped me to adjust to life in Japan.<\/p>\n
The content of ballet classes here is comfortingly familiar.\u00a0 The same French ballet terms are used, although they are uttered in Kansai-ben.\u00a0 Our teacher is very direct in her critique, and ballet class is the only setting in Japan in which most of the Japanese I hear is in command form.\u00a0 However, although class is very formal, the students have been very welcoming. \u00a0I feel that we relate to each other because of our shared love for ballet and because of our shared lifestyles, which have been shaped by ballet.<\/p>\n
Through my classes at K.Classic Ballet, I have been able to challenge myself to branch out beyond the community at KCJS and Doshisha.\u00a0 Ballet classes themselves do not offer much opportunity for communication practice, as everyone, besides the teacher, is expected to be silent.\u00a0 It was the moments in the dressing room when I worked up the courage to ask someone their name or to compliment their dancing\u2014and the conversations which stemmed from these initial remarks\u2014which were the most rewarding regarding interaction with the other ballet students.\u00a0 In my experience, taking initiative to interact with my CIP peers, along with choosing an activity I am truly passionate about, have definitely been key to having a meaningful community experience in Kyoto.<\/p>\n
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I have done ballet since I was five years old, so I was very excited to take ballet class every week during my … \u7d9a\u304d\u3092\u8aad\u3080