A matter of respect

Ballet class etiquette is a mystery.
As an adult beginner, I look to the other girls who know the deal for guidance, and I am corrected by teachers when I commit faux pas, and I watch the corrections others receive.
For example, I’ve been called out in class for:
Looking at the clock, which is impolite as it implies I’m looking forward to class being over. Not true. Bad habit! In fact, Highball corrected a girl for wearing a watch. He said, “the wristwatch is only for the teacher!” She and several other people in the class quickly took off their watches and put them away.
Drinking water between barre exercises. I think this is bad because it holds up the class, but sometimes I get the impression that it’s also a matter of attracting attention to yourself when everyone at the barre should function as a whole? Maybe? Like doing it says ‘look at me and my important water-drinking needs’?? I’ve learned that drinking water should happen between barre and center.
Other people have been corrected for:
Talking and chewing gum. Well, Duh. Same as any other class.
Hair-dos and jewelry. This varies from teacher to teacher. I saw Highball scold girls for wearing their hair in ponytails, on the other hand Kir regularly wears a ponytail to Smirnoff’s class and holds it with her mouth during pirouettes. Same with jewelry: Highball scolds, Smirnoff praises.
I’ve read that wearing a longish skirt is an honor reserved for teachers, so one should take care to only buy short skirts. I’ve never had a teacher who wore a skirt at all though, it’s all been leggings or those funny black plastic sweat pants.

About these ads