Rüta Pakalne (LV) - Generation 11

Dear Janet will be missed grately! One of the greatest teachers of all time! You never made ballet difficult: it was hard work but it was playfulness and laughs. You totally and completely changed the way how we looked at and did ballet! I learnt so much from you - with your mentoring we did things that, I never thought I could do. I fell in love with ballet classes at PARTS because they were so accessible. I remember how during the first part of the year we only could bring our legs up to 45 degrees angle and not more, stand in releve only little bit off the ground and if we tried to do more you brought us back down. We learnt how to use our body - anatomically in a correct way, so that we would understand what we were doing and could grow it over the time. I truly loved ballet during school - it was one of my favorite classes. Oh, we laughed so much. I never ever imagined that ballet could be so so much fun and that somehow after the first block of sessions with you I would ever be able to turn 3!! pirouettes! It was inspiring and warm to be in the same room with you Janet! You always paid attention to absolutely everyone!

I also realise, how much influence and inspiration Janet has had on me as a teacher. The things I do nowadays, the way I teach - is a lot based on that positivity and playfulness that we experienced in the class with Janet.

Forever grateful!
Deepest condolences to family and loved ones!

Rüta