Throwback Thursday and Spooky Ballet

Throwback Thursday and Spooky Ballet

What does Halloween have to do with ballet and history?  Nothing, exactly.  But during the Romantic Period, with its fascination with all things supernatural, many great ballets were created.  Filmy white costumes, the eerie flickering of gas-jet lighting, trap doors and flying spirits – it sounds a lot like Halloween to me!

My favorite “ghost” ballet is the famous Giselle.  It was choreographed in 1841 by Jules Perrot (his wife Carlotta Grisi danced the leading role) and Jean Coralli. The haunting score was composed by Adolphe Adam (you know him as the composer of the famous Christmas carol O Holy Night).  Giselle has everything:  a tragic love story; scary, zombie-like supernatural beings, and a second act set in a dark, spooky forest.  Yet many people have never heard of this ballet.  Perhaps we should start a Halloween tradition making Giselle the official Halloween ballet – much like Nutcracker has become so associated with the Christmas season.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Dance History Factoid #4:  

“The haunting ballet Giselle was choreographed in 1841 by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli.”

                Link of the Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pfcnT3enlA

               

Quote of the Day:

“There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age they may solve only in part.”

-Bram Stoker, Dracula

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 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Rotate the Rotated Leg

Rotate the Rotated Leg

A rond de jambe is an interesting step.  It involves moving the working leg in a half circle, through the devant, à la seconde, and derrière tendu positions, plus first position.  Thus the dancer must be able to understand and achieve all of these positions in order to execute a single correct rond de jambe.

In addition, the rotation of the legs in the hip sockets must be solidly maintained.  The supporting leg is rotating in the opposite direction of the working leg which is rotating in the hip as well, while at the same time inscribing a half circle on the floor.  Of course, all the postural elements and energy directions discussed in previous posts are also in play.

Therefore, a rond de jambe is a rotating in space of a rotated leg.  Simple?  Not!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #10:

“A rond de jambe is rotated leg that is rotating in space.”

                Link of the Day:

                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_lIw8XIvlk

Quote of the Day:

“Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

-          Albert Einstein

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 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Beach Balls and Giant Bowls

Beach Balls and Giant Bowls

When the arms are in fifth en avant (first) position, I use the common image of holding a beach ball.  When I work with young children I have an actual inflatable beach ball they can hold.  For older students who are still working on perfecting the curve of the arms, I use the visual image of a giant bowl, one that has a lip around the top.  The arms hold the bowl at this lip and the little fingers curve beneath it.  The bowl image works well for student who tend to have “karate” hands (held with the palms parallel to the floor) and flattened.

There are two schools of thought on the level of the arms in this position.  I teach my students that the hands are in front of the lower rib cage; but this position is also taught by having the hands placed in front of the belly button.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #6d:

“When the arms are in fifth en avant (first) position, imagine holding a beach ball or a giant bowl.  The little fingers curve underneath the rim of the bowl.”

                Link of the Day:

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kTzj_NYGBI

Quote of the Day:

“Magic lives in curves, not angles.”

-          Mason Cooley

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 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Paying Attention

Paying Attention

The biggest of the big secrets in The Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets is this one:  Pay attention, and then use that information in class and performance.  By “paying attention” I mean a heightened focus.  It is easy to fall into a standard class routine and stop thinking about each step and how it works, as well as how to improve it.  For a dancer, paying attention involves not only listening to the instructor, but also being very aware of signals from the body – how it feels to work the turn-out in a rond de jambe, how it feels to change the level of a port de bras, etc. This intense focus (paying attention) is especially critical when attempting to change something in one’s dance technique.

Paying attention works in other areas of life, too.  We all fall into the habit of sleepwalking through our day, running on “auto-pilot”, or being distracted by the terrible trifles of life.  Sometimes all that is needed to lift our spirits is to really tune-in to the things and people around us and see and feel things we hadn’t noticed before.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

The Number One Big Overall Secret:

“Pay attention and use what you know”

                Link of the Day:

                http://www.sportsconfidencetips.com/119/mental-focus-in-sports/

Quote of the Day:

“Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”

- Susan Sontag

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Sunday Smile

Sunday Smile

I believe in the power of a simple smile in the classroom (it works just about everywhere else, too).  Now research is revealing that there is even more power in a smile than we knew.  According to an article in Psychology Today (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201206/there-s-magic-in-your-smile), every time you smile you “throw a little feel-good party in your brain”.  A smile apparently activates the ability of the brain to receive and transmit good feelings throughout the body.  How cool is that!?  A simple smile.

I try to teach my classes in positive way, and I try to remember the power of a smile.  It’s not always easy, and it is all too simple to say to a student: “Don’t look at the floor!” rather than remembering to phrase it better:  “Eyes up”, “Look at your audience”, etc.  The positive directive is made even more powerful when followed by a smile – for both teacher and student.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Motivational Secret #4:

“Never underestimate the power of a smile.”  

                Link of the Day:               

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTkKLWW_myw

Quote of the Day:

“It only takes a split second to smile and forget, yet to someone that needed it, it can last a lifetime. We should all smile more often.”
― Steve Maraboli

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 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!