Relax
In addition to the triangle
of support beneath the feet (see previous post), it is important to relax the
feet (see post on “Relaxed Toes”), and the ankles. Relaxation is a highly underrated concept for
dancers, yet understanding when and what and how much to relax is
critical! The feet and ankles relax when
the whole foot is on the floor, and sometimes the legs relax too: like when descending in a plié. The image of “melting” is useful in this
regard.
It may sound
contradictory. A dancer is constantly
sending energy up, down and out – but relaxation has to happen within this
framework. Another related area is
breathing! This is crucial not just for
proper relaxation, but for a dancer’s success in general. And it’s impossible to breathe normally if the
muscles of the chest and upper body are tense.
Breathing and relaxation
also foster a good flow of movement, and makes whatever movements the dancer
performs not only look better, but function
better. I remind students in class to
“breathe”, and I do this frequently.
Sometimes that gentle reminder is all it takes.
From the Big Blue
Book of Ballet Secrets:
Secret #7a:
“Relaxing
the correct muscles is just as important as working them.”
Link of the Day:
Quote of the Day:
“Stress is an ignorant state. It believes everything is an emergency.”
No comments:
Post a Comment