2 3 Proud Promenades | Ballet Webb

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Proud Promenades




Proud Promenades

A promenade is a great preliminary step for pirouettes and all turning movements.  It teaches correct weight placement (over the balls of the feet); and the correct “Flat Stanley” alignment (no twisting of the body).  It also teaches the dancer to maintain, while slowly turning, the postural lift away from gravity, as well as the “politely arrogant” attitude.

The word itself comes from the mid 16th century French word se promener ‘to walk’, and the verb means: “ to take a leisurely public walk, ride, or drive so as to meet or be seen by others”.  How appropriate for a step done by a performing artist!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #14a:
“The word ‘promenade’ means to take a walk so as to meet or be seen by others.”

               

Various vintage clips of different ballerinas in the promenade section of the
 Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty:

Link of the Day:


 

Quote of the Day:
“But the beauty is in the walking – we are betrayed by destinations.”
-          Gwyn Thomas

 

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