Terrific Tuesday and Temps Lié

Terrific Tuesday and Temps Lié

Another important linking step is the temps lié.  It moves from tendu through a fourth or second position plié, transferring weight efficiently and smoothly from one foot to the other.

The imagined shape for a temps lié movement is that of an under circle, or under curve (opposite that of the cat in the above photo). However, in energy, the body lifts up before the movement, lifts even higher in the middle of the step (in fourth or second position plié) and maintains the lift as the movement resolves the weight transfer onto the other foot.

Lots of things in ballet involve under circles.  Glissades, balances and piques are just a few examples.  To achieve a beautiful flow of movement, the use of curves – as opposed to angles – is essential.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #13e:  

“A temps lié is an under circle transfer of weight.”

               Link of the Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7CgUszTKy0             

Quote of the Day:

“The road to success is always under construction.”

-        Lily Tomlin

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Mad Monday Airplanes and Acceleration

Mad Monday Airplanes and Acceleration

There is one big secret to successful grand allegro, and it can be summed up in one word: acceleration.  No matter how the steps are arranged, it is imperative that the steps preceding a big jump get progressively faster.  

It is exactly like an airplane on the runway, preparing for take-off.  All of us would feel complete panic if the jet didn’t achieve a high degree of acceleration. We’d know instinctively that the airliner wouldn’t make it off the ground.   It is the same for any big jump.  Each preceding step gets progressively faster in tempo, and thus successfully launches the jump.  The trick is to do this within the framework of the music – but that is achieved with practice.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #15b:  

“The secret to a successful grand allegro is acceleration.”

               Link of the Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g058FrXXwiA

               Quote of the Day:

“Mondays are the start of the work week which offer new beginnings 52 times a year!”
  - David Dweck

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The Worry Monster

The Worry Monster

Yes, I admit it.  I’m a champion worrier.  I am always working toward losing my title, since worry is not the best piece of baggage to carry along.

I read somewhere that worry is a game of the imagination, and that is certainly true.  Most things we worry about never happen, and even if they do, usually the situation isn’t one we can prepare for.  So why worry?  But we do.  I think dancers are particularly prone to attacks of from the worry monster, perhaps because of their constant quest for perfection.

For me the best antidote to worry is action of some kind.   It can be reading a book, writing, going for a walk – anything that is engaging enough to force good thoughts into my brain instead of negative ones.  Any activity that stops the mind from playing the “what if?” imagination game over and over is good.  The Link of the Day has lots of other suggestions for slaying the worry monster.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Motivational Secret #8:

“To prevent worrying, stay focused on the present.”

               Link of the Day:

               http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_self_help.htm

Quote of the Day:

“Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
-Corrie ten Boom

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Attitudes and Water Glasses

Attitudes and Water Glasses

In an attitude devant, the turn-out (rotation from the hip socket) must be maintained.  The tendency is for the heel to drop, causing the knee to face upward, instead of sideways, thus compromising the necessary turned-out position and the correct line of the attitude.

To prevent this, imagine balancing a glass of water on the heel of the working foot.  Or it could be a glass of anything – just as long as it can sit securely on the heel.

Now, this is almost impossible to do in reality, although I have had students with a natural ability to immediately put the leg into a perfectly placed attitude devant.  They are the exception. But simply thinking about balancing a container of liquid is very useful for establishing and maintaining a correct attitude devant position.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #18a:

“In an attitude devant, imagine balancing a glass of water on the heel of the working foot.”

               Link of the Day:

               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3wfc52vP8Q

Quote of the Day:

“The major work of the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people, with balance in their lives, who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner.”
- Gordon B. Hinckley

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

Fun Friday Tutu Setting

Fun Friday Tutu Setting

Another way to keep the hips level and square is to imagine wearing a tutu. This isn’t a great image for the gentlemen, but they can still get the idea.

Imagine wearing a tutu, but this one is set all around on top with fine china and silver.  Just the sort of place setting you’d have on a special holiday, like Christmas.  The dancer’s goal is to maintain the posture in such a way so that none of the china will slide off and break.

Of course, the china and silver magically disappear during movements like port de bra forward or back.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #1r:  

“Imagine wearing a tutu set with lots of fine china and silver on top.”

               Link of the Day:

               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGufiv5PB2A

Quote of the Day:

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

-        Robert Kennedy

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