Happy New Year and the Art of Illusion
Here we are, starting a whole new year with no mistakes in
it yet. Today I thought I’d talk about
how ballet is similar to what a magician does.
That is, much of ballet is based on illusion: what it looks like to the average observer is
usually not what is actually happening.
For example, if one imitates the arm patterns of a ballet
dancer, the imitator often makes lots of flowery movements when in reality; the
arm pathways are simple and prescribed.
Watch any video of a dancer and concentrate solely on what and where the
arms go – you’ll be surprised.
Balancé is one step that appears very different than it is. The arms never actually cross the center of
the body, and never dip back and forth (gorilla-like) across the torso. Instead, the arms follow the prescribed
pathway of a first port de bras, and it is the torso
that turns back and forth with the step, creating the beautiful flow of movement.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Secret #7e:
“Ballet technique
involves a great deal of illusion.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“Illusions are art, for the feeling person, and it is by art
that we live, if we do.”
-Elizabeth Bowen
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