Fun Friday, Painted Tights, and the Great Turn Confusion
One of the most confusing things in ballet is the difference
between en dehors and en dedans. In
other words, which way does the turn go – outside or inside? It can be likened to a child learning their
right from their left. There are only
two choices, but it can be much more difficult than it would seem with a 50%
chance of success.
There are many hints and tips that teachers use as a memory
aid – the most common being that “en dehors is out the door”. But I haven’t found this to be too successful.
So I’ve told my students to stand in retiré, and imagine
that I’ve painted the word “en dedans” on the front (inside) of their working thigh,
and “en dehors” on the back of the same thigh.
Whichever way the turn is intended to go is led by that side of the
thigh. I also suggest that “en dehors” is
actually “out the back door”, since
the writing on their tights is on the backside of the thigh, and that’s what
leads the turning movement in the correct direction.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Secret #14d:
“To remember the correct turning direction, imagine that ‘en dehors’ is
painted on the back of the retiré thigh, and ‘en dedans’ is painted on the
front.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust
my sails to always reach my destination.”
-Jimmy Dean
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