Wild Wednesday and the Return of Aunt Matilda

Wild Wednesday and the Return of Aunt Matilda

One problem for dancers is using too much tension.  This is especially true when attempting to master a combination of steps at increasingly faster tempos.  Often dancers tense up and that prevents the movements from happening efficiently – or prevents them from happening at all.

Have the students try this exercise.  Pretend Aunt Matilda (we all remember Aunt Matilda), is leaving on a train or plane and you are waving at her as she disappears into the distance.  Now wave faster and faster.  Try it faster with the hand tense, and then try it with the hand in a more relaxed state.  Which works better for speed?  The answer should be the more relaxed hand.

Then remind the dancers of this statute:  “Use the amount of tension you need, no more and no less.” 

From the Big Beige Book of Ballet Statutes:

Statute # 11:  

  “For any movement, use the amount of tension you need, no more and no less.”

 

                Link of the Day:  

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

 

Quote of the Day: 

 

“Music is a huge release of tension.”

-          James Taylor

 

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