Technical Tuesday Pillow

Technical Tuesday Pillow

When doing a port de bras or cambre back, there are some important “moving picture” moments that must be achieved.  Often dancers lead the movement with their head, instead of their arm, and this causes the arm to lag behind, blocking the face during the port de bras.  Also, to protect the bones of the neck, it is important to turn the head toward the lifted arm and not allow the head to “drop off” the neck.  Doing this port de bras correctly also creates the beautiful line that is necessary.

As I have discussed before, there should be a lift upward before the port de bra goes backward.  This lift involves both the working arm and the torso.  To remember the correct path, think of the arm as a pillow, and have the head lie down on the pillow – not the other way around, or the pillow would cover the head.  (Of course, in reality the head doesn’t actually touch the arm.) 

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #6p:  

“In a port de bras or cambre to the back, imagine the working arm as a pillow, and the head lies down on this pillow.”

 

                Link of the Day:

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ3887toRas&safe=active

 

Quote of the Day:

“It’s not the load that breaks you, it’s the way you carry it.”
-Lou Holtz

 

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