Fun Friday Ovals and Circles and Squares, Oh My!
I've blogged often about geometry and how important it is in
classical ballet. Balletic positions are based on correct line, and movements
are based on geometric pathways. So an understanding of shapes and lines is
critical for a dancer’s success.
Three major shapes are circles, ovals and squares (and/or
rectangles). The curve of the arms overhead in fifth en haut forms an oval – not
a circle – an important difference. The shape of a rond de jambe en l’air is an
oval, not a circle, and the arms in fifth en avant are a circle, not an oval. You
get the idea. These small details are important!
The torso can be visualized as a rectangle (remember the
cereal box), and this rectangle maintains its shape most of the time with no
crunching or twisting (except in port de bras and cambres for example). Other
shapes are triangles and diamonds, like the shape of a plié in first position
(diamond).
So hunt for shapes in ballet. There are lots of them!
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Secret #7ll:
“Understand where to visualize circles, ovals and squares.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“Let
your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.”
-
Robert H. Schuller
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