Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Technical Tuesday Torso



Technical Tuesday Torso

One of the dilemmas in dance involves the torso. It should operate independently most of the time – uninvolved with whatever the rest of the body is doing. In other words, the torso is stable, straight and square, no matter what the legs are doing. Unfortunately, the legs often coax the torso to move with them: the pelvis tips, tilts or tucks (See previous blog: http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2014/03/fun-friday-no-tipping-tucking-or-tilting.html). The exception to this independence is when the leg is in a derrière position above 45 degrees or other extremely high extensions.

When the torso (cereal box: http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2014/03/monday-madness.html ) moves with the legs, it distorts the line of the body, but more importantly, it distorts the placement. This is because wherever the pelvis goes, the body follows. Thus it is best that the pelvis maintains its association with the rest of the torso (ribs, shoulders, etc.), and moves away (upward) from the legs.

To accomplish this un-involvement of the torso, the dancer must constantly work to feel that the pelvis is lifting upward, away from the legs.

Now you know why teachers say “Pull up!” all the time.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #7uu:  
“The pelvis usually operates as part of the torso, not part of the legs.”

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Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

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