Technical Tuesday Body Positions
I’ve talked before about how ballet technique is based on
illusion. A large part of this involves the set positions of the body, and these positions vary only slightly from school to school.
I usually teach the basic 8 positions of the Cecchetti school:
Croisé Devant, à la Quatrième
Devant, Effacé Devant, à la Seconde, Croisé Derrière, Ecarté, Epaulé, and à la Quatrième Derrière.
Other schools of training add Ecarté Derrière and Epaulé Derrière. (See today's video link for a complete description of these positions.)
I begin by teaching students the French terms: Devant: To the
front; Derrière: To the back; and Croisé: Crossed. These are
important concepts since all of balletic line is based on these positions. But it goes beyond that. The
correct execution of these body positions not only makes the dancer look
beautiful, but also allows the proper counterweight between the upper body
and a high, extended working leg.
The body positions are therefore both beautiful and
practical.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Ballet Secret #18p:
“The set positions of the body allow dancers to create beautiful lines.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“The
power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life
lovely.”
― Louisa May Alcott
― Louisa May Alcott
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