Technical Tuesday Muscular System

Technical Tuesday Muscular System

The human body consists of several different systems: circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune, nervous, reproductive, respiratory, urinary, skeletal integumentary  and muscular.

Today I’m focusing on the muscular system (not surprising). The body has approximately 650 muscles. No wonder ballet is so difficult! These muscles not only aid in movement, but also in things like blood flow.

There are three types of muscles: skeletal (connected to bone), smooth (inside organs), and cardiac (heart). Muscles make up about 40% of our total body weight.

Here is an interesting fact, especially for dancers, according to http://blog.degreed.com/top-10-facts-about-the-muscular-system/ :

It takes half as long to gain muscle than it does to lose it. In other words, if it took a month to develop that calf muscle, it will take two months for it to degenerate back to its original state.

 That’s encouraging, right?

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Anatommical Secret #26gg:

“The muscular system consists of about 650 muscles.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMcg9YzNSEs

Quote of the Day:

“The brain is like a muscle. When it is in use we feel very good. Understanding is joyous.”
― Carl Sagan

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Mad Monday Upside Down Beats

Mad Monday Upside Down Beats

When dancers begin learning beats, the side to side action necessary is difficult. It is not only difficult to learn, it is difficult to teach.

Begin by having the students lie on the floor with their legs up, feet in fifth position pointing to the ceiling. Now have them open and close their legs, making sure to move the feet and legs side to side when opening and closing in fifth. Students will see what is needed right away.

Then have them try it standing back up, in the center. I have found that having students jump from second, beat in fifth and land back in second is a good way for them to feel the crossing of the thighs and the feet. The second position can then be made smaller and smaller until the dancers can beat from fifth.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #15ddd:

“Lie on the floor with your legs up to practice beats.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqzfahObanQ

Quote of the Day:

“When I hang upside down and write the wrong way up, will my letters be upside down or the right way up?”
― Anthony T Hincks

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Sunday Head and Heart

Sunday Head and Heart

Today’s theme is also today’s quote.

It is an interesting thing to contemplate. When in involves yourself, use your head, but when it involves other people, use your heart. What does this say to you?

I think it means when dealing with others, the most important thing is to consider how they feel, and/or what their circumstances are. When you do this you are more likely to react with kindness and compassion. And I’ve talked a lot about these two subjects.

You can be hard on yourself, and sometimes you might need to be, but when it comes to other people, whose journeys and burdens you can only imagine, using your heart is what will make the world a better place.

And isn’t that the goal after all?

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Motivational Secret #188:

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” 

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mu6xiCKrB0

Quote of the Day:

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart”

. —Eleanor Roosevelt

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https://www.amazon.com/Family-Tree-Coloring-Debra-Rogers/dp/0980191947/

https://www.amazon.com/Frames-Borders-Backgrounds-Color-Rogers/dp/0980191955/

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Saturday Silly Saying #97

Saturday Silly Saying #97

Here we go again with another Silly Saying. The dance world is full of them, and they are (mostly) true – or close.

Today’s saying is one every dancer has heard: “One more time.” This is usually more hopeful than factual. One more time seldom happens because there are mistakes in every repetition that must be corrected (nothing is ever perfect). Therefore it becomes “one more time” again.

So this saying is true – usually. Occasionally - very occasionally - there is the rare event of a rehearsal being close to perfection, and the “one more time” that day was actually true.

But this almost never happens.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Silly Saying #97:

“One more time is always a lie.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIt3EAmVvwg

Quote of the Day:

“If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.”
― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

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Fun Friday Sitz Rockets

Fun Friday Sitz Rockets

The sitz bones (ischial tuberosity), are the lowest of the three major bones that make up the pelvis (ischion means “hip” in Greek). When you sit on the dance studio floor with good posture, you can feel these bones as they rest against the ground.

Okay. Today’s fun image involves these bones. For improving any jump, imagine rocket boosters (complete with flames shooting downward, if you like) on your sitz bones.

This will help propel you into space, and prevent a sagging bottom which is detrimental to jumping ability, to say the least.

Rocket boosters!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #15ccc:

“Imagine rocket boosters on your sitz bones.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK6uefZXQRw

Quote of the Day:

“This is the team. We're trying to go to the moon. If you can't put someone up, please don't put them down.”
― NASA

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Throwback Thursday and Kate Vaughan

Throwback Thursday and Kate Vaughan

Skirt dancing is “A form of ballet-dancing in which the effect is produced by graceful movements of the skirts, which are sufficiently long and full to be waved in the hands of the dancer.”

Skirt dancing is believed to have originated with Kate Vaughan, whose real name was Catherine Alice Candelin. She was born in 1852 in London. In 1873 she appeared with her sister Susie in Orpheus in the Underworld. They were billed as the Vaughan Sisters and they performed a skirt dance which was a more family-friendly version of the can-can.

From 1876 to 1884, Vaughan performed in London, and at the peak of her career was paid the large sum of £72 a week (about $95). By 1885 she had retired from dancing, but continued to perform as a comedy actress. By this time the skirt dance had become so popular that every aspiring dancer had it in their repertoire.

W. J. Lawrence, her biographer, called Vaughan “the greatest dancer of her time”.

She died in 1903 in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she had moved for health reasons.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Factoid #187:

“Kate Vaughan is said to have originated skirt dancing.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftyQGMuF5A4

Quote of the Day:

“I was the first to dance in skirts reaching the ankles; I never went in for serpentine dances, trailing garments, or movements of the arms and the whole body – mine was genuine dancing and nothing else. I invented the steps myself, and my full-length lace skirts were a novelty in those days, when the ballet was the only style in vogue.”

-         Kate Vaughan

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Wacky Wednesday Bean Bag Elbows

Wacky Wednesday Bean Bag Elbows

Props are such fun in a ballet class, and I believe they work just as effectively with older students as they do with young children.

One particularly effective prop is a set of bean bags. They can be used in a variety of ways, but today I’m talking about those droopy elbows. And you will remember that there is no drooping in ballet.

Place one bean bag on each elbow when the arms are in à la second. Simply feeling their weight is often all it takes for a student to understand how to correctly rotate and lift the elbows – otherwise the bean bags will fall off.

Bean bag elbows!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #20r:

“Place a bean bag on each elbow.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRmCuac-u_0

Quote of the Day:

“Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.”

-         Colin Powell

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Technical Tuesday Platysma

Technical Tuesday Platysma

In this season of attending haunted events, I present the platysma muscle. This muscle is wide and extends from the chest (pectoral) and shoulder (deltoid), goes over the collarbone (clavicle) upward along the sides of the neck. Whew.

This muscle draws the lower lip and corners of the mouth down and sideways, allowing for expressions of fright or surprise. Perfect for Halloween. When these muscles work to their maximum, the actual diameter of the neck increases, such as during intense exercise that requires rapid breathing.

This muscle is unique, because unlike other muscles, it is directly connected to the skin. But like other muscles it is vulnerable to tears and strains.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Anatomical Secret #26ff:

“The platysma muscle allows an expression of surprise or fright.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2usBNHX9Mg

Quote of the Day:

“People with positive attitude can see great things even in worse situations. Only cowards give up because the worst happened to them.”
― Israelmore Ayivor, Daily Drive 365

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https://www.amazon.com/Family-Tree-Coloring-Debra-Rogers/dp/0980191947/

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Mad Monday Foot First

Mad Monday Foot First

There are many ideas a dancer can use to improve pirouettes. Here is one: Think of taking the foot to passé, instead of the entire leg. Often dancers forget about the foot and bring the leg up by moving the thigh. This can cause problems in the alignment of the pelvis, and/or throw the spine backwards. It can also contribute to a loss of turnout.

Thinking foot first will also prevent a floppy or un-pointed foot and aid in having the proper “push” from the floor with the foot. This push will help the foot get to passé as quickly as possible which is another key to a successful pirouette.

There you have it. Simple is usually the best. Move the foot to passé and the leg will follow automatically.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #14gg:

“Think of taking the foot to passé, not the entire leg.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyXII9BKU-I

Quote of the Day:

“Like all magnificent things, it's very simple.”
― Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

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Sunday Master Key

Sunday Master Key

A master key, according to Merriam-Webster is: “a key that can be used to open many locks”. Therefore, we each need our own personal master key that can unlock frozen or halting motivation. A single key that can work in all circumstances. But how?

This master key can take many forms: a song, an affirmation, a photograph, a mental image, a memory, a goal,etc. Each individual needs to find what works for them as a key that unlocks any situation.

This week look for your master key, if you don’t already have one. And, once you find it, keep it close.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Motivational Secret #187:

“Find your master key.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_r7rudlpZk

Quote of the Day:

“The real you suffocates under the layers of your learned identity. Uncover the layers so you can truly breathe again from the true center. Being aware of your infinite potential and access awakens the Master with the Master Key within.” - -Franklin Gillette

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https://www.amazon.com/Family-Tree-Coloring-Debra-Rogers/dp/0980191947/

https://www.amazon.com/Frames-Borders-Backgrounds-Color-Rogers/dp/0980191955/

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Saturday Shrugging Statute

Saturday Shrugging Statute

There is no shrugging in ballet. By this I mean the type of shrugging that indicates “attitude” or a lack of concern. Shrugging also causes the shoulders to warm the ears, creating the dreaded turtleneck look.

Shrugging can telegraph many things, and usually they aren’t good or necessary. If a shrug means simply “I don’t know”, then it is usually better to say it - or at least have the facial expression accompanying it that makes clear that the communication is that simple, without any rolling of the eyes or other body language that adds a negative component.

And always avoid the dreaded “tongue click and sigh”, especially if it is added to a shrug.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Ballet Statute #96:

“There is no shrugging in ballet.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0bQUVBpd40

Quote of the Day:

“People tend to complicate their own lives, as if living weren't already complicated enough.”
― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind

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My latest books are coloring books! They are available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Family-Tree-Coloring-Debra-Rogers/dp/0980191947/

https://www.amazon.com/Frames-Borders-Backgrounds-Color-Rogers/dp/0980191955/

Want to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:

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