Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Wacky Wednesday Backward Circles


Wacky Wednesday Backward Circles

Today’s Link (at about 2:18) talks about the backward circle image that helps dancers during chassés (gallops) that precede big jumps. Young children are taught to literally do just the backward circles with their arms and body before they actually gallop across the floor.

For more advanced dancers, it helps to imagine these backward circles during any chassés that are used as jump preparations. It’s difficult to explain, but pretty easy to feel. It is this sensation that helps achieve the “air time” needed for a spectacular grand jeté.

These circles remind me of the circles we used to draw in penmanship and/or calligraphy classes to improve our handwriting. Doing circles over and over developed the muscle memory necessary for success. No surprise here.

Try imagining these backward circles the next time you do chassés before a big jump.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #15ggg:
“Imagine backward circles during chassé preparations.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.”
Martha Graham

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