Terminology Tuesday Déboulé

Terminology Tuesday Déboulé

Most dancers are familiar with chainé turns. But there is a term of the French school that you probably haven’t heard. It’s tour chainé déboulé (toor sheh-NAY day-boo-LAY).

It means: a chain of turns, rolling like a ball. The word déboulé is the part that means “rolling like a ball”. I've seldom heard it used today, at least in America, and it has been replaced by the simpler and shorter chainé.

Even so, it’s always fun to learn new things.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #30c:

“Tour chainé déboulé is the full term for chainé turns.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg7CvrGBOU4

Quote of the Day:

“You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.”
― Beverly Sills

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Marvelous Monday Pointe Padding

Marvelous Monday Pointe Padding

The fact of the matter is this: pointe shoes are not comfortable. Therefore, a method of padding the toes is necessary – for most dancers. There are several ways to do this, and more are being invented every day.

The trick is to get enough padding in the shoe to provide comfort and protection, but not so much as to add bulk. Beginners usually try to put too much “stuff” in their shoes, and this is counterproductive.  But as their strength and technique develop, less padding will be needed.

Here are a few suggestions from https://www.dancespirit.com/pointe_shoes_101-2-2326041152.html

“Padding: Try one of these methods or a combination of them to see what works best (but remember to check with your teacher first).

-         Wrap each toe with self-adhesive tape, Band-Aids or masking tape.

-         Fold a paper towl around your toes (Change it frequently to prevent shredding)

-         Use a pre-shaped lamb’s wool or gel pad.

-         Cut the toes off thick socks and wear them under your tights.

-         Use a chamois (shammy). This soft cleaning fabric absorbds sweat without falling apart or feeling bulky.” 

I always used either paper towels or a few squares of toilet paper. Each one is disposable after each use, and they absorb perspiration. Experiment. You'll soon discover that you need much less in your pointe shoes than you think.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #23f:

“There are several methods of padding a pointe shoe.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEhY-b_Ih6A

Quote of the Day:

“Less is more.”

 -Robert Browning”   

             

 Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Sunday Dreams and Doubts

Sunday Dreams and Doubts

How big are your dreams? How big are your doubts? Hmmm. If your doubts are bigger, that’s a problem.

Dreams motivate us. They provide the fuel that powers our work and progress. Therefore, your dreams need to be bigger than your doubts. And we all have doubts. Doubts that threaten to overwhelm us sometimes – right?

Focus on your dreams, and that will help overpower your doubts. Focus focus focus. As dancers, we all know how to do that!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #141:

“Your dreams need to be bigger than your doubts.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL1VZ27rJ50

Quote of the Day:

“Dreams are necessary to life.”
― Anaïs Nin

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Saturday Superstition Cats and Luck

Saturday Superstition Cats and Luck

If you’ve followed my blog for any time at all, you probably noticed that I use cats a lot in the photos. It’s not only because I love cats, but also because they lend themselves so well to various ballet-like positions.

Today I ran across a cat superstition I hadn’t heard before. Cats are lucky to have around a theatre, but back luck if they happen to run across the stage. This makes sense. Cats around a theatre will keep it free of mice, etc., but if they run across the stage during a performance…well.

Here is another interesting bit of information about cats and theaters from

http://www.theatrehistory.com/misc/superstitions001.html:

“A black cat is supposed to be an infallible source of good luck about a theatre and all dark felines are treated with the greatest care and consideration. Even so famous a play-house as the Théâtre Français possesses one of these animals and it is considered a privileged character in that classic temple of the drama. Fortunate, indeed, does any member of that institution consider him or herself if when entering the theatre the cat meets him at the door, and doubly fortunate the lucky one the cat might brush against while in the theatre.”

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Superstition #132:

“Cats are lucky around a theatre - but unlucky if they run across the stage.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfLppv8z6ak

Quote of the Day:

“There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats.”
― Albert Schweitzer

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Fun Friday Giant Egg

Fun Friday Giant Egg

I’ve talked several times about how to hold the arms in first (fifth en avant) position. It is trickier than it seems, since the arms must be held firmly but without undue tension, and the shape (elbows lifted and not drooping) must be maintained.

Imagine your arms encircling and holding a giant egg. A real egg - one that could be broken if too much pressure is applied. You must hold it firmly enough to avoid dropping it, but not so tightly as to break it.

Voila! The perfect first position!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #6kkk:

“In first (fifth en avant) imagine holding a giant egg.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8t-uKAQ8gE

Quote of the Day:

“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.”
― Albert Einstein

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Throwback Thursday and Lubov Rostova

Throwback Thursday and Lubov Rostova

Lubov Rostova was a dancer with the Ballet Russes in the 1930s.

She became famous when she performed the mysterious Hand of Fate pas de deux, one of George Balanchine’s early works. She was sixteen years old.

She was born Lucienne Kylberg in Algiers. Her father was Swedish and her mother French. When she left de Basil’s company to dance with Blanchine’s company Ballets 1933 she used her real name. Although that company was short-lived, she won critical praise for  creating the leading role in the Preghiera section of Balanchine's Mozartiana.

In 1938, Rostova joined the new Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and she performed with them until 1943. She gained fame not only for her dancing but for experiencing strange accidents. During a performance in England, she brushed against a candle and entered the stage with her costume on fire. While in Monte Carlo, she fell out of a window, supposedly while sleepwalking.

She was married to David Lichine, but that union ended in divorce. In 1949 she married Count Christian de Dampierre, an executive with Stauffer Chemicals. He died in 1917, and Rostova died on January 13, 1997. She was 80 years old.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #142:

“Lubov Rostova danced in one of Balanchine’s early works.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1QzCb9he2A

Quote of the Day:

“Get out, but don't cause unneeded accidents.”
― Dejan Stojanovic

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Wild Wednesday Attitude Turns

Wild Wednesday Attitude Turns

The biggest problem I see in attitude (and arabesque) turns is that students try to keep their head centered over their supporting leg. This is exactly what they must do in standard pirouettes and many other turns, but it will not work for attitude and arabesque.

Here is a quote from https://www.dance-teacher.com/9-key-ideas-to-help-dancers-master-attitude-turns-2544041508.html:

“Align the center of the lower back over the ball of the foot in an attitude turn, unlike basic pirouettes in passé, which require the head to be aligned over the torso and supporting leg. "Students tend to pull their head and torso back to get over their supporting foot in an attitude, which distorts the position," says Janet Parke, director of Ballet Memphis School. "Students should learn how to balance in attitude, preparing from a lunge or fourth position." 

It can help to show students photographs of dancers balancing in attitude and arabesque and point out where the head and upper body are in those positions. They’ll quickly see why the alignment for attitude and arabesque turns has to be different.

As I often say to my students: “An attitude turn is an attitude that turns.”

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #14vv:

“In attitude and arabesque turns, the upper body is in front of the supporting leg.”

Link of the Day:

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

Quote of the Day:

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
― Rob Siltanen

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Terminology Tuesday Fini Piqué

Terminology Tuesday Fini Piqué

A grand battement fini piqué is a term of the French school, and it means a grand battement that lands, not in fifth, but in a pointe tendu position. The leg then lifts into another battement before finally closing in fifth.

This is a tricky manuever, since there is a tendency for the foot to come crashing down (and there is no crashing in ballet) causing the foot to squash (there is also no squashing in ballet). When this occurs, there is no controlled landing in a lovely tendu position. Whew!

This step is also called grand battement jeté pointé.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #12h:

 “A grand battement  fini piqué  is a grand battement that lands  in pointe tendu.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULSzcLQF1ag

Quote of the Day:

“Knowledge, like air, is vital to life. Like air, no one should be denied it.”
― Alan Moore

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Mad Monday Fear of Falling

Mad Monday Fear of Falling

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome, especially when it comes to turns, is fear of falling. Gasp! This morning I ran across a great website and a number of suggestions for dealing with this fear.

Here is the link to the complete article including 6 suggetions: http://www.ballettipsandtricks.com/?cat=5

I like the phrase the author uses to describe how often to repeat a series of steps: do it until it is “boringly easy”. This is so true!

Another thing to consider is why you are afraid of falling. The answer is usually simple: you don’t want to get hurt. Getting injured is probably a dancer’s worst fear. So what do you do about that? Learning how to fall is the best thing, and taking modern dance classes can help you do that. Then there is the philosophy that you should fall at least once in every class so you will be familiar with the sensation. I’m not sure about that level of frequency, but my most fearless students seem to be those who fall (without injury) all the time.

The bottom line is this: keep working to overcome your fear. Baby steps. Like everything else, it gets better with practice.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #21qq:

“There are several ways to overcome fear of falling.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drcEqlAA4F4

Quote of the Day:

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” 
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/