2 3 Ballet Webb: February 2019

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Throwback Thursday and Buster Brown



Throwback Thursday and Buster Brown

James “Buster” Brown was born on May 17, 1913 in Baltimore Maryland as James Richard Brow. He was the only boy in a family of eight children.

He became interested in show business after he saw Albert “Pops” Whitman dance. James first performed as one of the Three Little Dots. Later, he formed The Brown Brothers, which evolved into the Three Aces. After he graduated from high school the act became The Speed Kings due to the speed of their footwork.

In the mid-1930s, The Speed Kings worked with Brownski Models and played the Apollo Theater. The act later became Speed Kings 2 which opened with soft-shoe and rhythm dance before moving into the precision tap they were known for.

In 1939 Speed Kings 2 came to New York and played the Apollo and Small’s Paradise with Earl Bostic’s band. They continued to perform through World War II. One of their last performances was in the Cole Porter film, Something to Shout About, in which Cyd Charisse made her film debut.

Buster Brown then went on to perform solo, and also worked with the duo Brown and Beige. In the 1960s he danced with the Hoofers, a group that included Lon Chaney and toured Africa for eight weeks.  In 1966 he performed with Duke Ellington, and later he sang with the Ink Spots.

In 1974 he appeared in the documentary film, Great Feats of Feet, and in the 1980s he danced in the Broadway touring production of Bubblin’ Brown Sugar. He also appeared in the movie The Cotton Club. In 2000,he toured with Savion Glover and Friends.

Buster Brown died in New York City on May 11, 2002.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #212:
“Buster Brown was a beloved tap dancer whose career spanned decades.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
"Buster is a magnet of love and respect. He gives love and respect to his audience, and as a consequence, he gets it back."
- Jo Rowan: Chairman Dance Oklahoma City University


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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Wacky Wednesday Toaster



Wacky Wednesday Toaster

One of the biggest problems with pas de chat is maintaining the turn-out, especially on the following leg. The leading leg is usually okay, but that second leg – whew!

I return again to one of my favorite images: a toaster. If you imagine your pas de chat jumping into a toaster (one that is unplugged, of course), then the legs will stay turned out. Otherwise they won’t fit in the slot.

If several pas de chats are done in a sequence, you can imagine each one going into the toaster, and then popping out of the toaster.

Toaster Turn-out Pas de Chats!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #15uuu:
“Pas de chat like you are jumping into a toaster.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“In any case, muffins that are only imaginary aren't liable to get stuck.”
― Thomas M. Disch, The Brave Little Toaster

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Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Terminology Tuesday Ballonné



Terminology Tuesday Ballonné

Ballonné [ba-law-NAY] means bounced or ball-like. The word is said to have originated around 1770-1780 from the French word meaning ballooned or done like a balloon – essentially an air-filled ball.

The jump is performed as follows: the dancer springs into the air as she executes a battement, then lands in plié with the working foot in sur le cou-de-pied. When performed as a jump, the dancer is in the air with both legs fully stretched and both feet fully pointed. Upon landing, the working foot is in cou-de-pied.


From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #15ttt:
“Ballonné means bounced or ball-like.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.”
- George S. Patton

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Monday, February 25, 2019

Mad Monday Gargouillade



Mad Monday Gargouillade

Gargouillade isn’t something I teach too often. But it can be fun for students to attempt. The French term means “rumbling” or “gurgling” and the step is rather tricky to perform well. The key lies in being able to do small, quick and accurate rond de jambes en l’air in both directions. While jumping. No problem, right?

It helps to begin by working on simple rond de jambes en l’air at the barre, concentrating on the circular nature of the movement. This prevents the in-and-out problem and avoids the appearance of a short-circuited, jerky leg movement. It is also fun to have students “draw” out the circle on the floor using their big toe.

Students then progress to the center by doing glissade, jeté, coupé – then gargouillade. This helps them create the accurate circles in the air with the assistance of the impetus from the leading steps. Fun!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #15sss:
“Gargouillade involves two double rond de jambes.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”
― Steve Jobs

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Sunday, February 24, 2019

Sunday Happiness




From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #145:
“You are responsible for your own happiness.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

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Saturday, February 23, 2019

Superstitious Saturday Spider



Superstitious Saturday Spider

During the sixteenth century in Italy, it was believed that the tarantula spider targeted people who danced, and at the time there was a dancing epidemic known as tarantism. Hmmm.

Supposedly, this dancing disease was thought to be associated with the bite of a tarantula spider. But then, ironically, it seemed that any symptoms associated with the spider bite could be cured by frenzied dancing. Sounds pretty confusing to me.

But that’s where the dance we know as the Tarantella came from.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Superstition #139:
“The tarantula spider was supposedly responsible for a dancing plague.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Learn from spiders. Sometimes you need to walk sideways”
― Maureen Joyce Connolly, Little Lovely Things

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Friday, February 22, 2019

Fun Friday Dog Toy



Fun Friday Dog Toy

Most of you have probably seen a dog chew toy that’s made of a thick, tightly coiled rope. This, or any coiled rope, is a good image for pirouettes.

Picture the spiral of the coiled rope and how it seems to go on and on. Holding the rope vertically helps visualize this. The secret is in the tightness of the coil. Without it, the rope will unravel, and a similar thing happens to turns that lack a tight revolution. “Loose” turns look warped at best, and are usually completely ineffective.

So imagine that nice, tight coil of your dog’s favorite chew toy when you pirouette.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #14zz:
“Imagine the tight coil of a rope dog toy.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“The way isn't a circle and never can't be a circle unless you repeat the same after the same. Is it possible to find something new?...
The way is spiral, and I will keep believing in this!”
― Deyth Banger

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Thursday, February 21, 2019

Throwback Thursday Grizzly Bear



Throwback Thursday Grizzly Bear

The dance called the Grizzly Bear was said to have been started about 1909 in Chicago by dancers John Jarrott and Louie Gruenning . It was later made popular to Broadway audiences by Fanny Brice in the Ziegfeld Follies.

The basic step of the dance is an imitation of the movements of a dancing bear moving side to side. It is not designed to be graceful! Also, at some points in the dance the dancers would yell “It’s a bear!”

It is believed that former President Woodrow Wilson’s inaugural ball was cancelled because of his disapproval of modern dances such as the Grizzly Bear and other “huggly-wiggly dances”.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #:
“The Grizzly bear was an early 20th century dance.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“And for Heaven's sake, do not wiggle!”
― Colleen Houck, Tiger's Curse

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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Wacky Wednesday Pisa



Wacky Wednesday Pisa

Sometimes balancing in passé is achieved even when the alignment isn’t perfect. This is simply because the dancer’s weight is evenly distributed  - if slightly tilted – or, in rare cases due to the sheer will of the dancer to make it happen regardless.

I’ve even seen dancers pirouette with a slight lean in their posture. It gives the turn a curious, warped look. Not something that is desired in ballet.

Therefore, avoid leaning tower of Pisa passés please.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #18p:
“There are no Pisa passés.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Sure, the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned like everyone else said it would, the mountains of Tibet were more beautiful than you had ever expected, and the Pyramids of Egypt stood mysteriously in the sea of sand like in the pictures; yet is it the environment or rather the openness in mindset, that makes up the elusive essence of happiness that we experience when we travel?”
― Forrest Curran

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Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Terminology Tuesday Grecque



Terminology Tuesday Grecque

Attitude grecque [ah tee TEWD grek] means Greek attitude. I don’t remember ever hearing this term used but it is interesting.

Attitude grecque is when the heel of the working foot actually touches the knee (or ankle) of the supporting leg. The thigh is opened to second position. (This sounds like the traditional piqué turn en dedans position to me).
The arm on the supporting side is overhead, and the other curved opposite the waist. But wait, it gets better.

The head is in profile and the body leans toward the raised leg. And, according to Gail Grant’s book Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet: “Pirouettes may also be done in this position but in this case the head does not spot.”

There’s your challenge for the day.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Terminology Secret #33:
“Attitude grecque means Greek attitude.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“I have an attraction to strange
and unusual things.
I find them interesting,
spellbinding,
utterly fascinating.”
― Melody Lee, Moon Gypsy

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