Technical Tuesday Glissade
One of the first steps a dancer learns is glissade. It is a
step that is everywhere, and can be performed in different ways. It is one of
the most difficult “easy” steps to master due to its chameleon-like nature.
The word itself means “glide” or “slide” and that is
essentially what it does – most of the time. Of course, there is also the glissade précipitée, which is a smaller,
jumping glissade that usually precedes (and provides the impetus for) another
jump.
A glissade begins
and ends in fifth position, and can be performed in any direction. From fifth
the dancer extends one foot into a dégagé, then shifts their weight onto this
foot and performs a dégagé with the other. It is this following foot that is often a problem. It must stretch fully –
that’s the tricky part – before closing in fifth. The movement also involves an
under-circle sensation (I’ve blogged about this before).
Effective
glissades require lots of practice (no surprise here) since they have many
elements that must be perfected. There are lots of videos online showing different
approaches to teaching this important step, so google “glissade” and find a
method that works for you.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Ballet Secret #31p:
“Glissade means “glide” or “slide”.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“In life as in dance: Grace glides on
blistered feet.”
-
Alice Abram
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