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Monday, January 22, 2018

Marvelous Monday Extend and Follow


Marvelous Monday Extend and Follow

As dancers and teachers, we spent a lot of time on the legs and feet, and probably not as much time on the arms. Sigh. Arms are critically important in everything, but especially so in turning movements.

In piqué turns, for example, there is a tendency for dancers to throw the leading arm out, sometimes with enough force to unbalance the turn. Scary. Or, the arm goes too far back and out of the control zone (see previous blogs). Not good, either.

The leading arm in a piqué turn either stays in front, or extends outward to second (never out of the control zone). No throwing is allowed. The other arm follows, coming in to meet the leading arm during each turn, maintaining a lovely fifth en avant (first) position of the arms. The arms work the same way for almost all traveling turns.

Therefore, the rule for arms in piqué turns is: Extend and follow.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #14mm:
“Extend and follow: rules for arms in piqué turns.”

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Quote of the Day:
“Compete with yourself; you have no knowledge about the degree of gifting others might have. Don't decide to slow down because you have gone too far and everyone is behind you!”
Israelmore Ayivor, Daily Drive 365

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