Sunday Givers

Sunday Givers

Think about the happiest people you know. Now think about the unhappiest. What’s the difference?

Often those people who think of others and reach out to others are the happiest, and this is often in spite of – not because of - their own circumstances. Unhappy people tend to be more self-absorbed.

As we move on into the lovely month of October, give some thought to this.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #:

“The happiest people are the givers.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewKmVjY-d6k&index=5&list=PL98AC1717BC9BE8C0

Quote of the Day:

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
― Mother Teresa

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Saturday Empty House

Saturday Empty House

This theatrical superstition is one that I suspect isn’t followed in the dance world. It is said that bowing to an empty house is bad luck, but dancers (in my experience) always rehearse their bows, especially when it involves a large group. I have never known it to bring bad luck.

Presumably, this superstition comes from the idea that a show is not complete without the audience, or perhaps because bowing assumes a good show with audience appreciation, and therefore invites misfortune (pride goeth before a fall).

Of course, in most dance rehearsals the house is never actually empty. The director and/or choreographer (and probably others) are undoubtedly occupying a few seats.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Superstition #140:

“Bowing to an empty house is said to be bad luck.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU-7KLLs5mA

Quote of the Day:

“You have to bow to reach the top.”
― Ljupka Cvetanova, The New Land

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Fun Friday Sand Roadways

Fun Friday Sand Roadways

Sometimes striking the floor correctly in a frappé can be challenging. Either the foot misses the floor entirely (gasp!), or the strike is too close to the supporting foot (Ouch!). Not good.

But if you could stand on a floor covered with a light dusting of sand, the path of the frappés (front, side and back) would be clearly seen. They would look like roadways in the sand.

These roadways should be straight extend in the proper direction. Any deviation would become immediately obvious. So try imagining frappés in the sand.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #10f:

“ Imagine creating sand roadways with each frappé.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUhnS_7jY5s

Quote of the Day:

“Grains of sand will only flow with the winds, Kenton, never against them.”
― Brandon Sanderson, White Sand, Volume 1

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https://www.amazon.com/Frames-Borders-Backgrounds-Color-Rogers/dp/0980191955/

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Throwback Thursday and Doris Eaton Travis

Throwback Thursday and Doris Eaton Travis

Born on March 14, 1904 in Norfolk City Virginia, Doris Easton Travis was the last of the Ziegfeld girls. She lied about her age and was selected as a Ziegfeld girl at the age of 14. She had been part of a family of entertainers known as the “seven little Eatons” where family friends included such notables as George Gershwin and Charles Lindbergh.

After three years as a Ziegfeld girl, she went on to perform in stage productions and in silent films. In 1938 she opened the first Arthur Murray dance studio outside of New York in Detroit, Michigan.

It seems she never stopped dancing. Two weeks before she died she appeared in the annual Easter Bonnet Competition held by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. She performed a few kicks and apologized that she could no longer do cartwheels.

She died on May 11, 2010, and is buried in the Guardian Angel Cemetery in Rochester, Michigan. She was 106 years old.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Secret #250:

“Doris Eaton Travis was the last of the Ziegfeld girls.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ZT-AnWSKY

Quote of the Day:

“Florenz Ziegfeld, to us and our family, was just a delightful person. My sisters, Mary and Pearl, my brother Charlie and I all worked for him, and he treated us just beautifully, almost like a father. When I went with my mother up to his office, he was always gentlemanly and kindly. He was sort of a quiet person.”

-         Doris Eaton Travis

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Wild Wednesday Hamstrings

Wild Wednesday Hamstrings

Are the phrases “Pull up” or “Squeeze the seat” not working for you? Do you still struggle with finding the necessary lift to put you securely “over you leg”? You’re not alone. Getting over your leg is a constant struggle for most dancers, and some days are better than others. Sigh.

Let’s try a  different image today. Imagine lifting your hamstrings. You know, that muscle group that lives on the back of your leg. In one of my previous blogs: http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/search?q=hamstrings , you can see a diagram of this area of the thigh.

Try imagining a lift in this area and see if it works better for you.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #1xxx:

“Think of lifting the hamstrings.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiWE8kVlcnA

Quote of the Day:

“Because when you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worth while.”
― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

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Terminology Tuesday Soulevé

Terminology Tuesday Soulevé

Soulevé or soulevée (sool-VAY) means raised and is used in conjunction with other terms, like rond de jambe soulevé (see Gail Grant’s Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet).

However, an internet search for a more detailed definition yielded little more information, and I have never encountered this word myself. It has apparently fallen out of common usage. It seems to be used most often in the French school of training.

But there you have it - another term to add to your vocabulary!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #30i:

“Soulevé or soulevée means raised.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZIFZaLMjH4

Quote of the Day:

“Don’t just raise the bar… Raise the roof.”
― A.D. Posey

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Mad Monday Strong

Mad Monday Strong

This isn’t something new, but often phrasing something differently truly makes a difference.

When a dancer is having trouble with pirouettes the culprit is often the plié, or lack thereof. A wimpy plié simply won’t do! The plié powers the turn, and without sufficient power, the pirouette won’t work well.

If you follow my blog, you know Ballet Secret #2b: A plié is a movement, not a position, http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-plie-is-movement.html

so a strong plie is dependent on making a deep, continuous movement without stopping at the bottom.

Therefore, whenever pirouettes aren’t working well, focus first on the plié.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #14ww:

“The stronger the plié, the stronger the pirouette.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM6ztcMCk3s

Quote of the Day:

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

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Sunday Bloom

Sunday Bloom

Enough said!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Motivational Secret #248:

“When you are feeling buried, you are preparing to bloom.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab2rJbA5cGw

Quote of the Day:

“Disappointment is really just a term for our refusal to look on the bright side.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway

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https://www.amazon.com/Frames-Borders-Backgrounds-Color-Rogers/dp/0980191955/

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Saturday Limelight

Saturday Limelight

You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase in the limelight meaning that someone is being recognized for some accomplishment. But where did this phrase come from?

It was in 1808 when a British chemist, Sir Humphrey Davis, discovered that heating calcium oxide, or “lime”, to a high termperature produced a bright white light. Another source: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/11/origin-phrase-limelight/

states it was Goldsworth Gurney who discovered calcium lighting in the 1820s. Or, it was invented by Thomas Drummond (it’s sometimes called the Drummond Light). Hmmm.

 Regardless, this lime light soon became a popular form of stage lighting. Hence, over time limelight evolved to mean center of attention.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #138:

“The phrase in the limelight dates from 1808 - maybe.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_IFchFqSSI

Quote of the Day:

“Confusion of a Writer - Sometimes I want all limelight to shine on me and sometimes I just want to vanish underneath the deep waters.”
― Nikita Dudani

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Fun Friday Feather

Fun Friday Feather

An image that works well for teaching slow, adagio type movements to children is this one: Move like a feather falling to earth. This can also be a great prop image if you bring an actual feather or something similar into the classrrom.

Students can observe how a feather moves as it drifts downward and then imitate this falling to earth movement with their bodies. It’s both fun and educational for them. They learn how to move slowly and deliberately through space.

And, as with so many things, this image works well for more advanced students too.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #11p:

“Move like a feather falling to earth.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sARqFuqJ_7E

Quote of the Day:

“It's not enough to have the feathers.
You must dare to fly!”
― Cass van Krah

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https://www.amazon.com/Frames-Borders-Backgrounds-Color-Rogers/dp/0980191955/

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