Fun Friday Tap Root

Fun Friday Tap Root

As I have said many times, there is always more than one direction of energy. For good alignment, equal energy up and down is critical.

To help with the grounding nature of this up-and-down energy, imagine an evergreen tree. Some of these trees have a tap root that extends into the earth almost as far down as the tree is tall. This is why many of them are able to withstand hurricanes.

Therefore, imagine your downward energy going into the floor and beyond – further than you are tall.

  

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #1zzz:

“Imagine having a deep tap root like some evergreen trees.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jHBa5zCAI

Quote of the Day:

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Throwback Thursday and Bessie Clayton

Throwback Thursday and Bessie Clayton

The daughter of Irish immigrants, Bessie Clayton was born in 1888. She received her dance training from George W. Smith and made her professional debut at age 14 in A Trip to Chinatown. It is said she was hired as a temporary fill-in for Loie Fuller but Bessie must have impressed the management since she ended up being employed for six seasons.

Known as a specialty dancer, she was described as having a whirlwind style of dance and she became known as the matriarch of toe-tap (a blend of stage and classical dance).

During the early decades of the twentieth century, she had leading roles on Broadway including five years with the Weber and Fields company. She was featured in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1909, and in her last show, the Passing Show of 1913 she performed piqué turns on pointe while going down a staircase.

Bessie Clayton retired in 1924 and married Bert Cooper, her former manager. She died in 1948 in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Secret #225:

“Bessie Clayton was known for toe-tap.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmSXAZvqfP4

Quote of the Day:

“The unique must be fulfilled.”
― Martha Graham

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Wild Wednesday Looking

Wild Wednesday Looking

From their earliest classes, dancers learn to look up – not at the floor. But the eye focus is seldom addressed beyond that. This is too bad because where a dancer looks is critical.

Today’s Link of the Day is one of Finis Jhung’s videos. You’ll see that, as in most of his videos, he frequently mentions where the dancer should be looking (in addition to talking about energy directions).

So think about your eye focus today. You might be surprised how helpful it is.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #21yy:

“Think about where you are looking during each movement.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwumQz-pioM

Quote of the Day:

“The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as its interpreter.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Terminology Tuesday Précipitée

Terminology Tuesday Précipitée

Glissade précipitée [glee-SAD pray-see-pee-TAY] means glissade hurried. This step is the same as glissade pressée (glissade pressed) and glissade piquée (glissade pricked). I guess when you are pressed for time, you hurry.😊

Glissade précipitée is quick and about half the size of a regular glissade. According to Gail Grant’s book, it is “always followed by a posé and the two steps together take the same amount of time as an ordinary glissade”. I have not found this to be the case and I usually see glissade précipitée done before many small jumps, (like jeté), and not “always followed by a posé”. See my previous blog on glissade: http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2015/11/technical-tuesday-glissade.html.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Terminology Secret #43:

“Glissade précipitée means glissade hurried.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_H15mY7ZXw

Quote of the Day:

“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”
― Marc Riboud

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Memorial Day

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgl-1TbsqBs

Quote of the Day:

“On this day, take time to remember those who have fallen. But on every day after, do more; put the freedoms they died for to greater and nobler uses.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Sunday Setback

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Motivational Secret #154:

“Think of setbacks as setups.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUsRGuZb6k

Quote of the Day:

“There is no such thing as a linear life.
But you can always turn your setbacks into setups to come back stronger.”
― Brittany Burgunder

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Superstitious Saturday Itch

Superstitious Saturday Itch

There are many superstitions about itching. A common one is that if your left hand itches it means you’ll be getting some money. Of course, there is the saying that if your right hand itches, you’ll be losing money. But to make it more confusing, the reverse is also true: left=lose, right=receive. Hmmm…

If your right eye itches, it’s lucky – and vice versa. If your foot itches you’ll be going on a journey, and if the itch is on your right foot you’ll be welcomed at your destination – but not if the itch is on your left foot. If your ankles itch it means a wedding (yours or someone else’s) is in your future.

 If your lips itch someone is about to kiss you. If your nose itches you will kiss a fool. If your ears itch someone is talking about you.

And the oddest itch superstition I found is this one: If your nose itches you are about to come across someone with a hole in their britches.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Superstition #154:

“An itchy left hand means you’re getting money- or not.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz1pB7syTRU

Quote of the Day:

“My right eye itches now and I shall see my love.

— Theocritus

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Fun Friday Fooling

Fun Friday Fooling

It is difficult – some would say impossible- to fool a dance teacher. But dancers have developed subtle ways.

The most common one involves small jump combinations. If you forget the steps, or make a mistake, just keep jumping in tempo with the rest of the group. By doing this you are less likely to stand out and can pick up the combination again more easily. And the teacher might actually miss your error. Not likely, but you definitely have a better chance than you would if you stopped jumping. Stopping guarantees you’ll be noticed and makes it harder to pick up where you left off.

Another device is related to the old adage “fake it ‘till you make it”. In other words, don’t let your body language or facial expressions communicate your mistakes, frustrations, or (gasp!) negative feelings to everyone in the room. Keep your expressions neutral and body language appropriate.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #21xx:

“To avoid being noticed making a mistake, just keep jumping.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56elXVeR8zc

Quote of the Day:

“Some mistakes... Just have greater consequences than others. But you don't have to let the result of one mistake be the thing that defines you.”
― Jojo Moyes, Me Before You

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Throwback Thursday and Marilyn Miller

Throwback Thursday and Marilyn Miller

Her real name was Mary Ellen Reynolds and her mother’s name was Lynn. By combining the names Mary and Lynn, Marilyn created her stage name. Until then, the name was little known. She was born on September 1, 1898 in Evansville, Indiana and grew up with her stepfather’s name, Miller.

Her parents and eldest sister had a vaudeville act called The Columbian Trio, and at age four, Marilyn joined it as “Mlle. Sugarplum” thus making her stage debut. For ten years she toured with the act until she was discovered by manager-producer Lee Shubert who invited her to perform at the Winter Garden in NYC. While there she came to the attention of Florenz Ziegfeld and went on to appear in Fancy Free and the Ziegfeld Follies of 1918. Ziegfeld added to her ballet and tap talents by providing her with voice and acting lessons.

In 1920 she starred in Sally in which she sang Jerome Kern’s “Look for the Silver Lining”. She soon became one of the most famous and highly paid musical theater artists of the time.

In 1930 she went to Hollywood, as many musical theater artists did, and made movie versions of Sally and Sunny and also starred in Her Majesty, Love (1931) which proved to be her final film. Her personal life was never as wonderful as her professional life. She was married three times and suffered with health problems.

She died suddenly on April 7, 1936 from complications of sinus surgery. A movie biography of her life was released in 1949 titled Look for the Silver Lining.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Secret #224:

“Marilyn Miller was called Zeigfeld’s most dazzling star.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaEA1V3OTVA

Quote of the Day:

“I will not show my legs when it is perfectly obvious that the only reason I am doing so is to attract attention. If I am being photographed in a ballet or dancing costume, that is different. People expect to see your legs then and it would be very funny if you attempted to cover them.” 

— Marilyn Miller in 1929.

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Wacky Wednesday Ironing

Wacky Wednesday Ironing

We all know how important good alignment is, especially for tricky things like pirouettes. But we still struggle. Sigh.

Here’s a new way to think about your posture in pirouettes. Since common problems include a torso that is a little wonky, think about your shoulder blades. Imagine them being ironed – nice and flat and perpendicular to the floor.

This image prevents the pinched shoulder blade problem as well as shoulder blades that are twisted or pulling backwards. So try it: iron your shoulder blades.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #14ddd:

“Think about ironing your shoulder blades for pirouettes.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egEXOM8TckE

Quote of the Day:

“When ironing, visualize yourself ironing out the wrinkles in your heart.”
― Shoukei Matsumoto, A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind

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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/