Fun Friday Long Toes

Fun Friday Long Toes

Consider your toes. Seriously. Think about how important they are and how much they do for you. For instance, they push you off the floor, they cushion your landings, they extend your line, etc., etc. They are not just important - they are critical to successful technique.

And the most important thing to think about regarding your toes is this: you always elongate them. You never curl or clench them. Whether on the floor on in the air, the toes should be extended.

This goes for pointe work too. If your toes are curled inside your shoes you need a different size.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Ballet Secret #4bb:

“Always lengthen your toes.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXlP-6Ip020

Quote of the Day:

“Toes will always be at the end of your feet, but at the start of your journey.”
― Anthony T.Hincks

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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/

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For interesting articles involving mental health:

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

Wacky Wednesday Tight Curl

Wacky Wednesday Tight Curl

One of the difficulties that can occur in a pirouette is that of a loose turning action. It’s like the difference between a tight curl in your hair or a relaxed curl.

The upward spiral of the pirouette must be small in circumference, not wide and wonky. Therefore, always imagine a tight curl when turning. This also helps create the speed needed, which tends to be slower if the turning circumference is wide – giving the pirouette a rather warped look. Scary.

And, as always, remember that the nice tight spiral contains both upward and downward energy.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #14bbb:

“Imagine a tight curl, not a loose curl for pirouettes.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SKLSOGtayE

Quote of the Day:

“Everything turns in circles and spirals with the cosmic heart until infinity. Everything has a vibration that spirals inward or outward …”

― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

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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

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Monday Point

Monday Point

Sometimes it’s all in the way things are said. It’s easy to say (or think) point your toes. But this often causes only the toes to curl and leaves the rest of the foot dangling limply from the ankle. Or worse, it causes the muscles in and around the ankle to clench and pull upward as the toes curl downward. Scary and ineffective.

Instead, think of pointing the foot – not the toes. Better yet, abandon the word “point” altogether and use the word “stretch”. Stretch the foot.

This small change in wordage often makes a world of difference!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #4y:

“Think of pointing your foot, not your toes.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73R-fSJiwN4

Quote of the Day:

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

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

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For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Mad Monday Curling

Mad Monday Curling

There is no curling in ballet – unless it’s in one’s hair. And I’m not talking about the sport of curling.

Curling is sometimes seen in the fingers (see this previous post: https://balletwebb.blogspot.com/search?q=curl), or in the toes. Curled toes are common, especially when students try to point their feet too hard. And curled toes in pointe shoes isn’t even something I want to think about (ouch!).

Except for hair, there’s no curling in ballet. Period.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #22m:

“There is no curling in ballet.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNgXowd1fBI

Quote of the Day:

“Ladies with curly hair. Have time to spare.”

- Phyllis McGinley

                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

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For interesting articles involving mental health:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/

Mad Monday Tense Toes

Mad Monday Tense Toes

An all-too-common problem for many dancers is too much tension in the toes. This causes the toes to curl like a bird balanced on a wire. I’ve talked about this before.

It is important for the toes to be relaxed – whether the dancer is standing on the whole foot or on demi-pointe or pointe. Gripping the toes radiates tension up the foot and into the ankle and lower leg and can produce overuse injuries in all these areas.

Also, tensing the toes makes the balance point of the foot smaller – making it much for difficult for a dancer to balance. It is often easy to see this tension by looking at the feet. If the “knuckles” of the toes are popping upward, it means the toes are not relaxed.

Avoid tense toes!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Ballet Secret:

“Avoid tense toes.” 

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL0hYXBgcHE

Quote of the Day:

It's a good idea always to do something relaxing prior to making an important decision in your life.”
― Paulo Coelho

            Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

My latest books are two 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://balletconnections.com/DebraWebbRogers

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Wacky Wednesday Knee Avoidance

Wacky Wednesday Knee Avoidance

A common problem for beginners and even advanced dancers is a sickled foot in passé. Gasp!  It is as though the toes have brains and want to “avoid” the knee. In doing so, the toes curl forward, causing an unattractive, (and just plain wrong), sickled foot. Scary.

To prevent this, concentrate on rotating the working leg even before the foot reaches passé. Then continue the concentration for the duration of the position.

Once again, rotation is the key!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #:

“To prevent knee avoidance, concentrate on rotating the working leg in passé.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d35Fpfezveo

Quote of the Day:

“Do stuff. be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. stay eager.” 
― Susan Sontag

                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://balletconnections.com/DebraWebbRogers

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Fun Friday Feet

Fun Friday Feet

Happy April Fool’s Day! No, I’m not going to try and fool you with today’s blog.

Let’s talk about feet. Those all important things at the end of your legs. We are all familiar with how to stretch (point) them – or are we? So often I see students (usually the highly motivated ones) who point their feet so hard that the toes clench as though they are holding onto a wire, like a bird. Ow!

I don’t use the term “point” as often as I say “stretch”. I believe this works better to describe the correct action of the foot. There is an elongation, but there should never be a clench (where the toes curl under and almost point back toward the heel).

Also, when the foot is acting as the supporting foot, the toes are relaxed and all five toes must maintain contact with the floor.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Ballet Secret #22w:  

“When pointing the foot, do not clench the toes.”

                Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plUhhsKaC4Y

Quote of the Day:

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”
― Amit Ray

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Want to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:

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Wonderful Wednesday No Leftovers

Wonderful Wednesday No Leftovers

Music is the heart and soul of dance. Yet dancers are often so absorbed in working out all the technical details of the art form, the music takes a back seat. Scary.

The only thing worse than an unmusical dancer is an unmusical musician, so start listening – really listening – to the music played in the classroom. I also advise my students to listen to all genres of music on their own, because this helps develop musicality plus an appreciation of all varieties of music. The more dancers listen, the more details they hear and this is enormously helpful in their development as artists .

During class, a dancer should create the illusion that their body is creating the music (see previous blog: http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2014/01/fun-friday-and-music-creation.html.

It is as though the dancer and the music become a single entity, and there is no separation. When this fails to happen, there is “leftover” music. This refers to unused, ignored, or unfulfilled musical sections and it often happens at the very beginning of a dance combination, or at the end. 

Fill out every moment of the music with movement and passion.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #7ss:  

“Use all the music – no leftovers.”

                Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kolfFs5hqLg

Quote of the Day:

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”
― Maya Angelou

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 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!