Wacky Wednesday Double Panes

Wacky Wednesday Double Panes

You will remember that the most important step in ballet is plié. Therefore, there can never be enough images to assist dancers in perfecting this movement.

Today I present the “Double Pane Image for Pliés”: Imagine a thin pane of glass in front of you and a thin pane of glass behind you. Now plié in between these two panes and be careful not to break the glass. Especially with your head.

Voila!  Perfectly aligned pliés!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #2bb:

“Imagine standing between two panes of glass during pliés.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zbbN4OL98

Quote of the Day:

“Beauty is seeing,
the world through colored glass,
of seeing everything in its glory,
it's all it ever asks.”
― Anthony T Hincks

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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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Technical Tuesday Dance Injuries

Technical Tuesday Dance Injuries

Dance injuries are a fact of life. And, not surprisingly, 65-80% of these injuries occur in the legs. The rest are:  10-17% - spine injuries and 5-15% - arm injuries.

The most frequently seen injuries in the legs are ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendonitis, stress fractures, osteoarthritis and sciatica, to name just a few.

Most of these problems are preventable with proper technique! The most common ways dancers become injured (other than falls) are a result of improper turnout (forcing beyond the current range of motion), and improper alignment of the body and/or the feet (rolling on the arches for example).

This is why dance teachers are so picky. We want to keep our students safe, as well as train them to be beautiful dancers!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Anatomical Secret #26cc:

“65-80% of dance injuries occur in the legs.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHsNi4fAskE

Quote of the Day:

“These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of one's self
To mind one's own business.
Not to want to manage other people's affairs.
To avoid curiosity.
To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries.
To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one's dignity.
To choose always the hardest.”
― Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living

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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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Mad Monday Campfire

Mad Monday Campfire

Ahhhh – it is October and the scent of fireplace fires and campfires fill the air. It made me think about piqué turns and how dancers so often fail to step out enough and instead piqué under themselves. (This is only acceptable for “step-overs”, or piqué turns en dehors, not piqué turns en dedans.)

In the spirit of October, when doing piqué turns, imagine stepping out and over a brightly burning campfire. To do this, you must step out a good distance or you’ll singe your shoes.

And singed shoes must always be avoided.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #14ff:

“Imagine stepping over a burning campfire during piqué turns.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z3bCr8hogc

Quote of the Day:

“You don’t have to say everything to be a light. Sometimes a fire built on a hill will bring interested people to your campfire.”
― Shannon L. Alder

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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:

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Sunday Make Your Bed

Sunday Make Your Bed

A friend of mine always makes a list of things to do each day. At the beginning of each list is always this directive: “Get up”. I commented that this seemed strange (even humorous), to me, but I was told that it was one thing that could be crossed off the list immediately, providing a sense of accomplishment that fueled the motivation to attack the rest of the list throughout the day.

A similar idea has been brought out in a current bestseller written by William H. McRaven:  Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World. I haven’t yet read this book, but I understand it is about how making your bed gives you a sense of accomplishment and sets you up for further progress during the day. Just like my friend’s to-do list.

Do you make your bed every day? If you don’t, try doing so every day. See if this philosophy works for you.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Motivational Secret #184:

“Make your bed.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUve3Z3yDKo

Quote of the Day:

“It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. It is easy to think that where you were raised, how your parents treated you, or what school you went to is all that determines your future. Nothing could be further from the truth. The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking, Malala Yousafzai, and—Moki Martin. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

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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:

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Saturday Allowable Attitudes

Saturday Allowable Attitudes

Whenever I hear someone says “she (or he) has a spectacular attitude”, I hope they are referring to the balletic position. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Having an inflated mental attitude is something dancers must always guard against. It prevents progress and alienates others. It is often seen in younger dancers, who haven’t matured enough to realize what they are doing. Conversely, poor behaviors are often exhibited by students who feel inadequate and are covering it with “attitude”.

How can a teacher handle attitudes? By being consistent. Consistent in adhering to the school’s policies, and by consistently giving praise and encouragement when it is deserved. If all of this fails, discussing the situation and expectations with the student and parents in private can help.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Ballet Statute #93:

“Allow only attitudes of the body, not attitudes of behavior.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef7k8e9a-MQ

Quote of the Day:

“If you want to know the real reasons behind that attitude, think of the thought behind that attitude”
― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

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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:

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Fun Friday Flip

Fun Friday Flip

Piqué fouettés to arabesque are often problematic because the dancer doesn’t use a clean, sharp spot (if it turns it spots, remember). This bogs down the whole operation and makes the student unable to go through the three required positions: devant, à la seconde, and arabesque.

An image that helps develop a quick, clean transition is this: tell the students to imagine flipping a pancake. Most of them will be familiar with this process even if they don’t cook, and understand that a pancake is flipped cleanly and quickly to produce the best result.

As the students begin the fouetté, say “Flip the pancake!”

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #14ee:

“In a piqué fouetté, imagining flipping a pancake.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqbdWRrcZ84

Quote of the Day:

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard

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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:

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Throwback Thursday Prima Ballerina

Throwback Thursday Prima Ballerina

The term “Prima Ballerina” is sometimes used to describe any notable ballet dancer. But the term is actually an awarded title, along with “Prima Ballerina Assoluta”, a higher and rarer award. The term began during the Romantic era, in Italy and was reserved for the best of the best.

Strangely, for such a prestigious award, there is no universally accepted procedure for determining who should receive the title. Usually, it is done within the dancer’s own ballet company, but sometimes it is done by the government.

The first documented use of the term as a form of company rank was in 1894. Marius Petipa bestowed it upon Italian ballerina Pierina Legnani. Other dancers that hold this title are Galina Ulanova, Alicia Alonso and Yvette Chauvirè, among others.

The United States has no formal procedure for bestowing the title of Prima Ballerina.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Factoid #183:

“The term “prima ballerina” is an awarded title.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcx9-IYwS3Y

Quote of the Day:

“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear

                Help expand the knowledge base!

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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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