Wild Wednesday Centrifugal and Centripetal

Wild Wednesday Centrifugal and Centripetal

Here we go with two very similar sounding words that we need to know because they are involved in many things a dancers does – like turning! Plus it is especially interesting for science nerds (like me).

What is the difference between centrifugal force and centripetal force? According to Fouad A. Saad https://www.livescience.com/52488-centrifugal-centripetal-forces.html : “Centripetal force (from the Latin, “center fleeing”)is the inward-seeking pull of an object. Centrifugal force is the opposite; it appears to pull objects away from the center or axis of rotation.” 

Perhaps a better explanation is from 

https://www.diffen.com/difference/Centrifugal_Force_vs_Centripetal_Force:

“Centripetal force is a real force that counteracts the centrifugal force and prevents the object from "flying out," keeping it moving instead with a uniform speed along a circular path.”

 In other word, one might say that centrifugal force is a fake force (notice the word “appears” in the definition in the second paragraph above). Confused yet?

Here is a great little chart from the same source:

Centrifugal Force	Centripetal Force

Meaning	Tendency of an object following a curved path to fly away from the center of curvature. Might be described as “lack of centripetal force.”	The force that keeps an object moving with a uniform speed along a circular path.
Direction	Along the radius of the circle, from the center towards the object.	Along the radius of the circle, from the object towards the center.
Example	Mud flying off a tire; children pushed out on a roundabout.	Satellite orbiting a planet
Formula	Fc = mv2/r	Fc = mv2/r
Defined by	Chistiaan Hygens in 1659	Isaac Newton in 1684
Is it a real force?	No; centrifugal force is the inertia of motion.	Yes; centripetal force keeps the object from "flying out".

Now you know!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #21vv:

“The difference between Centrifugal force and Centripetal force is helpful to understand.”

Links of the Day (for all science nerds!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s1IRJbL2Co

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weeiZjz-Q-o

Quote of the Day:

“The law of centrifugal force seems to be as true for the human condition as it is for the Newtonian mechanics. The faster our lives spin, the more things tend to fly apart.”

― Richard Paul Evans, Lost December

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Technical Tuesday Hands and Feet

Technical Tuesday Hands and Feet

Dancers spent a lot of time thinking about their feet, but not as much about their hands. It’s understandable. But anatomically speaking, these two have about 25% of all the bones in the body.

It’s rare for dancers to have anything happen to the bones in the hands, but the feet are a different story. With all those small bones, it is not uncommon for them to get fractured. Fascinating Fact: the most frequently broken bone in the mid foot  is that of the fifth metatarsal (the one next to the pinkie). Ouch.

To add even more detail: The human foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles. Not only that, the foot contains nearly 8000 nerves and many of those end near the skin – that’s why feet are so ticklish!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Anatomical Secret #26ll:

“25% of a human’s bones are in the hands and feet.

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08tYVJY5k5U

Quote of the Day:

“It's only out of reach when you choose to keep your feet flat on the floor.”
― Lana M. H. Wilder

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 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:

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Mad Monday Mental

Mad Monday Mental

The main focus of this blog is mental imagery: pictures in the mind that help dancers achieve their goals better and faster. Some people still think of this as “woo-woo” psychic phenomenon, akin to Tarot cards and fortune telling. Not true!

There have been many research studies on how and why imagery is so powerful, not only for athletes and dancers, but also for the average person. “According to research, imagery is considered as a powerful tool as the human brain interprets the images created during imagery process completely identical to the actual stimulus situation (Williams & Krane 2015).” http://believeperform.com/performance/the-world-of-images-inside-the-dancers-mind/

The same source states: “Dancers images about movement are typically visual (what the dancers “see” in the imagery) or kinesthetic (e.g how the dancer can “feel” the movement or an action) or the combination of both (Cumming & Williams 2013).” Today’s Link will take you to the complete article.

The point is simple: the more a dancer (and teacher) can use imagery, the more effective the training becomes. Not to mention more fun!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #7mmm:

“Mental imagery has been the focus of many research studies.”

Link of the Day:

http://believeperform.com/performance/the-world-of-images-inside-the-dancers-mind/

Quote of the Day:

“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.” 

― Albert Einstein

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 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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Sunday Dreams and Fears

Sunday Dreams and Fears

Here we are in Nutcracker season – the season of dreams. But many of us don’t live our dreams, we live more in our fears. Scary.

The definition of the word “fear” is: “An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat”. The key word here is “belief”. A thought. Something happening in your head that causes “an unpleasant  emotion”. Sounds like something I’d like to avoid.

Start thinking more about your dreams than your fears. It’s okay to plan, but then leave it and go back to pleasant thoughts, ideas, and goals. It takes practice, (and we all know about that), but it is very doable.

Live your dreams, not your fears.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #:

“Live your dreams, not your fears.”

Link of the Day:

http://www.psypost.org/2017/11/study-suggests-dancers-enhanced-sixth-sense-50083

Quote of the Day:

“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”

—Les Brown

                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:

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Saturday 2.5 Statute

Saturday 2.5 Statute

We are all familiar with computer upgrades that go by the numbers: 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 or something like Windows 10 etc. Well, this constant numerical upgrading doesn’t work well in the ballet world.

Case in point: Second position. There is never a Second 2.5 – an upgrade that causes the feet to go beyond 180 degrees. Ouch! Yet, this happens, especially during grand plié. Those feet slide backwards and suddenly it’s Second 2.5 – more than the original and worse, much worse.

Never, accidentally or on purpose, take your second position beyond its control zone. Beware of second 2.5!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Ballet Statute #102:

“There is no Second Position 2.5.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxSG6wYxOP8

Quote of the Day:

“Windows 10 on both an old 2011 upgraded computer and a new 2016 computer was an excruciating experience”
― Steven Magee

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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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Fun Friday Saut de Basque Second

Fun Friday Saut de Basque Second

Secrets to saut de basque – I’ve done another post about saut de basque http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/search?q=saut+de+basque and today I have another hint. 

To assure a good jump, remember to hit second in the air (with the working leg).

This is important! Going through second gives both proper positioning and lift. As the leg comes back down from second, it provides part of the necessary thrust (lift) that allows the dancer to get extra height in the jump, which in turn allows for the possibility of doing doubles (which are not all that difficult, believe it or not). 

Think about it: the leg from second coming down as the dancer does a half turn in the air, as she changes position to passé, and spots… that’s a lot of good, powerful, force. No wonder saut de basques are so much fun!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #15fff:

“You must go through second in the air in a saut de basque.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esioL52jCu8

Quote of the Day:

“Guard well your thoughts when alone and your words when accompanied.”
― Roy T. Bennett

                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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