Wacky Wednesday Pillows

Wacky Wednesday Pillows

Yesterday I talked about the amygdala and how this area in the brain is largely responsible for the fear response. Fear is often a problem for dancers, most often the fear of falling, especially during jumps or turns - the more daring moves.

If students are holding back during a combination, stop and tell them to imagine that the room is made of pillows. These pillows provide a cushion for any mistakes they might make, protecting them if they fall.

Usually this is all it takes to get the pupils to attack the combination more aggressively and with less fear.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #22xx:

“Imagine a room full of pillows.”

Link of the Day:

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

Quote of the Day:

“What pillow can one have like a good conscience?”
― John Steinbeck, Tortilla Flat

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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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For interesting articles involving mental health:

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

Technical Tuesday Amygdala

Technical Tuesday Amygdala

The word amygdala (almond) comes from the Latin corpus amygdaloideum. It is located deep inside the brain (see photo).

The amygdala is a set of neurons, located specifically in the brain’s medial temporal lobe. It is part of the limbic system, which also includes hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus. Whew!

Here is the really interesting part. When you think of the amygdala, think “fear”. It is largely responsible for the feeling of fear, particularly of those things out of our control. The amygdala controls the way we react to things that cause an emotional response or anything we perceive as being threatening.

Without an amygdala, there would be no fear. None at all. This was shown in an experiment on rats. When their amygdala was removed the rats feared nothing – even cats.

Conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and even autism are suspected to be linked to abnormal functioning of the amygdala.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Anatomical Secret #27nn:

“The amygdale plays a key role in the processing of emotions.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDD5wvFMH6U

Quote of the Day:

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
― Nelson Mandela

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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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Mad Monday Mountain Peak

Mad Monday Mountain Peak

Brace yourself. It’s time for yet another two-way energy image.

You may recall the banana image: your body is like a banana being peeled, with the body (the banana) going upward and the peel going downward. Two-way energy.

Now imagine your body as a strong, high mountain peak, reaching into the clouds. This peak is covered with snow. Now imagine the snow melting and running down the sides of the mountain. The mountain peak is, of course, firm and always extending into the sky.  The melting snow runs down the sides of the mountain creating the downward energy, while the mountain itself is the upward energy.

Snow down, mountain up. Voila! Melting snow mountain energy.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #1lll:

“Imagine yourself as a mountain peak with melting snow running down.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ4A-15eHOA

Quote of the Day:

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
― John Muir, The Mountains of California

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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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Sunday Daily Gifts

Sunday Daily Gifts

In the hustle and bustle of each day it is easy to forget about all those gifts we have, or receive, on a daily basis. I’m talking about things like the gift of friendship, or the ability to see, hear, and breathe, etc. The gift of good health. The gift of a warm and cozy place to sleep. The gift of a warm wet nose and a wagging tail that greets you when you arrive home. It’s too easy to take all of this for granted.

In our holiday rush to buy gifts and find the perfect present, the pressure can become overwhelming. While you are shopping, and hopefully thinking about all of your own daily gifts, consider giving something simple whenever you can. I’ve talked about this before, but during the holiday season it’s even more important.

Give someone (a stranger or a friend) an encouraging word, a smile, a steady hand, an open door. Anything to make their life a little easier, a little better. Whatever the situation requires.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Motivational Secret #196:

“Never forget the gifts you have every day.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riohO4dcy08

Quote of the Day:

“Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life its deepest significance.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

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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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Saturday Toi Statute

Saturday Toi Statute

Last Saturday I talked about how dancers never say “break a leg”, like actors do. Instead, they say “merde”. But there is another way to express good wishes to a dancer.

It’s “toi toi toi”. This is not as commonly used as “merde”, but is, perhaps, a nicer way to wish a dancer well. But where did this phrase come from?

It is said to be an idiom used to ward off a spell and was often accompanied by knocking on wood. Or, it could be an onomatopoeic reference to spitting three times, which is done in many countries to ward off evil spirits, since saliva is reputed to be able to ward off demons.

Yet another possibility: some say  the word “toi” is a shortened version of “Teufel” the German term for devil.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Statute #104:

“Saying “toi toi toi” is another way to wish a dancer well on a performance.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gBbyiYuCkU

Quote of the Day:

“I'm a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it”
― Thomas Jefferson

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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 Elbow to Ear

Fun Friday Elbow to Ear

In fifth en haut, or high fifth, the arms create a picture frame for the dancer’s head and face. To create this correctly, there must always be a space between the ears and the elbows of the lifted arms.

If there is no space, it means the arms are drooping, and we all know there is no drooping in ballet. Or, it means the arms are stretching too much, placing the elbows too close to the ears. To keep the proper spacing, elongate the arms until there is only a slight curve at the elbow, thus creating a lovely oval (not round) shape.

Also, remember to maintain the proper space between the fingers at the top of the oval: the distance between the two hands is approximately the length of the little finger.

Now you have the perfect picture frame! 

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #6eee:

“Maintain the elbow-to-ear space in fifth en haut.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs-iXYAIKIQ

Quote of the Day:

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

                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:

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Throwback Thursday and Dancing Man

Throwback Thursday and Dancing Man

The end of World War II was cause for celebration around the world. In Sydney Australia, a man was filmed dancing for joy in the street, but despite attempts to identify him, who he was (is), remains a mystery. Today’s link is a short clip of him – can you solve the mystery?

Several people have claimed to be the dancing man, including Frank McAlary, a retired lawyer. There are two witnesses who claim they saw him dancing at the time.

But there are other possibilities. Ern Hill makes claim to the dancing man title and states: “"The camera came along and I did a bit of a jump around."

Then there is Patrick Blackall who claims: "I'm the genuine dancing man," and even signed papers declaring this to be true.

But the dancing man’s identity has yet to be proven without a doubt.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Question #192:

“Who was the mysterious dancing man of 1945?”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij9LkYCSujg

Quote of the Day:

“Our doubts are traitors,
and make us lose the good we oft might win,
by fearing to attempt.”
― William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

                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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