Wacky Wednesday Backward Circles
Today’s Link (at about 2:18) talks about
the backward circle image that helps dancers during chassés (gallops) that precede big jumps. Young children are
taught to literally do just the
backward circles with their arms and body before they actually gallop across
the floor.
For more advanced dancers, it helps to
imagine these backward circles during any chassés that are used as jump preparations. It’s difficult
to explain, but pretty easy to feel. It is this sensation that helps achieve
the “air time” needed for a spectacular grand jeté.
These circles remind me of the circles
we used to draw in penmanship and/or calligraphy classes to improve our handwriting.
Doing circles over and over developed the muscle memory necessary for success.
No surprise here.
Try imagining these backward circles the
next time you do chassés
before a big jump.
From the Big
Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #15ggg:
“Imagine backward circles during chassé preparations.”
Link of the Day:
Quote of the Day:
“I believe
that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing
dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same.
In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or
intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a
satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice
means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of
vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection
desired.”
― Martha Graham
― Martha Graham
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