Throwback Thursday and the Mystery of Matilda Kshesinskaya

Throwback Thursday and the Mystery of Matilda Kshesinskaya

Born in Russia on August 31, 1872, Matilda Kshesinskaya was the first Russian dancer to master 32 fouettés (previously performed by Italian dancers). She studied with Johansson and Cecchetti at the imperial Ballet School In St. Petersburg. She joined the Maryinsky Theatre when she graduated in 1890.

In 1895 she became Prima Ballerina Assoluta, a title awarded to only one other dancer at the time, Italian ballerina Pierina Legnani (who is said to have originated the 32 fouettés).

But the mystery surrounding Kshesinskaya is a romantic one. She was involved with Nicolas II, of the ill-fated Romanov family. She fell in love with Nicolas, and he called her “Little K”.

In 1892 Kshesinskaya wrote this in her diary (after Nicolas contacted her about wanting to have her photo): “I cannot describe what happened to me when I had arrived home. I could not eat and ran away to my room; I was crying and my heart hurt so much. For the first time I felt that this was not just an infatuation, as I thought of it before, but that I love the Crown Prince madly and deeply and that I never shall be able to forget him.”  Soon she moved out of her parent’s house and into a new mansion that Nicolas bought for her.

The mystery surrounds a newborn baby (named Celina), the child of Matilde’s brother Joseph. But some believe Celina’s parents are actually Matilde and Nicholas and that she was adopted by Joseph to prevent a scandal, (since Nicolas was married at the time). If this is true, Celina would be the only offspring of the last Russian emperor to survive the Revolution.

Is this story true? Many do not think so, but a quote in Nicholas’ diary says: “A very strange phenomenon that I notice in myself: I have never thought that two identical feelings, two loves at the same time, can be compatible within one soul.”

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Factoid #125:

“Ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya was involved with the famous Romanov family.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-AcepzvmQc

Quote of the Day:

“I am not yet ready to be Tsar. I know nothing of the business of ruling.”

- Nicholas II of Russia

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Wild Wednesday Memorize

Wild Wednesday Memorize

Today’s Link of the Day is a great article that describes in detail the various methods dancers use to memorize choreography. The method(s) used will be different for each dancer, but the basic rule is to memorize in sections, or chunks.

It is said that the average person can only effectively remember five things at a time, so even a short combination at barre will exceed this. That’s why breaking any set of steps into smaller chunks is one of the most successful ways to memorize. But there are many other tricks for memorization, and this article details them.

Each dancer may also have their own personal memory tricks. The important thing is to explore and discover which things work best for you.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #21gg:

“There are many different ways to memorize choreography.”

Link of the Day:

http://www.danceadvantage.net/memorize-ballet-combos/

Quote of the Day:

“Dance as the narration of a magical story; that recites on lips, illuminates imaginations and embraces the most sacred depths of souls.”
― Shah Asad Rizvi

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Technical Tuesday Joints

Technical Tuesday Joints

The joints in your body allow movement in different ways. Here are three:

Spin is a movement of a bone around its own long axis; it is denoted by the anatomical term rotation.

Swing is an angular movement, where the angle between bones change. An example: bending and straightening the elbow.

Approximation is the movement caused by pressing or pulling one bone directly toward another.

There are two basic structural types of joint: diarthrosis (synovial joint), where fluid is present, and synarthrosis, where there is no fluid.

The joint dancers are most concerned with is the hip joint: it is a ball-and-socket synovial joint formed by the articulation of the rounded head of the femur and the cup-like acetabulum of the pelvis (see today's video). This joint allows turnout!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Anatomical Secret #27yy:

“ Several basic movements are allowed by joints.”

Link of the Day:

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

Quote of the Day:

“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.”

- Reba McEntire

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https://www.amazon.com/Frames-Borders-Backgrounds-Color-Rogers/dp/0980191955/

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Mad Monday Add An Inch

Mad Monday Add An Inch

Improving posture and alignment is a constant quest for dancers. Today’s Secret is a simple way to do this: Imagine adding an inch at each side seam. I’m talking about the side seam of your leotard, or tee shirt for male dancers.

Try it. Imagine adding an inch on each side seam and notice how your whole body lengthens. Voila! Instantly better posture.

This idea is particularly helpful on those days when you are tired and things tend to sink. And we all know there is no sinking in ballet. Think of what happened to the Titanic.

So add an inch on each side!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #1sss:

“Imagine adding an inch at each side seam.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep3eOtbEbEc

Quote of the Day:

“A great leader also has the ability to make people an inch taller in his presence.” - N. R. Narayana Murthy

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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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Sunday Mistakes

Sunday Mistakes

Dancers are some of the most highly motivated people on the planet. But this very fact often causes problems. That’s because dancers want to be perfect.

Perfection, by definition is: “being entirely without fault or defect" according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. And, of course, we know this is not achievable. We can only get close.

Which brings me to today’s thought to consider: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes in class. Class is where you hone your skills and is, hopefully, a supportive place where you can work on your skills, making them as perfect as possible. And to do this you will make mistakes. So make them! If you are balancing and fall in one direction it teaches you how to correct your placement by moving your alignment further in the opposite direction, etc.

Dancers who fear making mistakes tend to hold back and not use their energy effectively, which holds back progress. This fear effectively puts the brakes on, the dancer plateaus, and doesn't move forward.

Be bold! Embrace your mistakes as a roadmap to greater technique.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Motivational Secret #127:

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDP2c2FCHAM

Quote of the Day:

“By seeking and blundering we learn.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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https://www.amazon.com/Frames-Borders-Backgrounds-Color-Rogers/dp/0980191955/

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Saturday Murphy’s Law

Saturday Murphy’s Law

I’ve talked about Murphy’s Law before: “Anything that can go wrong, will.” And there is a whole set of these laws for dancers.

Today’s  rule is we all know well: The best things you do will never be witnessed by the director or teacher. The moment you hit a perfectly executed set of multiple pirouettes, the teacher will have just turned away to adjust the music. Or, you gave the best performance of your life the night the director and/or choreographer went out of town and missed it. We’ve all been there.

It’s just part of a dancer’s life.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Statute #115:

“The best things you do will never be witnessed by the director or teacher.”

Link of the Day:

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

Quote of the Day:

“The chance of the bread falling with the buttered side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet.”
― Murphy's Law

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Fun Friday Unplug

Fun Friday Unplug

Today is National Unplugging Day. So instead of spending all your time with your electronic devices, including the one you are looking at, go outside and enjoy the restorative benefits of a non-electronic world!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #:

“Take time to unplug.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.nationaldayofunplugging.com/

Quote of the Day:

“Being connected to everything has disconnected us from ourselves and the preciousness of this present moment.”
― L.M. Browning, Vagabonds and Sundries

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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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