2 3 4 5 Ballet Webb

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Sunday Inspiring Objectives



Sunday Inspiring Objectives

Every day you should have a set of objectives - small goals that are realistic but a just a little bit challenging. This could be something as simple as balancing a few seconds longer at the barre, or the more daunting: adding an extra pirouette (on both sides!).

The important thing is that these goals should be inspiring, not depressing. So think about what inspires you – what makes you motivated and excited for the day. Focus on these things. Put them into action each day, every class.

It is all too easy to concentrate on the things we can’t do, instead of working slowly and deliberately with and toward the things that inspire us.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #:
“Have a set of inspiring objectives each day.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“The problem with people is they forget that most of the time it's the small things that count.”
― Jennifer NivenAll the Bright Places

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Saturday, August 4, 2018

Saturday Shoe Superstition



Saturday Shoe Superstition

One superstition I’d never heard was that it was bad luck to put pointe shoes on a dressing table, or any table, for that matter. It is said that doing this brings the risk of a bad performance, or being fired, or some other such misfortune. Hmmm.

This superstition may have come from the medieval practice of placing a new pair of shoes on a table to signify that someone in the household had just died (the new shoes were purchased for the deceased person’s burial).

Therefore, perhaps it is only bad luck to put pointe shoes on a dressing table if they are brand new.


From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Superstition #133:
“It is bad luck to put pointe shoes on a dressing table.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“It doesn't matter how great your shoes are if you don't accomplish anything in them.”
― Martina BooneCompulsion

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Friday, August 3, 2018

Fun Friday Rocket Head



Fun Friday Rocket Head

Here we go again with yet another blog about posture and rockets! Wow! This one is similar to something you’ve heard before: a rocket angle. See earlier blog here: http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/search?q=rocket+angle.

To instantly improve posture, imagine your head as the top of a rocket getting ready to blast into space. The engines fire and – whoosh - liftoff! Your head rises up into the atmosphere.

Good posture always has that “energy up” (in addition to an equal “energy down”).  So hang onto the rocket head image.


From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #1vvv:
“Imagine your head as a rocket lifting your body upwards into space.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Unless some misfortune has made it impossible, everyone can have good posture.” 
-         Loretta Young
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Thursday, August 2, 2018

Throwback Thursday and Vincenzo Galeotti



Throwback Thursday and Vincenzo Galeotti

Born on March 5, 1733, Vincenzo Galeotti is considered to be the father of Danish ballet.  He was born in Florence, Italy, studied dance there with Gaspero Angiolini, and performed with several European companies before settling in Venice. He lived there from 1765 and 1769 choreographing opera ballets and divertissements. From there he moved to England, where he performed at London’s King’s Theater (1769-1771), and staged several works.

In 1771 he returned to Venice where he remained until 1775. He was then invited to Copenhagen to be the ballet master, soloist and teacher at the Royal Theatre. Here he stayed for the rest of his life, performing until the age of 77. His last appearance was as Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet.

During his tenure at the Royal Theatre he staged over 30 ballets and laid the foundations of Danish ballet. His most popular work, a comedy called The Whims of Cupid and the Ballet Master(1786) is the world’s oldest surviving ballet. It is still performed in Denmark.

Vincento Galeotti died on December 16, 1816. He was 83 years old.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #143:
“Vincenzo Galeotti choreographed the world’s oldest surviving ballet.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. ”
― Ray BradburyFahrenheit 451

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Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Wacky Wednesday Reverse



Wacky Wednesday Reverse

You will remember Ballet Statute 14: Everything in ballet has a name and can be reversed. The trick here is learning how to easily reverse steps and combinations.

It takes practice – no surprise, right? It also takes experience, and dancers who study with teachers who reverse combinations in each class do better – again, no surprise here. Also, some steps and combinations reverse more easily than others.

It helps to recognize that reversing is more than right and left and/or front and back. Students must understand the reverse of each individual step. If that sounds daunting, it really isn’t. Here is a link that describes ways to build skill in reversing combinations: http://www.balletcurriculum.com/four-tips-for-building-reversing-skills/.

It is important to start with simple combinations and move on to the more complex.


From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #21rr:
“Begin with simple combinations to teach reversals.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“The Ancients understood the omnipotence of the underside of things.”
― Louis Pasteur

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Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Terminology Tuesday Déboulé



Terminology Tuesday Déboulé

Most dancers are familiar with chainé turns. But there is a term of the French school that you probably haven’t heard. It’s tour chainé déboulé (toor sheh-NAY day-boo-LAY).

It means: a chain of turns, rolling like a ball. The word déboulé is the part that means “rolling like a ball”. I've seldom heard it used today, at least in America, and it has been replaced by the simpler and shorter chainé.

Even so, it’s always fun to learn new things.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #30c:
“Tour chainé déboulé is the full term for chainé turns.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.”
― Beverly Sills

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Monday, July 30, 2018

Marvelous Monday Pointe Padding



Marvelous Monday Pointe Padding

The fact of the matter is this: pointe shoes are not comfortable. Therefore, a method of padding the toes is necessary – for most dancers. There are several ways to do this, and more are being invented every day.

The trick is to get enough padding in the shoe to provide comfort and protection, but not so much as to add bulk. Beginners usually try to put too much “stuff” in their shoes, and this is counterproductive.  But as their strength and technique develop, less padding will be needed.


“Padding: Try one of these methods or a combination of them to see what works best (but remember to check with your teacher first).


-         Wrap each toe with self-adhesive tape, Band-Aids or masking tape.
-         Fold a paper towl around your toes (Change it frequently to prevent shredding)
-         Use a pre-shaped lamb’s wool or gel pad.
-         Cut the toes off thick socks and wear them under your tights.
-         Use a chamois (shammy). This soft cleaning fabric absorbds sweat without falling apart or feeling bulky.” 

I always used either paper towels or a few squares of toilet paper. Each one is disposable after each use, and they absorb perspiration. Experiment. You'll soon discover that you need much less in your pointe shoes than you think.



From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #23f:
“There are several methods of padding a pointe shoe.”

Link of the Day:


Quote of the Day:
“Less is more.”
 -Robert Browning”   
             
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