Throwback Thursday Dancing Law

Throwback Thursday Dancing Law

It sounds like one of those odd, old laws that are no longer on the books – like it being illegal to allow a donkey to sleep in a bathtub in Arizona  – but this one is only now being repealed.

It’s called the Cabaret Law, and it was started under Mayor Jimmy Walker in 1926, intended to make it easier for police to enforce the rules of Prohibition. This law states that any establishment that wishes to allow dancing must apply for this special license. Actually getting it is difficult, and today only about 127 clubs (out of over 12,000) have the license.

A 1987 article in the New York Times stated the law was meant to ensure fire safety, enforce occupancy limits and patrol the moral character of club owners. It wasn’t until 1986 that the “three musicians rule” and the restrictions on jazz instruments were removed from the Cabaret Law.

Only recently, in 2018, did Mayor de Blasio sign legislation to finally repeal the Cabaret Law.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Factoid #126:

“The strange dancing law of New York City….”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWuyAq4IoqA

Quote of the Day:

“Writing laws is easy, but governing is difficult.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

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Wacky Wednesday Golden Arches

Wacky Wednesday Golden Arches

When doing an echappé, there must be an strong “up” while the feet stay in fifth in the air, before the legs open to second. Then the same path is followed by the legs on the way back, with fifth position in the air being shown before actually landing in fifth.

An easy way to think about this is to imagine McDonald’s golden arches symbol. I’m sure everyone is familiar with this icon. The dancer goes up to the top of the symbol before opening the legs out to land in second, and then reverses the process on the way in.

Golden arches echappés!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #:

            “Imagine McDonald’s golden arches during echappés.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb9GMcaWNRY

Quote of the Day:

“Symbols can be so beautiful, sometimes.”
― Kurt Vonnegut

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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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Technical Tuesday Pointe Anatomy

Technical Tuesday Pointe Anatomy

Today’s post is for everyone who loves science and anatomy. The Link of the Day  below is a great discussion of the anatomy of the foot and how it allows pointe work to happen. 

One point (no pun intended) is that strengthening both extrinsic and intrinsic muscles are important. Extrinsic muscles are “located in the leg with tendons extending into the foot and creating movement there”, and intrinsic muscles are those muscles located entirely in the foot itself.

The article also states: “Chronological age alone is not a satisfactory criterion for advancing to pointe dancing.”  It goes on to list the requirements:

“• Strong lower extremities (legs, ankles, and feet) to help develop the mechanical function needed to stand en pointe

• Sufficient, but not too much, flexibility and motion in the ankles and feet

• Strong “core” muscles (trunk and hips) to provide support to the body

• Good balance and alignment of the legs and torso

• Adequate preparatory ballet work (at least two sessions per week is suggested)”

Happy Tuesday everyone!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #23e:

“Both extrinsic and intrinsic muscles are important for strength on pointe.”

Link of the Day:

https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.iadms.org/resource/resmgr/Public/Bull_6-1_p10-12_Russell.pdf

Quote of the Day:

 “One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don't throw it away.” 

― Stephen Hawking

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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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Madcap Monday Fast

Madcap Monday Fast

I’ve talked about “floating passés” before: those passés that never reach the knee and instead orbit out in space around the knee. The opposite are those passés that lean heavily against the knee, and that’s not good either.

To prevent problem passés in turns, stop focusing on the foot/knee position, and instead focus on the movement of the working leg as it moves to the position. Think of bending the working leg quickly – fast fast fast. This is often all it takes to get the passé position accurately established without deviation.

By rapidly bending the knee, all the problems that might occur in transit are reduced, as well as locking in the balance needed for the turn quickly and efficiently.

Fast, not floating, passés!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #14mm:

“Think of bending the working leg quickly to prevent floating passés.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm2vjeeD1ZU

Quote of the Day:

“If you run fast enough, you can still catch those dreams.
Don't give up yet!”
― Charmaine J Forde

                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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Sunday Chapters

Sunday Chapters

Dancers are interesting. We are perfectionists who tend to obsess over things. That’s probably part of what drives us, and drive is a good thing.

But when we start replaying the day and all its negatives over and over in our mind, it is no longer productive. And this is hard to change because we want so badly to  improve. We are constantly analyzing: how can I do this better? What did I do wrong? Am I being too lazy, too aggressive, too fill-in-the-blank… It’s called rumination and it is like rereading a chapter over and over and never finishing the book. 

The first step in stopping this cycle is simply recognizing it. The next is to find ways to focus your overactive mind on more positive things – any unrelated activity you enjoy, listening to music, watching an uplifting movie, or going for a walk in nature. I find nature to be very restorative and grounding.

Most of all, I believe this chapter rereading is not unusual in dancers. It isn’t productive, but it isn’t unusual.

Now, go for a walk outside.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Motivational Secret #128:

“You can’t start a new chapter if you keep rereading the last one.”

Link of the Day:

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

Quote of the Day:

“You become what you think about all day long.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

                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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Saturday Carving Snow

Saturday Carving Snow

Today I ran across this quote by Lawrence Barrett: "An actor is a sculptor who carves in snow." This could just as easily apply to dancers.

Dance has sometimes been called the most ephemeral of the arts because as soon as it is created, it is gone. Even in this age of video and the internet, which renders it a little less ephemeral, the sensation of witnessing the magnificence of dance at the moment it is created onstage cannot be reproduced. I believe this is one reason dance is so breathtaking and precious – and why we love it and are devoted to it.

As dancers, we do indeed, “carve in snow”.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Saturday Saying #:

“A dancer is a sculptor who carves in snow.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuKGGD2jgq4

Quote of the Day:

"Theater is life with the dull bits cut out."

 - Alfred Hitchcock

                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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Fun Friday Prop Zipper

Fun Friday Prop Zipper

I’ve used the image of a zipper several times: for engaging stomach muscles, for postural lift and for the concept of two-way energy. But there’s nothing like an actual, physical object to get the point across.

A standard zipper, all by itself, is a handy item to have in a teacher’s bag of tricks. Take it out and unzip it to show how loose and uncontrollable it is when open. Then, holding the bottom with one hand, zip it up to demonstrate how it now becomes stronger.

Have the students observe how this only works well when the zipper is held firmly at both ends: there’s the two-way energy.

Props are always a good way to add a little fun along with education. I’m sure you can think of other things a standard zipper can illustrate!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Secret #20s:

“Use an actual zipper to demonstrate lift and two-way energy.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij0xYR1Y5mk

Quote of the Day:

“Performing magic in the live show thrills me. Just get me a deck of cards and some attentive audience, and I have made my day and theirs too.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

                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

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Rightmire-256648280108/timeline/

Or visit my Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/debtutu/

For interesting articles involving mental health:

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