Saturday Irish Good Luck

Saturday Irish Good Luck

Well, better late than never. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, which was last Tuesday, I present some wonderful Irish good luck phrases.

-         May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

-         May the wind always be at your back.

-         May your heart be light and happy, may your smile be big and wide, and may your pockets always have a coin or two inside.

-         May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far.

-         May the roof above you never fall in and those gathered beneath it never fall out.

-    A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.

And finally one of my favorites:

-  Don’t be breaking your shin on a stool that’s not in your way.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Superstitious Secret #199:

“There are many Irish good luck sayings.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoHlrQScWl0

Quote of the Day:

“When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious.”
― Edna O'Brien

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Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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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/

Want to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:

http://www.balletconnections.com/?s=debrawebbrogers

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For interesting articles involving mental health:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Fun Friday Geotropism

Fun Friday Geotropism

It's always fun to learn new words. Here is one: geotropism. It means: “the growth of a plant or immovable animal in response to the force of gravity”.  https://www.yourdictionary.com/geotropism

But it gets better. The roots of a plant grow downward (this is called positive geotropism), while the shoots grow upwards (negative geotropism). This is also called gravitropism.

Now consider all this when working on your postural energy. The body lengthens upwards while at the same time you send energy downward. Balletic geotropism!

All that and better vocabulary too!

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Ballet Secret #16nn:

“Think about geotropism for energy up and down.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9-imCVk_fA

Quote of the Day:

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
― Anais Nin

Help expand the knowledge base!

Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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

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For interesting articles involving mental health:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Throwback Thursday and Kay Laurel

Throwback Thursday and Kay Laurel

Kay Laurel’s real name was Ruth Leslie and she was born on June 28, 1890 in Erie, Pennsylvania. She began her career modeling for artists but soon caught the attention of Florenz Ziegfeld and was cast in the Ziegfeld Follies. She made her first appearance in 1914 and went on to become a popular performer. She was called “one of the most beautiful women on the stage”. She married Winfield Sheehan, a film company executive in 1916.

In 1918 she left the Ziegfeld Follies to begin an acting career. She appeared on Broadway and in vaudeville, plus she made three silent films, The Brand (1919), The Valley of the Giants (1919), and Lonely Heart (1921).

Sadly, as often happened to women of that era, she died in childbirth on January 31, 1927 at the age of 36.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Dance History Secret #317:

“Kay Laurel was a Ziegfeld girl famous for her beauty.”

Link of the Day:

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

Quote of the Day:

 “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”

― Anne Frank

Help expand the knowledge base!

Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Check out my 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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Wacky Wednesday Lemon

Wacky Wednesday Lemon

People have occasionally told me that they don’t “get” the imagery I use in ballet. They think it is “woo woo” or somehow suspect. Well, nothing could be further from the truth.

There are many articles you can access online about mental imagery and how effective it is and how it is used to train elite athletes as well as dancers. But I still encounter some resistance to it, and that’s too bad because it is so powerful.

Here is an example I use with my students: Imagine sucking on a fresh, juicy lemon. Do this for a few seconds and see what happens.Your body suddenly produces extra saliva. Yet, you weren’t actually sucking on a lemon. You simply imagined it – you created the mental imagery for it and your body responded.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Ballet Secret #21ccc:

“Imagine sucking on a lemon.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIgwPAiV4ZE

Quote of the Day:

“When life gives you lemons, chunk it right back.”
― Bill Watterson

Help expand the knowledge base!

Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Check out my 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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Mad Monday Développé Dessert

Mad Monday Développé Dessert

A développé should always unfold beautifully, and never appear jerky or strained. One way to make certain this happens is to imagine your favorite dessert. Now imagine serving it up with your développé – perhaps balanced on the heel in a développé devant.

This way, your leg will extend gently and in a lovely sustained manner, so as not to spill or drop (gasp!) that mouth-watering dessert.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Ballet Secret #11s:

“Imagine serving up a plate of something delicious in a  développé devant.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ezCSCftzcg&list=PLPkClU9wyrb40LGY8CNzaRb7Kwq95n9OF&index=8

Quote of the Day:

“We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.”
― David Mamet, Boston Marriage

Help expand the knowledge base!

Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

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

Or visit my Pinterest page:

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For interesting articles involving mental health:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Sunday Clouds and Rainbows

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpx_iaJn3z4

Quote of the Day:

“Don't let a cruel word escape your mouth. There's no greater sin than breaking a heart.”
― Kamand Kojouri

Help expand the knowledge base!

Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Check out my 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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Superstitious Saturday Fingers Crossed

Superstitious Saturday Fingers Crossed

There are two main theories on the origin of crossing one’s fingers to bring good luck – a ritual I often see dancers doing before a performance.

First is the idea that it came from a pre-Christianity pagan belief that a cross had powerful symbolism. This was because the crossing of the members marked an intersection where good spirits were concentrated. Or, some beliefs say it is the intersection of good and bad spirits. Hmmm…

The other theory come from the early days of Christianity when believers were persecuted. To recognize fellow Christians a series of coded hand signals were developed and one was the fingers forming the shape of the ichthys or fish. How it went from the thumb and index finger forming this shape to forming a cross is a mystery.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets

Superstitious Secret #198:

“There are two main theories on the origin of crossing fingers for luck.”

Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITjjGPUfQ5Q

Quote of the Day:

“If, while at the piano, you attempt to form little melodies, that is very well; but if they come into your mind of themselves, when you are not practising, you may be still more pleased; for the internal organ of music is then roused in you. The fingers must do what the head desires; not the contrary.”
― Robert Schumann

Help expand the knowledge base!

Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Check out my 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:

 http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2018/05/