Class Notes, 03.03.2020
My penmanship is in “pretty, but not terribly legible” mode today.
“May +/ or August”
Possible masterclass dates.
“UP != BACK! CHOOSE UP!”
We did a lovely cambré, and after recovering I left my ribs a little too open and my sternum in a bit of a high release.
This does not improve one’s turns or one’s balances … Particularly not à la seconde.
Notes about back leg turnout (mostly relevant to barre and things like tendus, poses, etc—not helpful for turns, particularly):
- Recover it all the way*
- FAVOR it over front leg**
- STAY OFF THE HEEL/ON THE BALL
*I tend to be lazy about bringing my back leg fully into turnout when I close to fifth, because my specific combination of mild hyperextensions and huge calves makes it a bit more of a chore than is usual.
**By “favor it,” I really mean actually think about it. My front leg will take care of its own turnout reliably; I need to work on the back leg.
“Bring your tailbone (fouetté to arabesque).”
A lot of us were guilty of finishing a simple piqué fouetté without really bringing the pelvis with us today. I was over of them at least half the time.
“Hunger Arinn & Sefter Plié.”
This actually says, “Longer Arms & Softer Plié,” but you know. Looling for spit, etc.
“& still bring your head.”
It is always a good idea not to leave your head behind. This is especially true in ballet. That thing is heavy, yo, and since your brain’s in it you can’t just, like, take it off and leave it by your water bottle.
“Gliss no change x2, jeté pas de bourré x2, jeté assemble enrechat quatre x2.”
Mathematically speaking, I should really clarify that combination with some parentheses:
“(Gliss no change)*2, (jeté pas de bourré)*2, jeté assemble (entrechat quatre*2).”
I actually did this petit allegro right a couple of times. I mean, it’s not that complicated; it was just fast.
I’m getting better at keeping my legs under me so I don’t gallop off with myself (or over myself).
Anyway, that’s it for today’s class notes. My rehearsal notes are mostly about character development, since we’re mowing through Snow White wow effectively and I actually have time to think about that at this point.
Posted on 2020/03/04, in #dancerlife, balllet, class notes, it is a silly place, learning my craft, technical notes and tagged "brilliant" would be good but I'll take "serviceable", #BalletDHD, ballet class notes, up != back. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
danseur ignoble 
I’m completely off topic here, but I spotted this last night and I had to share.
I guess it wouldn’t even rate in the dance genres you mostly subscribe to; especially as a group performance; but it’s hard not to feel the enthusiasm Bobby Banas is blasting out with every move he makes (especially with his head). Dunno who his partner is, but her almost robotic articulation next to his ‘precision looseness’ brings something uncanny to the performance.
I’m not usually into dance as a spectator sport and despite the efforts of Patti Smith, The B52s and The Cramps most 50s-60s dance craze styles leave me cold; but this one sure works for me.
Oh, cool! I’ll have to give this a watch.
There are a lot of dance forms I enjoy watching—almost any dance done well, really, and this sounds like it hits the mark.
Thank you!
Did some homework.
His partner is Gina Trikonis, one of his co-stars from West Side Story.