Meet Me @ the Barre!

[Morrigoon]

Yeah, it's kind of a girl thing. Boys get sports, girls get dance, you know how it goes.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Yeah, it's kind of a girl thing. Boys get sports, girls get dance, you know how it goes.

But why don't women speak in dance analogies?

[Prudence]

I never wanted to take ballet. I loved tap. But, once you got to a certain age ballet was required for either tap or jazz.

[Deebs]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I'm fairly good at dancing around an uncomfortable topic.

Really? I thought you took more of a head-on approach to those topics.

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

My grandest moment was during a ballroom class I took in college through the P.E. department. It was tango time, and the 50+ lady instructor partnered me. "You're very good," she said as the music swelled. "Now, lead with your thighs!"

That truly is a grand moment.

Originally Posted by Prudence

14 years of tap, and I forget how many of ballet. Ballet I was never very good at due to some mishap in the way my hips were formed (except for jumps - I was an AWESOME jumper).

I have the opposite freak hips. My turnout from the hip is ridiculous, especially on my right, though I am not a strong jumper. My turnout makes the parallel stance in jazz very tricky.

Originally Posted by Prudence

I loved tap.

Tap really is so much fun.



I started dancing in pre-ballet classes when I was 3 at the Bevelle Studio in Danville. My first teacher's name was Miss Joy and she wore her hair in a very big, very bright, reddish-orange beehive. We did a lot of dancing in circles, holding hands, clapping on beat to learn rhythm, and running around using babooshkas to represent everything from babies to flowers. I also remember tambourines in use, just thought ot that. Hmm.

Since then I have danced in many different studios (depending on where I was living or traveling) and studied and taught different forms of dance, but always return to ballet. For 16 years I took ballet, tap, jazz and tumbling (gymnastics minus the equipment and competition) at San Ramon Valley Dance Academy. Then I dropped the tumbling and jazz to concentrate on ballet, but liked tap and still played with that as well for 10 years after that. I stopped dancing for 10 years when I got married and had my two children. I thought I was too old to dance and figured that it was fun while it lasted, but that part of my life was over. When my daughter was 4 and started taking ballet classes, I was shocked at the intense feelings of nostalgia I had, being in a studio. I took her for her weekly ballet class and did not want to leave. So I went back to ballet then. Very soon after I added a lyrical and tap classes. I was invited to substitute teach when needed, which is not often, but really fun. I'm not good at math, but even taking out the 10 stagnant years, the number of years spent dancing is high.

At least two of the studios where I danced are gone now. Footsteps in San Francisco, last I heard, was doing strictly salsa. Some of my favorite teachers have been Alexei Badrak, Margret Lloyds-Smallie, Joan Winton, Karla & Klaudia Kobelt and Mo Ruslender.

Growing up my ballet training was SAB, but later took classes in the Cecchetti method. As an adult I have favored Vaganova, thanks to Alexei Badrak, who has been the most inspirational teacher I've ever known. Since dancing with Alexei, I just love a good mazurka. When I am fortunate enough to have my own students, I don't stick to a strict syllabus, but instead strive to stoke a passion for dance and impart my love for music and movement.

I love all the dance pics! I wish I had a scanner, I could add some of mine, though I don't think I've ever worn a costume as sequined and fabulous as Morri's. I have worn my share of fishnets though. The most memorable costume was a lime green and orange monstrosity worn for a recital in the 70's -- bell bottomed lime green jazz pants, with orange sequins sewn down the outside seam of each leg. The music? Shaft, of course. Can you dig it?

[Deebs]

How cute is her accent?

I love listening to her talk, it reminds me of Alexei. He was the first male instructor I'd ever had and turned out to be my favorite. He was the first teacher I really, really wanted to please. Not because I was afraid of his criticism as I had been with other teachers I'd had in the past, but because it seemed to make him so happy when we danced well. I also probably liked him because he wasn't much taller than me.

Some things he said I still don't really know the English for what he was trying to say. At the barre when we were doing tendus and degages he would say he wanted it "sharp"! and "juicy!" I have no idea. But sometimes it made me giggle, and it always made me smile.

[Disneyphile]

Fun video, Deebs!

I love the way our instructor does tendu warm-ups. We have a set "routine" to this really neat rock song that starts off slow, with someone singing in French, right before the guitar wails in.

Totally works for a jazz class, but would probably leave the ballet instructor cringing.

[Deebs]

The tendu music sounds great -- really fun, T! At the studio closest to my house things are very non-traditional. They call it ballet, but it is really more lyrical there, and when I sub those ballet classes I always use a variety of music. The students don't even wear leos and tights, I'm usually the only one at that studio dressed more traditionally.

[Disneyphile]

I'll find out what song it is for you. You might want to give it a try sometime then!

[Deebs]

That would be great, I'd love it. Thanks!

There is one non-traditional foot warm-up we do that I will post because it might be good for your feet. I wish I had a video camera! I lost mine to marital breakup about 2 years ago, I miss it so much. The song is Danity Kane One Shot. But I have to stand up and do it out before I even attempt to type it.

[Deebs]

Danity Kane, One Shot
I truly apologize for the lameness of the video, but I wanted you to hear the song. I tried to find just the song on Jango and it was listed, but not playable, hmm.

The combination should be fun, as opposed to a slow, methodical warm-up. Lots of transfer of weight and changing legs -- fun for a change in warm-up. I find that the weight transfers can cause sloppy hips (lots of movement) and poor turn-out in less advanced students, but they have fun and they do warm-up, so I pick my battles.

Left hand on the barre, fifth position, right foot front. Right arm in second (or side), don't drop your elbow.

Begin with straight tendus, pointed toes, but later it will be slightly off the floor degages with flexed foot.

Arms can be added, but doing so makes it counter-productive to warming up, IMO. If all the concentration is on the combination, there is not enough focus on the real purpose here, which is preparing for class and the tricky combinations later.

Be quick and sharp, but "feel" the floor and keep it clean. Don't pop. Or, pretend you can hear a small Russian man yelling "Sharp and juicy!" while clapping your counts. He's really cute.

Begin from fifth with your right leg - three tendus front
Next, one tendu back with your standing (left) leg, close:
So 1-2-3 is front with working (right) leg, 4 is back with standing (left) leg.

Next, tendu side 3 times with your right leg, closing to fifth each time -- the first time closing back, so your left foot ends front.
Then one tendu front with your left leg, which is now front and is your inside leg to the barre:
1-2-3 are side with working leg, 4 is front with inside (left) leg.

Now tendu back three times with your right leg.
Then one tendu front with your left leg, which is still front and still your inside leg to the barre:
1-2-3 are back, 4 is front with inside (left) leg.

Now tendu side 3 times with your right leg, this time closing fifth in front with the first of the three.
Then one tendu back with your left leg, which is your inside leg to the barre:
1-2-3 are side with working leg, 4 is back with inside leg.

Repeat about 4 times, then change from tendu to a slightly off the floor degage with a very flexed foot. Toes straight up to the ceiling, or as flexed as you can get. 4-8 sets with degage.

Turn around and put your right hand on the barre -- and ya know -- reverse all.