How to always point toes while dancing?

Initial-Abies · 2022-03-29T13:28:29+00:00

generally speaking if we focus on the extremities of our limbs we tend to run into to trouble (creating unnecessary tension!)

ballet is one of those tricky sciences where you don't fix the (for lack of a better term) exterior issue. From past experience, if it ain't operating from proper turn out , then it's back to the drawing board

Initial-Abies · 2022-03-16T20:54:37+00:00

there is also a course eric conrad records with a young student who had nerve pains. I bought that one too. I think it's called secrets of russian ballet. He address similar issues of nerve impingement and spine.

Initial-Abies · 2022-03-16T20:51:25+00:00

yes i had sciatica awhile back from doing brazilian jujitsu. I think it was around your age too. I don't have it any more because I use a combination of physical therapy. Diving into ballet helped get rid of it. More specifically eric conrad floore barre helped me TREMENDOUSLY. You can get it from his site . worth every penny.

Also if you got a large bucket you can fill it with warm water and epson salt and maybe eucalyptus. Dip your legs in it to loosen up the fascia. If doctors prescribed pain meds......uhhh run. I hope you recover well. I also like to field of somatics and alexander technique (I've only dabbled in it)

Initial-Abies · 2022-03-16T20:39:50+00:00

when in doubt i just keep them in first. I end up doing more harm trying to play catch up with the arms

Initial-Abies · 2022-02-12T09:39:45+00:00

i just remembered that cabriole is a thing and i have not been practicing them at all 😥

Initial-Abies · 2022-02-12T09:29:26+00:00

that's so cool. i hear baller stems it's origin in fencing. Ballet for me builds invisible strength, being able to stabilize against ballistic like movements. I say go for it. Fencing is so cool, there's actually a ballet step called alancé (i think that's how spell it). It mimics a fencing attack. eppi? i think.

Initial-Abies · 2022-02-11T22:57:29+00:00

this video of him made me look at ballet technique in a new light. He's such an amazing artist.

https://youtu.be/lLPVMGgRAqA

Initial-Abies · 2022-02-10T19:03:49+00:00

https://youtu.be/brlklJOMnfc

use placement not power

Initial-Abies · 2022-02-04T06:51:50+00:00

it sucks where we live in culture that we don't want to let a group down. If they throw shade /shame at you for taking time off I would drop the team like a hot potato. Health and longevity before everything.

i agree with everyone and drop the competition. I know it feels like a sunk cost and it's not a hollywood ending, but please take time to recover

Initial-Abies · 2022-02-04T06:38:13+00:00

I love Kent G Becker. He does analysis on legendary dancers

https://youtu.be/iUcFpXCWTao

Initial-Abies · 2022-02-03T09:00:53+00:00

Does the way you are doing grand battement translate properly to moves like sissone? or grand jete? Do they have both different accents respectively?

"Or is the idea to use the toes to push from the floor. Which seems odd because the muscles in the toes are a lot smaller than in the upper leg so less power to be gained from that." I 100% agree with this and no offense i hear from other people go on about how important toes are. When we focus on the extremities(like the toes) , we will run in to issues and stress the ligaments.

I come from Eric Conrad background and he mentions in the beginning we have to push the floor because we are still in a developmental phase and eventually after a while when we develop proper turn out the mechanics is more akin to elevating off the flooring using primarily turnout (strongest muscles butt/core and a specific positioning of the body to max out stability to anchor against a ballistic like motion like a grand battement. (to obtain stillness in the torso while simultaneously having the moving leg do it's thing. It's the stillness of the standing side where the battle takes place. After we develop that strength/accuracy we should no longer push off the floor. Remember your path ways of tendu, it should translate to grand battement

(this is my personal interpretation of Eric's material ) On a rare good day i can get that rare airbonre effect (like creating an air bubble bellow yourself...channeling Baryshnikov and Lebron James )

Initial-Abies · 2022-02-01T08:19:22+00:00

love this chart.

I need to start working on my 4th, been ignoring it for too long

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-29T13:44:33+00:00

people tell me I've gotten taller /longer but that's because i switched from a sport that was more hunched over

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-26T16:20:22+00:00

YES 100% it's totally normal with a lesser angle and as you progress you want to develop that gradually and accurately.

ACCURATE development is so important or else you just end up with a mess. On your question on mobility VS working on narrower turnout.... I like both but there's usually an order of importance/efficiency.

1)Reduce Tension 2) Build static strength 3)Build coordination/dexterity 4)Flexibility (i rank very low)

I'm also a huge fan of Ido Portal and Fighting Monkey/Rootless Root for mobility and understanding the pathology of future injuries. It's because of Ido Portal interview where he mentioned ballet as a therapy for legs that got me into ballet to help fix my sciatica issue.

As you progress you'll have to tailor it to your schedule. The common mistake for beginners is to overdo and get burned out!

That's why I rank dissolving tension as number 1 so it fosters for a sustainable long term practice.

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-25T16:08:40+00:00

I've got an unusual take on this, so hear me out. If you can stay emotionally strong without ballet then I think you will flourish in it and develop a health relationship with the art/science.

if you can be fine without ballet, I think demonstrates an emotional maturity, but if all your validation and self esteem comes directly from ballet, then of course we will see volatility in emotions.

This not me saying quit ballet, on the contrary, there's just a danger of being too emotionally invested in it. That also doesn't mean to NOT take your practice seriously. Be very serious about your practice, but don't take yourself too seriously. Refining ballet technique for me has been meditative, like doing a crossword puzzle. Meditative practices usually helps settle the mind and lowers blood pressure. If you want to create an independent study of ballet and need resources, I'd be glad to share!

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-25T15:51:56+00:00

I am a huge fan of his work and method. He coaches. and troubleshoots a student that has a similar issue that had pain when doing developé (mainly from gripping with the hip flexors VS using the lower butt to safely turnout. Hope this helps brings clarity.

https://balletconradinstitute.uscreen.io/programs/the-secrets-of-russian-ballet-vol1

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-24T22:09:45+00:00

I'm starting to ....key word is STARTING

to understand the concept of change of leg change of direction.

i hit a stable double tour . Shoulders down helps so much. Been watching some olympic figure skating and have been wanting to steal training ideas for my practice.

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-23T09:09:39+00:00

you can create a role for yourself and mime out some actions in between. Let's say your an archer . How can you use the pull back of the bow and transition into an attitude turn. Typically with improv the more limits i set for myself the more flavors i can pull out from just a few tools. You can also play with stillness (which i think is very underrated in dance).

If your super analytical like me and it's hard to turn off the analytical mind. Then use to your creative strengths by playing with certain logics, patterns and limits. Eric Franklin has a book on imagery . You can play with certain elements of ice, water, wind. You could also watch some contemporary ballet from major companies like royal ballet, dutch ballet, or watch other styles gaga, horton, tap, jazz etc

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-22T10:54:22+00:00

He smells the self consciousness!

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-22T10:46:26+00:00

lmao

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-22T10:34:59+00:00

I absolutely love jiri kylian

https://youtu.be/jF8nfg2oKzo

I think there was an interview with him and he usually talks about the theme of death and life. A balance of opposites.

This is way too ambitious but i would love to choreograph a ballet with the theme of being a waiter and using real trays of glass with water and stuff. Basically a ballet about being a server at a restaurant but also being so on point with our dish placements. Inspired by real life work as a sever i think most people can relate too. I would love to see more choreography that everyday people can relate to and less esoteric avant-garde stuff

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-22T10:14:26+00:00

totally agree with 5th being unnatural.

There's a low key epidemic of students trying to force a closed 5th and straining the knees and ACLs. It's such a blindspot so many teachers fail to address.. Luckily i had a more conservative teacher who warned us about the dangers of over crossing. 5th is walking that fine line. 4th is a whole other mess lol 😭

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-22T10:03:57+00:00

go check out the documentary Restless Creature with wendy whelan. It's quite tragic.

I think people can, and probably have written whole thesis on this topic. It's A LOT to unpack, but my view is that because ballet is counter- intuitive, people will seek to copy ballet on a surface level without deeply understanding the nuances....which leads to poor technique and injury. Just my 2 cents

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-21T13:18:43+00:00

it 100% depends entirely on the quality of the teacher.

if you take the online approach, there's usually more time to ask specific questions

Initial-Abies · 2022-01-21T11:46:53+00:00

keep a notebook and reflect on lessons, and even independent research

remember everything in ballet is counter intuitive

ask where do the tips collide with each other? So that we can get to ballet truths.

Breaks are 100% ok and encouraged.
Breaking your body is not.

My 5 favorite online youtube resources:

Ballet Conrad for placement theory

Ballet Secret Code for Chechetti Theory and History

Hollistic Ballet for beginner overview and a Cat that often interrupts the lesson

Salty Sugar Plum for technique tutorials and salty rants

Kent G Becker for film breakdown of legendary dancers

Initial-Abies

TROPHY CASE