There are several posts here at Dance Advantage that offer understanding and tips on certain technical elements of dance. So far, I’ve offered a smattering of the basics. More recent posts have received quite a few hits but some older posts have gotten buried along the way. Because I think all of these posts could [...]
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Turnout – How to Nurture Your Turnout
October 10, 2008 By 12 Comments
Too much tension in the musculature around the hip joint is often responsible for limiting the degree of turnout. Therefore, releasing that tension is key if you’d like to improve outward (and inward) rotation. Tight inward rotators inhibit outward rotation and visa versa. Dancers have varying methods which they use to accomplish release in the hips. Some use passive and lengthening stretches and others utilize props like balls to facilitate an opening within the joint.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Turnout – Part I
October 10, 2008 By 1 Comment
Although we sometime use the word turnout as a noun or a position (i.e. “Your turnout could be better.”), it is more appropriately thought of as an action, a verb. Because outward rotation is not the body’s natural state, the work does not stop once the position or desired degree of rotation has been attained. Instead, outward rotation of the hips requires continual action within the body, even when the rotation is held in a position (like ballet 5th).
Sickling and Rolling In
June 24, 2008 By 24 Comments
The terms sickling and rolling in are often used in dance classes to define issues with ankle alignment. However, I have found that many students do not have a clear understanding of the actions of the ankle and foot and, therefore, do not know how to correct these issues when asked. I hope this post [...]
Shall Wii Dance??
June 9, 2008 By 5 Comments
The release of Wii Fit got me thinking – Will dance be the next evolution in Wii technology? This Miami Herald article describes the uses of Wii Fit and the accompanying balance board… Players use the board to perform aerobic exercises, strength training and even yoga — all while trying to keep pace with an [...]
Battement
May 15, 2008 By 1 Comment
I’m sure that students reading this blog have used or heard the term battement before. If grand battement immediately comes to mind, I’m not surprised, as the word battement is commonly dropped from the name of other familiar terms. A mother, father, brothers, grandparents, uncles, all share a family name. In a similar way battement [...]
Improving Pirouettes
April 28, 2008 By 3 Comments
I was recently asked about some tips on how to improve at multiple pirouettes. I know that lots of students are wanting to know the same thing, so here is my answer: 1. Engaging your abdominal/core muscles is necessary for maintaining good alignment during the turn. 2. Every turn is a balance, so work on [...]
Plié
April 9, 2008 By 4 Comments
I’ve heard somewhere that the beginning is a very good place to start. So let’s start with the alpha and omega of all dance movements – the plié. Plié means “Bent, bending. A bending of the knee or knees.” Here is the full definition of plié found at the ABT (American Ballet Theatre) ballet dictionary. [...]
What Is My Core or Center?
April 8, 2008 By 9 Comments
What is my centre? An article called Dancing from the Centre, talks about this sometimes confusing term and offers several tips for “finding” your center. This bit that gives some insight about what a teacher usually means when he/she talks of the centre. I have discovered there are several terms used to talk about this [...]
