There are some things you just don't expect to hear...
Yes, one of my students asked me that. She heard it from some teacher, a teacher I would like to slap. Okay, I wouldn't actually strike someone- I'm not a violent person- but there are some things that really piss me off.
Your body is designed to act in concert, just like an orchestra. Isolation should only be used choreographically, to address a weakness, or rehab an injury. You should not try to use one muscle to do something in dance. Even your largest and most powerful muscles- glutes, latissimus dorsi, and such- can't and aren't supposed to work alone.
The human body is an amazing machine. For example, just look at how the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi work to move the upper arm. The tendon from the lats inserts into the humerus IN FRONT of the tendon from the pec! Brilliant! That arrangement stabilizes the upper arm, and allows the chest and back to work together, not fight each other.
Now, I know that may sound overly technical, but my point is that the muscles work together. Telling a student that one muscle is responsible for something as important as pulling up is ridiculous. It's also going to drive that student crazy, trying to fire off one single muscle, a muscle that is not strong enough to work alone.
Another of my students came back from a summer session saying how one teacher helped her find the muscle in her butt (I sense a theme) that really worked her turnout. I watched her in rehearsal and class, and it did look like she was using her glutes differently, but after a couple of weeks, it seemed like she was going back to old habits. I think because of the increased workload of the summer session, she was forced to use all her muscles more, just to survive, and now, back to a lighter schedule, she's not. One muscle doesn't do it. In fact, you've got six deep, lateral femoral rotators, and your glute complex, that really turn you out.
Look at it this way: Is it easier to move a couch by yourself, or with several friends? Not the kind who just come over and raid your fridge, the ones who really help.
A teacher who tells you of a secret muscle, is conning you, or worse, actually believes that muscle exists. I believe you should know what every muscle in your body does. It couldn't hurt, and it's cool! If you do, you'll realize that expecting one muscle to be the answer to pulling up or turning out, is just silly.
See you in class.
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