Don't leave everything outside

I wipe my feet when I enter a theatre to perform. That doesn't mean I track mud in if I'm just there to see a show, it refers to a performer's tradition of leaving stuff outside that you don't need and having respect for the art.

Many actors/dancers etc., feel you shouldn't bring emotional baggage into the theatre, that it will get in the way. That's the stuff they want to leave outside. Now, while it's true you don't want to bring things in that will interfere with your performance, petty worries, arguments you've had, depression from life's troubles, often those are just the things you do need for your performance to be real. If you can use those situations in a constructive way, not only will your performance be better, you just might be able to work through some of the things that are affecting you outside the theatre.

I find the theatre and the studio cleansing. If I've had to deal with stupid drivers, a refrigerator that died, whatever, the theatre or the studio becomes a haven for me. I get to leave the idiot who has never used a turn signal in his life outside. If a life situation can be helpful to what I'm doing, though, then I bring that in with me.

I watched a lovely school production of "Swan Lake" recently. A good friend of mine was doing his first Siegfried at the tender age of 15. He did a phenomenal job. Indeed, a seasoned professional would have been quite pleased to dance and act as well as he did. His Odette was a lovely young lady in her final performance with the school. I did not know it was her final show with the dancers she had grown up with- including her younger sister- until afterwards, when I saw her crying as she greeted her friends and family. She brought all that sadness into the theatre and onto the stage with her, and it was perfect. Her personal sadness at moving on, mirrored the possibility of being freed from Von Rothbart's evil clutches. Despite having been trapped by his spell, Odette and the other swans were a family, and one felt that, even with the joy of being free, of escaping should Siegfried's love prove true, that she might miss those who were her sisters. 

Our young Siegfried had been dancing with this girl for several years, and they had often performed as a guest couple. His own sadness at losing her came to the forefront in the final act, when he realized his unknowing betrayal due to the cruel machinations of Von Rothbart and Odile meant he might have destroyed Odette's chances for escape. One pose, with him on his knee holding her hand to his cheek, and her turned away, was particularly poignant for its reality. Here were two real people fearful of losing each other.

These young dancers' personal lives served them well in the fantasy of "Swan Lake", making it about real people, which is what art should be. Had they not brought that into the theatre, their portrayal would not have been as touching and powerful as it was. I felt, and I'm sure the rest of the audience did as well, their true sadness, their fear of a change in their lives, but the knowledge that this change must come if either of them is to grow. 

Yes, wipe your feet when entering the theatre, but bring your life in with you.

See you in class.

How To Books

I read. A lot. I like reading. You can learn things from reading.

Or at least you should.

I have read sooooo many ballet books that tell you what to do, but not how to do it.

I'm currently reading a book by a very famous teacher. Out of print, an excellent copy is worth around $400. I'm sure this person was a great teacher, as evidenced by the great dancers he produced. However, if you just tried to learn how to do something from the book, you'd be hard pressed to do so. 

There's no substitute for taking class. A great teacher can see what each individual student needs, and you have to be in class for the teacher to be able to see you. You should also be able to learn from other sources. Textbooks are not just for academic subjects. Some people may not be good writers, you say? Yes, you're right, but if you can tell a student what to do in class, then just write that down!

My Godmother, Alexandra Danilova (name drop!), wrote an autobiography. She wasn't a writer, but she was a delightful conversationalist, and her book, "Choura", her nickname, reads like you're sitting in her apartment, having tea with her. I try to write these blogs like that. We're in Starbucks, talking, or you're in my class, and I'm giving you suggestions.

Suki Schorer, former principal dancer with New York City Ballet, wrote the definitive book on Balanchine technique, "Suki Schorer on Balanchine Tecnique". (Simple). You can really learn from that book, since it actually tells you how to do things. Now, there are some things I agree with in Neo-Classical technique, and some I don't, but if you want a book that reaches you, Suki's is one.

"The Ballet Companion" by Eliza Minden, is quite possibly the best book on ballet ever. Technique, history, costumes, it has everything. The one thing it does not have, is one word about Gaynor-Minden toe shoes, the ones Eliza designed. You'd think her book would be a commercial for her shoes, but no. She wrote the book about ballet, not as an advertisement.

There are as many, if not more, how to videos out there, that commit the same faux pas as the books, telling you what to do without telling you how to do it. That's like giving class as opposed to teaching class.

So, if you're reading a book that says something like, "In order to do a refectory placed pirouette, you must be perfectly placed", without telling you how to place yourself, toss it in the garbage, and go to class. At least there you can ask questions.

See you in class.

Does Politics Have Any Place In The Studio?

No.

Isolation. Good for choreography...

"Where's the 'pull-up' muscle in your butt?"

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.

If you're so good...

I just watched a video of a phenomenal male dancer. Triple saut de basque, huge double back cabrioles, lots of turns. You've probably seen him on Facebook. No, I won't name him. Now, technically, he's good enough to be a principal at ABT. So why is he dancing for a company that has 12 dancers, 4 of whom are apprentices and 4 are trainees?

He's a jerk. Or so, I've heard.

He walked out on a contract with a larger company, just walked out. I don't know why, but as you hear more about him, read more, see how good he is, then see where he's dancing, now, the pieces fall into place.

He's a jerk.

The ballet world is very small. Very, very small. People talk. Word gets around. If you're a jerk, it doesn't matter how good you are, people will not hire you. It you've walked out on a contract, few people will trust you. I've seen it, many times, before. I've known some amazing dancers who just couldn't get hired. Why? 

Because they were jerks.

Not only jerks, but incredibly stupid, as well, because they never changed their tune. They were good enough to be with major companies, but never made it. They'd cover it by saying they were exploring opportunities, or they didn't want to be tied down. Bull. You don't want a steady salary? You're an idiot. 

Most of the time, these morons were the truly gifted ones. Perfect bodies, natural turners or jumpers. They had everything. Never really had to work hard. People with so much talent, but no work ethic, no dedication, no honor. 

Jerks.

It doesn't matter how high you jump, how many turns you can do, or how perfect your feet are. If you're a jerk, that's what people will remember.

Be a good person. Otherwise...

See you in class.

Decorum

Decorum: Propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance.

Decorum in ballet: Knowing when not to put your leg by your ear.

You don't dance "Don Q" the same way you dance "Giselle". Oh, you'd be surprised how many dancers, professionals, even, who don't get this.

I think Svetlana Zakharova is a brilliant dancer. Absolutely fantastic. I also want to strangle her when I see her leg by her ear in "Giselle"!

One of my students asked me if the penché in Giselle's first act variation should be done en pointe. I said no. Sure, you can, but you shouldn't. Giselle's Mother warns her to be careful because of her health; she has a weak heart. The variation is choreographed wonderfully because it progresses. It starts tentatively. Giselle is testing herself. The first steps are simple, small. As she goes on, and feels strong, the variation gets harder and, as most young people do, she starts to show off. The final manegé is wild and free, but ends with her going to the knee not just because it looks pretty, but because she gets tired. She feels weak. Most dancers don't act this part, they just do the technique.

If you start the variation by doing this bravura move of penché en pointe, you are ignoring the story and, especially with something like "Giselle", there is not one moment when you are not telling the story.

In the second act, okay she's dead, so she doesn't have to worry about her health anymore. However, she's in a romantic length tutu. If you put your leg by your ear, you've got a face full of tulle! Now, I am all for 21st century ballet. Higher legs, more turns, etc. BUT, there's a limit, people! Covering your face with your costume is stupid and one of my students pointed out, you might get it caught on a bobby pin and then act two becomes a comedy.

Decorum. If you dance every ballet the same, you're doing it wrong. Just because you can put your leg by your ear doesn't mean you should. Jeff Goldblum said it best, in "Jurassic Park": "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, that they didn't stop to think if they should."

Stop. Think.

See you in class.

Ballet movies and TV shows

A target audience is the group that is most likely to watch something. Whatever movie or TV show, or book or whatever you make, there are certain people who will instantly gravitate to it. You can hope other people will come, but it is your target audience that will make up the bulk of watchers/readers/fans.

The target audience for any ballet movie/TV show is pre-teen and teenage girls. There are some boys, but it's mostly girls. When you make a movie for that audience about ballet, I think it should inspire young dancers, encourage non-dancers to get involved, or at least go see a ballet, and tell parents that ballet, and dance in general, is a good, beneficial thing for their children.

"Black Swan" and the new series "Flesh and Bone" not only ignore(d) the target audience, but anyone who wasn't in the ballet world would see these things and wonder why the heck anyone would want to be a dancer! What message were they trying to send? Why insult ballet, and dancers? Why make a beautiful thing, ugly and vulgar?

I was talking to a ballet mother about this and she brought up a very good point: Most ballet companies and schools take very good care of their dancers. They have physical therapists on call, sometimes on site. Their have nutritionists speak to their dancers. They give classes in therapeutic exercise like Pilates and yoga. The teachers and ballet masters and directors have close contact with the dancers, and make sure they take care of themselves, since that's simply good business. That's the ballet world of the 21st century.

Are there cruel people in the arts? Sure, just like everywhere else, but according to these awful shows, that's all there is! There was one reality show where the dancers were getting angry that the producers wanted conflict and drama where there wasn't any. They were being told to create some. Reality...

I want a ballet film that's uplifting and shows the struggle and triumph in a positive way, not this dark, edgy crap. No parent who cares about their child would want them in the worlds of "Black Swan" or "Flesh and Bone". I found it quite revealing that most of the people who liked "Black Swan" had never been in a professional company or had any kind of career, and the ones who hated it, like me, had been professionals with major companies. Did I struggle? Yes. Was there hardship? Sure. But it was beautiful. "Black Swan" and "Flesh and Bone" are ugly.

That's not ballet.

See you in class.

Strength

How much is strength a part of your dancing? I believe your dancing should be equally divided between strength and technique. 50/50. Right down the middle.

I've been focusing, recently, on why some people turn well, while others don't. "I'm not a turner" you say. Okay, why not? I'm going to suggest it's because you're not strong enough. I'll bet you could teach someone the mechanics of turning. You could take one of the young students at your school and teach them the basics of turning. What your legs do, what your arms do and so on. so, you know what to do, and are probably diligent about trying to do it properly, but it still doesn't work.

You know that if you want to do 32 fouettés, you'd better be able to do 32 relevés on one leg, or it just ain't happening. A lot of times, you have the technique to do 32, but your leg gives out after, say, 16. When that happens there is nothing you can do about it. If your leg can't hold you up, you sure as heck are not going to turn on it.

I tell my students to watch videos of the Vaganova classes on YouTube. One of the things you'll notice is how slow a lot of their class work is. The reason you do things slowly is to build strength. The real test of your strength is how slowly you can do something. Ask those guys at the gym who are throwing the weights around, or bouncing them off the floor, to do the exercise slowly, and watch the fun! Most of them can't do it, which is why they're throwing the weight around in the first place. You do want to do things fast, of course, but to build strength, you have to do things slowly.

Doing basic exercises slowly, tendu, fondu, developé, plié (the most basic!), is the best way to not only build strength, but to also really understand the movement. You also have the time to work on proper placement,  protect your knees and back, and to blend the strength and the technique.

So, back to turning. You need to be strong, physically strong, to be able to hold your position, to lead with your knee (in a simple pirouette in retiré), to keep your relevé active, and to control the force you take. Most dancers need to take less force to turn, especially on pointe, but a lot of dancers simply aren't strong enough to deal with the force they do take. That force bends and twists their body, instead of going into the turn. If your core isn't strong, if you're not using the trailing side of your back to turn, then whatever force you take is going to be wasted.

One of the exercises I have my students do is to face the barre, and take a position on relevé in retiré, and improve it. Drive your standing leg into the floor, keep turning out your raised leg with your glutes, expend the chest, lift the sternum. It's a living growing, active position. Most dancers let the position deteriorate as they turn. As Matthew Dibble says, "Improve the position!" The great turners are amazingly solid in their turns. That only can come from great strength.

See you in class!

What is core strength?

So, here's another technique blog that will probably piss some teachers off.

You have to use your glute muscles. Yes, that means your butt. 

The glute/hamstring complex is the most powerful muscle group in the body. It's designed to bring your torso, 3/5ths of your body weight, to an upright position. It is also designed, like most of the muscle groups in your body, to be used in concert, not in isolation.

Many teachers will tell you to use your hamstrings at one time or another. It is very difficult to use your hamstrings (3 muscles), without using your glutes. Even if you are concentrating on using your hamstrings to lift your foot to retire, you'll still be using your glutes to turn out (more on that later).

Once, when I was injured, I was watching class like a good student. I decided to focus on the big jumpers to see what I could learn from them. Up till that point, I thought that the last step before a big jump in grand allegro was your deepest plié, since that was your takeoff. It seemed logical. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the actual knee bend on that last step, was minimal. Where did the power for the jump come from?

Now, in petit allegro, you use a lot more plié than in grand; it's a different kind of jumping. The force from grand allegro comes from the calf- the angle of the foot to the lower leg is greater than 90 degrees (or less, depending on which way you measure it, but the bend is substantial, either way)- the extension of the leg upon the hip, and the ballistic throwing of the leg and arms. The most powerful of those three components is the extension of the leg, or, the glute/ham complex. Look at the glutes of any good jumper; they're well-defined and powerful. Some dancers are blessed with that, naturally, others have to work for it, all can improve it. You have to use your glutes, properly, in ballet, or not only will you not have the power in your jump that you could have, you won't be turning your leg out. I think I went through this in another blog, but it bears repeating.

You can not turn your leg out using your inner thigh muscles.

There. I have just alienated about 90% of ballet teachers.

I don't care. I'm right.

Go learn anatomy. The muscles on the inside of the thigh can not turn your leg out. Sure the sartorius has some lateral rotational ability- very little, actually- but you can't isolate it and you wouldn't want to; it's not strong enough to work by itself. All the other inner thigh muscles, the pectineus, the adductor brevis, the adductor magnus, the gracilis, and two of the hamstring muscles medially rotate the leg, turn it in. In fact the adductor muscles, by their very name, tell you what they do; they adduct, they draw inward toward the median axis of the body. They turn you in.

The deep lateral femoral rotators turn you out. Their name says it. They are deep in your butt. Your gluteus maximus, the large surface muscle, also turns you out. Yes, the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus have some medial rotational ability, but they are over shadowed by the maximus and the rotators. They also are lateral hip stabilizers when you're standing. Your glutes also lift your leg to arabesque. Don't believe me? Lift your leg to arabesque. Now, have someone hold your leg while you relax your glutes. All relaxed back there? Good. Now, don't use them and have that person let go of your leg.

Yeah...

What has all this to do with core strength? Most people think core strength means your abs. I mentioned core strength in class and several of my students smiled and started mimicking crunches  or twisting exercises. When I told them that core strength means EVERYTHING AROUND YOUR 
CORE, they actually were surprised, then got that I've been doing it wrong look on their faces. They 
realized that they hadn't thought that their glutes were part of their core! If you only have strong abs, but your butt is flabby and weak, you do not have core strength.

You must train your glutes, you must use your butt. No, it won't get bigger- you're not using heavy weights or doing barbell squats- it will get stronger and more defined, and you'll get that "pocket" right where the line of your leotard is that says, I know how to use my hip muscles properly. You'll be able to turn out safely, and your jump will improve.

And you'll have real core strength.

See you in class.

The Role of Core Strength in Jumping

Well, yeah, core strength is important for a lot of things, not just jumping, but let's just deal with launching one's self into the air for today, shall we?

I have had a number of gymnasts as students, and pretty much every one of them could jump, some spectacularly. Getting right to the point, it's because of their core strength. Twisting, flipping, all that, requires IMMENSE core strength. If your core is strong, solid, well-held, the force generated by your legs will go into lifting you off the floor, not in flexing your body.

Think of it this way: You can't push cooked spaghetti. 

If you stretch out a strand of cooked spaghetti (sauce optional) and push one end of it, the other end doesn't go very far. The whole thing bends, folds up, and your effort goes into that, instead of moving the spaghetti. Now, if you push the end of a strand of un-cooked spaghetti (put the sauce away), the whole thing is going to move, because none of your force went into bending it.

The same for jumping.

If some of the force of your legs goes into bending your body, it is lost as far as jumping is concerned. One of my former students, Megan Smith, took off like a rocket, because her core was so strong, none of the leg force was dissipated by her body bending.

If you strengthen your core by doing things like cambre really properly, some extra ab work, and by consciously holding your center, you'll jump higher.

See you in class.