KKZ News Board

Latest Entry

INTRODUCTION BALLET TERMS

Jun 15, 2009 BALLET TERMS & REFERENCES Leave a comment

INTRODUCTION BALLET SESSION ONE - CLASS SESSIONS 1-8

WHAT THE STUDENT SHOULD WORK ON AT HOME:
1. Focusing on keeping the back straight when sitting or standing during all exercises

2. Keeping the toes pointed when foot or feet are raised off the floor. Remember, to brush into a point lifting the heel first then toe leaving the floor first especially during tendu, foot presses, and tendu battements. Pas De Chat also require immediate toe pointing.

3. Know your arm positions (1st, 2nd, 5th, and how to close into bras bas) Keep your arms rounded (do not straighten arms so they look straight or boxed. Pinch the fingers.

4. Know your feet positions (1st and 2nd) keeping your knees straightened *ballet looks terrible with bent knees!* When doing tendu, please keep the knees straightened, do not bring leg forward or backwards using the knees use the whole leg! Keep your feet turned out at all times when in standing positions.

5. Know how to properly bend into Plie (keeping your chin forward, do not lean forward or backward, do not arc your back, do not push your rear forward or backwards.) To help you understand proper plie positions stand against the wall with back to the wall and do plies, the wall is perfectly straight, your back and rear should be perfectly straight when doing plies.

6. Know how to turn out the knees. This is very important that beginning dancers understand and can easily correct when called on to turn out the knee. Students will be required to have no doubt at all how to turn out the knees before passing introduction ballet.

VOCABULARY YOU MUST KNOW
1. Bras means “arm” - closing & beginning arm position
2. Bas means “down” - closing & beginning arm position
3. Demi means “half” - demi plies and demi pointe
4. Plie means “bending of the legs”
5. Tendu means “stretched”
6. Passe “the position in which the toe touches the knee”
7. Arabesque “ballet posing position with arms, feet, and head”
8. Chasse “chasing movement of the feet”

EXERCISES AND TECHNIQUES TO PASS THE TEST
1. Port De Bras “means graceful carriage of the arms” - keep your arms rounded, pinch the fingers, stand up straight when doing port de bras. Combination of arm movements in a certain order is taught in class. Memorize them and practice them at home.

2. Foot Press: Standing at the barre (use a chair at home or counter top in kitchen) working into demi point hold for 8 seconds, then into a pointe and hold. Keep your knees turned out and standing foot on the floor turned out. Do not look at the floor when doing this exercise.

3. Tendu: When sliding the leg forward into a pointed tendu, do not use the knee do not bend the knee. Keep your leg straight then sliding into tenu “point” forward then sliding back into closing position. Be able to do tendu in 1st and 2nd position.

4. Plie: When your doing your plie you must keep your back straight, knees turned out “if knees are not turned out your feet are probably not turned out”, do not lean forward or backwards, keep your rear centered. Use the wall for getting the feel of doing plies with a straight back and rear. Plies should be done in 1st and 2nd position.

5. Passe: When doing passes, you must keep the big toe on the knee, do not rest your whole foot on your knee this causes you to shift your hip and is incorrect. Stand up straight when doing passes. Point your toes. Keep the standing foot on the floor turned out.

6. Step/Arabesque: Keep your hands on your hips and practice your step-arabesque keeping your back leg properly turned out, straightened, toes pointed, do not lean forward, and slide back leg into the front before doing your next Step/Arabesque. Hold your position for minimal of 6 seconds before you step forward.

7. Chasse should be done sideways and forward. Keep your hands on your hips and slide your feet. Do not bounce, hop, or skip when doing forward chasse. Do them slowly and gracefully. You must be able to alternate your feet when doing forward chasse (right then left) not repeated chasse on the same foot.

PASSING INTRODUCTION & BEGINNING BALLET REQUIREMENT
Students must pass the introduction to enter beginning ballet and to perform in any of the ballet routines. In addition to passing introduction ballet, student must also provide the following before they can register for beginning ballet:

1. Tank Leotard: Must be in white, pink, or royal
2. Pink full or split sole leather ballet slippers “fabric slippers not permitted”
3. White, pink, or skintone dance tights under leotard
4. Brush, hair bands “rubber bands or head bands for short hair” with a storage case to store hair accessories.

ADDITIONS (optional) students may wear ballet skirts with leotard skirt must be above the knee, or wear dance shorts also above the knees. Leg warmers are also permitted.

VIDEO REFERENCES

HOW TO DO PLIES