Category Archives: Ballet combinations

Falling in Love with Waltzing

23 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by in Across the floor in Ballet, Balancé, Ballet, Ballet choreography, Ballet combinations, Ballet Steps, How to waltz, Learning to waltz, Mi Ancla, Mindy Gledhill, Straight leg Waltz, Waltz

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Photo by Natasha D’Souza via Flickr Creative Commons

I’ve always loved to waltz. It is one of those moves that feels really good, like swimming in the ocean or falling in love. A waltz sways and moves, has grace and elegance, it always feels pretty. It’s so intimately connected to the music that when it’s right, it’s less about you dancing to the music than going inside the music, allowing it to dance you.

Waltzing originated as an Austrian and Bavarian folk dance from the eighteenth century, and like all good things, was quite shocking to the upper classes in its day. Naturally the close embrace in particular was frowned upon. It subsequently became popular in Vienna, leading to the birth of ballroom dance. 

While the step itself is simple, the necessary fluidity and ease of a waltz is what makes it difficult to master. (Why are things that require ease so challenging? Perhaps letting go is actually harder than holding on!) 

A waltz is also one of the most creative moves in ballet, done in many different ways and directions and combined with a variety of other steps. It can be done side to side, front to back, turning, with legs brushing through. Who knew ballet could be so…sexy?

How to waltz:

  • Start with music written in 3/4 time. Use Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker if you’re feeling traditional, or Prince’s Sometimes it Snows in April if you’re feeling oldschool (or you read this blog). Other good waltz songs are Nora Jones’s Come Away With Me or Edwin McCain’s I’ll Be. Recently one of my dancers introduced me to a beautiful Spanish song called Mi Ancla by Mindy Gledhill. In the song, she talks about being carried away by a red balloon but her lover is her anchor, mi ancla. This sweet little song captures the intoxication of being carried away by the wind or a waltz. 
  • Whatever waltz music you choose, you should hear a strong 1 count downbeat, followed by lighter 2, 3 counts. Take a moment to listen for these counts before you start to move.
  • Now stand up (no turn out, no pointed feet) and just sway to the music. Change your weight from your right foot to your left foot on each strong  1 count. Notice counts 2 & 3, but at first only move on the 1 counts. (I’m trying to get you to feel the music.)
  • Now add two smaller steps on counts 2 and 3. March in place for now. It is helpful to say to yourself BIG, little, little; BIG, little little as you are stepping. 
  • Now that you are easily stepping on each count, make your BIG step less about taking a venti sized step and more about stepping into plié. The emphasis should go downward. And then make your two little steps up on relevé, so now instead of just stepping on the beats, you are adding levels. Be sure your first step is flat on the floor, with your whole foot down on the ground, including the heel – just like a pedestrian taking a regular step – and bend your knee. The second two steps are up on the balls of your feet, in relevé. It is helpful to say to yourself DOWN, up, up; DOWN, up, up. If you get confused, take out the relevé and go back to BIG, little, little. Don’t turn out or point your feet or or think ‘ballet’ right now. Even if you get mixed up, keep going. 
  • Start to move around the room with your BIG, little, little, or your DOWN, up, up. Listen to the music. Be sure you are exactly in sync with each beat. Feel the music taking you with it. Play with expressive qualities as you move such as direction and gesture. (Extra credit for laughing at yourself, or at least smiling!)

In ballet, we call waltzing doing a balancé. But the idea is the same, the point is to be smooth and effortless. Even if you’re an advanced dancer, sometimes a balancé can look awkward or can pop up. Do less. Stop pointing your feet for a minute and go back to the music, feel the wind in your hair and imagine sunshine and mountains. This dance was originated by Bavarian peasants in a gorgeous place on earth. Dance is about expressing life.

Once you are feeling confident, try these patterns:

1. Balancé Side to side: Step on your right foot to the right side, step behind your right foot with a small second step on your left and then step in place with the right foot for the third small step. It’s more like SIDE, back, front; or DOWN, up, down. As you take your first step to the right, sweep your left arm forward and across at rib cage height towards the right, with the palm facing down as the right arm opens to second position. Then as you finish the third step on the right side, your hands will switch so that as you step to your left the right arm sweeps across to the left side as you step to the left, SIDE, back, and front. Your upper body and head should also follow the swaying movement towards the right when you are stepping right, and towards the left as you are stepping left. 

2. Balancé front to back: Stand croisé, on your left foot on a diagonal with your right foot free behind you in “B+”. Step a big step forward on your right foot, along the diagonal, bring your left foot behind your right, step up on relevé on it, and then step down in place on your right foot (FRONT, up, down); then step backwards along that same diagonal with your left foot, and bring your right foot behind your left and step into relevé on your right foot and then step back down on your left (BACK, up, down.) Your right arm will sweep up as you go forward into a high arabesque line, eyes and head looking up, following the line of the hand, and then as you go back, your right arm will sweep towards the floor, as you balancé backwards. My teacher used to say it was like picking an apple off the tree way up high and almost leaning back a wee bit as you balancé forward, and then bend forward from the waist as you balancé back, as if you are placing that apple into a basket on the floor. 

3. Straight leg Waltz: This Waltz step turns in one complete rotation – half way around when doing the right side, and completing the turn when doing the left side. You travel along a diagonal towards the down right corner of the room. (I tried explaining this in detail but it didn’t work. I will find a video to show this and include a link.)

Try this combination: 

Start near the upper left corner of the room, two steps towards the center. Balance forward towards the down right corner of the room on a diagonal, balance backwards, turning towards your right, ending facing the down left corner of the room. It’s like a balancé front and back except the balancé to the back turns. Step into piqué back attitude on your right foot towards the downstage left corner of the room, arms in third position with the left arm high. Piqué passé along your original diagonal, toward the corner, followed by two piqué turns towards the corner and ending with a straight leg waltz. 

Enjoy waltzing and let me know how it goes – hopefully up, up and away! 

~ Sarah


I hope this helps, Malcolm! 

Join me for ballet on Tuesdays 7-8pm and Saturdays 12-1:30. Only $10. I will be away in Honolulu from March 2-17 and returning the 18th. See you at the barre! 

An Adagio for September

25 Sunday Sep 2016

Posted by in Ballet Adagio, Ballet choreography, Ballet combinations, choreography, Dancing to remember lost loved ones, Inspiration for ballet

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Inspiration for dancing: My great grand-mother Blanche, center, with her two sisters, Corinne and Celestine wearing fabulous hats!

I was inspired to choreograph an adagio to the song Luray Women sung by female duo Clishmaclaver because of a conversation I had with my mother recently about the people who are still around and those who live on in our hearts and memories. I was making her laugh, telling her the story of my Dad’s first pun when he was a little boy. She laughed, but then she said, “Is he still around?” Not wanting to hurt her, I answered, “Well, he’s around in our hearts and memories.” She sighed, “So he’s not still around”. I had to admit she was correct. Then she asked, “Which of my people are no longer around?”

I was thinking of this conversation and all the people who are no longer around and I thought of this song. The lyrics make me think of my great grandmother, (center), and her two sisters. My mother loved telling me her grandmother’s stories. Their parents only had enough money to send three of their six children to college. They figured the three boys could always get work on a farm, so in the 1890s they sent their three daughters to college. My great grandmother became a teacher, got married and had one son. Her middle sister became a lawyer and her youngest sister was a drama teacher who came to New York. This dance is for all those who came before, and for sisters everywhere.

*                       *                     *

About the dance: I wanted to include walking in the adagio because walking can be so difficult to do naturally. Walk to the music, not a ballet walk with pointed feet, but a regular walk to the slow tempo of the music. Keep your walk fluid even though the tempo is slow. Make eye contact with the other dancers in the room, connecting to your center, to the floor, to the music, and to each other.

The choreography for the first verse and chorus are written out below. For the second verse and chorus, reverse the dance to the other side. For the third verse, repeat the first side to the end of the verse, so the last thing is the soutenou turn on “roots entwined”.

About the Music: I love the song sung by female duo Clishmaclaver (Jennifer Culley and Brooke Parkhurst) on their album Roots Entwined. But I couldn’t find a sample of it or a link for where to buy it online. All I could find was this youtube of the song, which is also lovely, but just not the same. If any of you who are more internet savvvy than I find it, can you let me know in the comments below?

LURAY WOMEN Sung by Clishmaclaver, on their album Roots Entwined.

Tall as timber, Great Aunt Lizzie Wrapped in rugs against the cold Counts 1-8, walk 8 steps, ending in 5th position, Left foot front, croisé.

Looking out across the mountains Counts 1-2, plié pas de cheval front (L) foot; counts 3-4, posé up to sous-sus, legs together in fifth, 2nd arabesque arms, right arm forward.

To the valleys of my soul  Counts 5-6, balance as you bring arms to 5th, then towards the left, counts 7-8, step your front foot out to the left and tombé, arms continue the circle towards the floor, and you contract your upper body, head down, standing on your left, in plié facing front, en face, with your right foot tendu à la seconde, arms in a low second.

On the porch where Lizzie’s rocking  Counts 1-4, lift your right leg slowly to à la seconde. Don’t rush this, you have plenty of time. Lift your body, head and arms lift to a “v” towards the ceiling.

Great Grandma Nannie comes and stands  Count 5 Passé, arms to 5th. Counts 6-7  back attitude croisé, arms open to third position. Right arm is high (arm away from the audience, same arm high as leg that is back) Count 8, start the promenade to the right. (See below)

Underneath her plain white apron  Counts 1-4 promenade to rights. As you promenade, the back leg goes from back attitude through passé to front attitude. Arms go to fifth position.

Holds my future in her hands Counts 5-6 extend right foot to dévelopé croisé front in plié. Arms bend in towards stomach and extend to third arabesque. Count 7 Posé forward, arms stay in third arabesque, Count 8 Plié in fifth, back soutenou turn, arms do an inside port de bras.

Refrain:

Luray women, how you’re with me  Counts 1-2 step to the right (remember step to the back foot)  into plié, left foot tendu side, right arm stay extended side. It’s slow, continue stretching your arms out to the music, Counts 3-4 ronde de jambe your left foot to croisé front straightening standing leg. Right arm comes to fifth.

Soft as memory, strong as wood Counts 5-8. Plié and Port de bras forward and up over pointed (left) foot

In my face you are returning Counts 1-4 Brush left foot through first position to arabesque. Right arm comes to chest, palm facing out. Left arm extends out to back as if in arabesque, as if someone behind you is holding your hand, palm facing down, and begin to penché.

I hear you singing in my blood Counts 5-8 Penché down and up. Counts 7-8 Plié standing leg and touch left foot to the floor, arch back. Hand at chest sweeps up to a high arabesque arm, palm out (not in fifth). Pull up to sous-sus, pas de bourré fourth position, left foot front.

There are four extra counts here Inside pirouette to the left. Land in fifth position right foot front, arms open to second and float down to preparation.

Reverse all on the other side.

Verse 2
Now the years and all my memories
Flow like water by the bridge
I can see them in my mirror
Tall as trees along the ridge
Just like trees along the mountain
Through the years grown straight and tall
Till the place where they’ve been standing
Seems deserted when they fall

Refrain
Luray women, how you’re with me
Soft as memory, strong as wood
In my face you are returning
Hear you singing in my blood

Verse 3
If you lose the one that loves you
Make a life that’s all your own
Find a place no one can reach you
Turn your back and go back home
But if you find the one that loves you
If you love the one you find
Be like sisters on the mountain
Branches touching, roots entwined

-Sarah

Want to learn this dance? We’ll do it one last time in class this coming Tuesday. Ballet class 7-8pm on Tuesdays, 12-1:30 on Saturdays. 380 Broadway, Buzzer #5, Only  $10. Don’t be shy, anyone can dance. 

Joy: Superpower for Spring

09 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by in Across the floor in Ballet, Ballet, Ballet Blues, Ballet Class, Ballet combinations, Be happy--dance, Encouragement, How to improve at ballet, How to remember steps in ballet, I can never remember combinations, I can't concentrate in ballet class, Inspiration, Keep Dancing, Learning dance combinations, Messing up in Ballet, Motivation for Ballet, Uncategorized

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Daffodils in Bryant Park

I grew up in Hawaii where we don’t have extreme seasons – not like in New York. We have whale season when humpback whales come to the islands, but that’s different. 

Winter used to be really hard for me with its short dark days. I couldn’t take the cold – anytime it fell below 20 degrees I would get sick. I’ve slowly learned about boots and warm clothes over the last thirteen years, and now I find spring the most difficult season.

Spring is tricky. The weather is changing faster than we can change our coats. It’s hot, cold, warm, wet, windy, and weird! The light looks like it will be warm out but it fools us. We’re impatient for summer to come and isn’t that similar to growth? We’re impatient to be better dancers – for the summer of our dancing to be in full swing. The growth period of learning is painful. It comes in fits and starts, just like spring. One moment is a  feeling of getting the steps, feeling the music just right, and then there’s the awkward uncomfortable gangliness when you can’t find the beat or recognize a step you once knew and you’re totally discombobulated. It’s tempting to be cruel…”Well I was never going to be any good anyway.” It’s tempting to lie to oneself -“I never liked that kind of dance to begin with,” (when you know you love it!) …It’s tempting to quit.

It’s easy to get caught up in our minds about the perceived judgement of others or the very real judgement we inflict on ourselves. Try to ease your mind of these kinds of thoughts, the worst of all suffering, and imagine instead we are all flowers in a garden, different, and unique, but no less beautiful than any other. Does the elegant tulip look down on the trumpet-nosed daffodils, those happy-yellow beacons of spring?  

It’s tempting to buy into one’s ego – “I’ve been dancing this long, I should know this by now”. How long has spring been around, how many millions and billions of years? Growth is not a smooth process, it’s up and down in fits and starts, three steps forward, two steps back. Instead of focusing on the goal, focus on the joy that dancing brings you. Your summer will come. For now, celebrate the imperfect moment of uncertainty when you aren’t sure exactly what the step is and you choose to dance anyway. As you move, you may start to figure out the movement. Bravo! Bask in the goodness of learning, the luxury of being a beginner without the pressure of having to perform. Relish the elation of simply moving to music. Instead of anticipating the summer, enjoy the daffodils.

My favorite moment in ballet class Tuesday night was when everyone was skipping in big glorious circles around the room to the Happy song, – “because I’m happy…” Everyone was jumping really high, lifting their knees, and pointing their feet: a room full of adults, all of us emphatically and gleefully skipping! Is there anything more joyful than that?

~ Sarah

In my open level ballet classes, sometimes beginners get left behind. I’m teaching a basic beginner workshop the first four Sundays of May–May 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 2:30-4pm at 380 Broadway.  For more information, email me at liberatedmovement@gmail.com

Open level classes are 7-8pm on Tuesdays, suggested donation $10.  For Ballet workshop 12-1:30pm on Saturdays, we request a minimum donation of $10.



On Remembering the Combination

21 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by in Ballet Class, Ballet combinations, Dance, Encouragement, How do I concentrate in ballet?, How to improve at ballet, How to remember choreography, How to remember combinations, How to remember steps in ballet, I can never remember combinations, I can't concentrate in ballet class, Learning dance combinations, Marking steps in ballet, Messing up in Ballet, Uncategorized

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IMG_0089

Photo Courtesy of Joe Duty

Zach: “Sheila, do you know the combination?” Sheila: “I knew it when I was in the front!”                                                                ~From A Chorus Line

Imagine this: you’re at an audition. You learn the combination, even though it’s really long. They split everyone into groups and your group is near the end so you have lots of time to practice it. You go over it with every group that goes up. When they call your name, you go up with your group, get in the formation, the music starts, you notice the casting team watching you, and suddenly your mind goes blank. How does it start? Is it a glissade? There goes the first beat, and you missed it. The moment is gone, but you remember that feeling forever. How could you have done things differently?

Maybe for you it’s not so much nerves as concentration. The teacher is explaining the combination and all you can think about is what you want for dinner or that horrible thing that happened at work. I used to have a teacher with such a beautiful point that when she explained combinations I would just stare at her feet and then have no clue what we were doing!

If you’re a beginner to ballet, you may be still struggling with the vocabulary of the moves. Learning ballet is like learning a language except that besides just words and their meanings, there are also moves that go along with them! Here are some thoughts on each of these issues.

Trouble picking up combinations:

  1. When you are learning a combination, move so that you can see the teacher. Most people are visual learners so don’t make it harder for yourself. Move to where you can see. If you can’t see, raise your hand and ask. You’re in class to learn, and your question may help others too!
  2. Getting it into your body may help by doing it with your hands, or marking it with your feet. This goes along with how you learn – if you are a kinetic learner you learn through movement. Mark it with your body and you may see a marked improvement. 🙂
  3. Sometimes the explanation of a combination doesn’t make sense. Actually doing it may make more sense. Sometimes we spin things and they seem more difficult in our heads. When you just do it, you realize oh, it wasn’t all that!
  4. Always anticipate the next steps that will be coming up. Anticipating is a great skill that can help you avoid that dreaded feeling of “oh no, what’s next?” Practice thinking of the next thing even while you are doing the previous thing.
  5. Hang on and keep trying!  Do as much of the combination as you can. Follow someone who knows it and do it as well as you can. The movement will start to get into your body. Don’t give up!
  6. Start slow. Forget the tempo to start and just work on getting the movement. If you can do the movements and remember them slowly, you will be able to build up speed and do them up to tempo.
  7. If the combination is really long, try breaking it into sections and learning it peice by peice. If you have time between learning parts of the dance, write it down. Practice it again after a good night’s sleep.
  8. If you are struggling and the teacher gives you an easier option, do the easier option! For now. Getting correct alignment in the beginning is going to go a long way to helping you advance later on. Take advantage of being a beginner!  There’s plenty of time to be advanced. You’ll get there!  Leave your ego outside.
  9. Ballet is a language made up of big steps like verbs and nouns and connecting steps like pronouns and prepositions. If you learn the “connecting steps”,  like tombe, pas de bourre, glissade, it can help you join the “big steps” like sauté de chat, tour jete, sauté fouetté. If it sounds overwhelming, don’t worry, it will come.
  10. When you nail the combination it’s going to feel so good!

Trouble concentrating in class:

  1. Leave the world outside when you step into dance class. That way, your troubles with your mother or boyfriend or whatever doesn’t hinder you when you’re trying to dance. Step out of your world and into the studio. It’s like a mini-vacation in the middle of your day!
  2. If you are distracted by someone in class, or your spot in the room, move to a different spot. If that isn’t possible, redirect yourself from that distraction. Concentrate more on what you’re doing and do your best to stay focused on the teacher as much as you can. Breathe.
  3. Notice if you are getting distracted and bring yourself back to what the teacher is saying or doing.  Sometimes it’s as simple as noticing when you’re not focused, and bringing yourself back.
  4. Use your hands, mark it with your body. I said it before, and I’m saying it again. It can really help.

Trouble picking up combinations in an audition setting

  1. If you are nervous, if you are in an audition setting or it’s your first time in a new class, go easy on yourself. Take some deep breaths. Don’t give yourself a hard time. Make a plan of where to stand in class, where to look when you are auditioning, like above their heads. The more you audition or take class, the more comfortable you will feel, and that is part of the equation.
  2. The more fun you can make it for yourself, the less nervous you will be. Team up and audition with your friends or make new friends with the people you audition with! Focus, but enjoy the process. Auditioning is about showing them who you are as well as what you can do, so as much as you can, smile and show them beautiful you!
  3. Concentrate on the beginning and the end, and when to start with the music. If you begin strong and end strong, those are powerful moment. If you miss something, keep going as much as possible. In one audition I blanked out and I kept going and made it up. I was in front, and did it with such conviction, everyone behind me copied me! (Heh!)

When all else fails:

  1. Forgive yourself like you’d forgive your best friend. You did your best. I know it feels horrible to mess up but it’s going to be okay. Be kind to yourself.
  2. Check in with yourself on the basics. Did you get enough to eat today? Did you eat fruits and vegetables and healthy snacks? Did you get any protein? Did you get enough rest? Are you hydrated? Are you getting sick? If something might be off in one of these areas then it very well could be affecting your ability to concentrate and pick up choreography. Go easy on yourself. Get a good nights sleep. Tomorrow is another day.
  3. Don’t be so serious! Laugh at yourself. I have to bring my sense of humor when I take (any class, but partiularly) a hip hop class, because that is a different language for me and I struggle with it – so I try not to take myself too seriously doing it.

I hope this helps you! Any other ideas? Tell me in the comments!

~Sarah

 

 
Looking forward to ballet class? Me too! Tuesdays 7-8pm and Saturdays 12-1:30pm at 380 Broadway buzzer #5. Two blocks below Canal Street, on the NE corner of White street. Only $10! Brand new beginner workshop coming up! First four Sundays in May: May 1, 8, 15, 22 from 2:30-4pm, $60. Email liberatedmovement@gmail.com for more information.