So class last night was extremely interesting. Lady Cheerleader was out sick and we had a sub, a youthful looking woman with a slender body and gracious manners. Before class began (there were only three of us who showed up, probably because of the massive thunderstorm that blanketed my area right around the start of class) she asked us to introduce ourselves and to tell her our reason(s) for attending ballet class. Was it for a workout? To improve technique?
One woman actually said she was there to relax. I almost laughed. Ballet, relaxing? I can’t think of another activity that demands every square inch of muscle work together in perfect synchronicity to your brain, to the other muscles of the body, and to the music. The ultimate in multitasking.
When it was my turn to talk, I said I was there to improve technique. I told her to get technical on my ass. She gave me a small smile and BLAM! Did she get technical on my ass indeedy.
We spent the first five minutes doing spinal alignment exercises on the floor(see how your butt can’t stick back?), then we focused on the mechanics of the tendus (it starts from the heel!), then turnout (she demonstrated proper hip rotation). She corrected my ballet hands (my thumbs were too far from the rest of my fingers), repositioned my port de bras fifth while on relevé (aaahhhh…better balance!) and went around the room lifting elbows while in second, and explaining why tendus should follow the natural direction of your turnout instead of going all the way to the side. Oh, and so much more!!! Wish I could show you guys everything she showed us. Wish I could’ve taken some notes, or better yet, videotaped her instructions. It was awesome, a true “back to basics” class correcting bad habits and mistakes that lots of teacher neglect when instructing adult students. In just one class I feel like I improved my form and alignment one hundred percent.
