 From our Readers
11/05/97
Posting technique classes?
Is Anthony planning of posting the remainder of his classes and more of his
journal? If so, please let me know immediately and how soon. I have been playing around
with lesson 5, and would like to incorporate all six lessons into my program...
JoAnn
JoAnn,
Yes, I am planning to post more of my classes. There are 108 of them and so it will take
some time. I am publishing the key classes first (class 2 and 5 from each domain in each
level) and them I will go back and fill in the rest of the classes -- including pointe
work. The journal is an ongoing dialog and since there are some personal items in my
journal that I keep to myself, I am in the process of editing for the web. Look in the
near future for more entries.
Anthony
Just a note to thank you...
for my favorite site on the web. I cannot the believe the wealth of information here. The
animations are very neat, but the class notes and discussions on technique in
BalletCentral is just wonderful. You are doing a fantastic job and a very welcome service,
please keep it up!
Kae Barron
Thanks a lot Kae... it is always great to
hear that one's work is appreciated.
Anthony
Which is the most important things
to focus on...
My students come one time per week and my Intermediate/Advanced students take a 1 hour
ballet with 30 minute pointe class directly following. I seem to have problems discerning
which is the most important things to focus on. I think is it important to expose them to
a wide variety of steps and terms. When you audition students what are you looking for if
they have come from a small studio. Obviously in one class a week they are not going to be
extremely clean. They want to do all the fun things like double, triple pirouettes and big
jumps, but have a lot of technique problems. Should repetition be what I am for to program
the right technique? Any suggestions you can give would be helpful. I have enjoyed your
website and have gained some valuable information. Thanks!
Tina McMurray
Tina,
This is always a problem for teachers who are truly interested in giving the best
instruction possible... especially in classical ballet. When students come only once or
twice a week it is difficult to know how to encapsulate the material effectively... if
there is an effective way. When I guest teach I know I will only see those students for a
short time. What I do is keep the technique rounded throughout the classes. By that I mean
I give basic exercises that strengthens their overall technique. But I do build in a
graduated series of exercises.
For instance...over a series of four classes
I start out the allegro exercises will basic combinations like -- 4 assemblés de coté
(to the side alternating right then left) traveling forward and 4 assemblés de coté
traveling back. Then the next day's allegro I'll give assemblé croisé en avant and
assemblé croisé en arrière, repeat, échappé changé de coté. Then on the third day
I'll give both combinations together and on the fourth day I'll have them learn and
perform it both right and left and right and left in reverse. This way I'll know they are
learning how to combine allegro steps into more complicated and diverse movements.
I do this with almost everything in the
class, from the barre to the centre barre and finally the allegro. It does take a bit of
planning, but taking this approach will help you keep the quality (even though they do not
have the quantity) of the work they do at an appreciable level.
Anthony
Email Anthony at coach@danceart.com |
