So this class took way longer to post than I thought... my life’s been interesting lately and I haven’t been on DDN. For no particular reason other than I felt like it, this class has musical accompaniment for each exercise. Now, the site that I was going to link the music from is being really unreliable right now so I had to change the music a bit, with the result that some of it’s a little odd (pretty much none of it is those piano arrangements you’re used to from class- generally these are the originals) and maybe a bit heavy on violin pieces I know
. Still, better than nothing I hope. I didn’t want to illegally upload all the music and post the links permanently and publicly here, so I used recordings that I found already uploaded (mostly as mp3’s to download or play in the browser. the downside of this is that these really aren’t my favourite versions of most of the pieces). The whole class works on either pointe or flat, except that the first center combination would be a bit strange for flat so if you aren’t wearing pointe shoes for either half of the class you may leave it out if you wish. Questions about the dance or the music (especially if a link doesn’t work), PM, post here, or comment on my profile. The barre is a bit nasty but very good for you... have fun and don’t get hurt!
PS... since I usually make up combinations to music in my head (it’s easier that way!) do you guys like the music... I probably won’t do this for a whole class again but would you guys like it if some of the exercises had music in future classes?
warmup (OK, most of the songs aren't like this
)
Demi-plié 1, straighten 2, relevé to demi-pointe 3, come down 4, relevé to demi-pointe 5, go to full pointe 6, come back to demi-pointe 7, heels lower on 8. Demi-plié 1, straighten 2, relevé to full pointe 3, plié over your toes 4, straighten 5, come to demi-pointe 6, back to full pointe 7, roll down 8. Do this twice in parallel, once in first, and once in second. If you’re in flat shoes, substitute one-quarter-pointe for demi-pointe and demi-pointe for full pointe.
plié 2 two-count demi-plié’s. 1 4-count grand. 1 8-count grand with the arm going in reverse: from second, up to 5th, in front to 1st, etc. Positions: 1st, 2nd, 5th. Tendu back to 2nd for port de bras front, back, in to the barre, and away from it. Yes, it’s slow. It’s good for you. Stretch out if you need to at the end or between sides (you’ll need to restart the music between sides too).
tendu 1 (this music has no intro) Tendu out, plie the standing leg, close 5th in plié, tendu still in plie, relevé (so the working leg will come off the ground), come down on a straight leg into tendu, lower the working foot to 4th, and pull in the straight working leg to 5th (inner thighs!). En croix.
2nd tendu and jete
OK, so this isn’t exactly normal ballet music but it’s quite good for doing lots and lots and lots of tendus. Which is exactly what you’re going to do! If you think you’re getting hurt, stop, but otherwise do your best! 32 tendus front, 32 side, 32 back, 32 side. Immediately turn around for the other side. No plie. Then you have a little rest in the music, which you will use to face the barre and stand in 1st position. It should be pretty obvious in the music when to start, but if you miss it no big deal, the beat is the same anyways. 16 jete’s to each side. Then 32 to each side, twice as fast. Then rest, stretch out, etc. This should be tough/tiring but not impossible. I haven’t been taking class for months but I just tried it out with the leg that doesn’t have a hopelessly messed up ankle and it worked.If you’ve learned degage at 45 degrees, don’t try that here
this is the kind that’s just barely off the floor.
rond de jambe 4 en dehors, 4 in plie, 4 at degage height, 3 on the floor ending the 3rd in tendu back, and pick it up and bring it to coupe back then beat it to coupe front and extend to tendu front to prepare to do the whole thing en dedans (so you finish the last time in tendu back). 4 count port de bras front sliding the back foot as far as you can when you go down (don’t let your butt stick up). 4 counts port de bras back in tendu back. When you come up from the port de bras, bring the leg with you in arabesque and relevé (no plié). Balance.
grand battement with rond de jambe en l’air You’ll need to skip ahead in the music to 1.28 for this to work. That’s about a third of the way through the song if whatever you’re playing music in doesn’t show seconds. 2 grand battements, 2 fast ones at twice the speed, 1 normal speed rising to relevé and then closing on flat. Do this pattern front, side, back, and side. Then: battement front but don’t close it, carry the leg side, double rond de jambe, close back. Battement back, carry side, double ronde de jambe, hold the leg a la seconde. 4 rond de jambe en dehors, 4 en dedans (don’t put the leg down between directions. Just switch). Close the leg front and you have a couple counts to turn around before the music starts for the grand battements on the other side.
stretch however you need to.
warmup 16 echappes side. 8 relevés on each foot with the other in coupe back. 16 retiré passe’s alternating feet closing back, 16 closing front. Perhaps do it again twice as fast if you took the slower tempo the first time.
adagio Start croise 5th. Pick your favourite/syllabus arms. 6 counts grand plié, 2 counts sous-sus. lift the back foot to coupe back and balance for 2 counts (you are still in releve) lift to retire (back or front whichever you find easier) for 2 more counts, and developpe efface front for 4 counts (if you can’t hold the balance you may come down to flat before the developpe but try to stay up if you can. Quickly lower the leg to tendu front and transfer your weight on it (with straight legs, no plie in 4th) so you are in tendu efface back (there’s an extra count in the phrase for this). Lift the leg to 1st arabesque for 3 counts, promenade away from the working leg for 4 counts and finish in 1st arabesque facing directly side, and releve for 3 counts (the music has 2 extra counts mixed in this phrase. It does work out like this). Come out of the releve (still in arabesque) into plie for 2 counts, turn your body towards the front of the room while the leg remains in place (so you are in a la seconde) as you straighten the supporting leg for 2 counts, continue the fouete so you are facing the left front corner with the leg in efface front for 2 counts, and lower it and brush through to tendu 3rd arabesque, close 5th back. Prepare for the other side.
pirouette Pirouette from 5th, to 5th closing front. Pirouette to 4th. Pirouette to 4th. Pirouette to 5th closing back to start the other side. It’s simple so make it very clean. Try to do the whole thing 4 times on each side: the first time all singles, the second time the first 4 doubles, the 3rd time the last 4 doubles, and the 4th time all doubles (or more).
en de dans pirouette Tendu front croisé on 1, plié in 4th (back leg straight) on 2, turn on 3, land and straighten out of plié to 5th on the other side on 4, then repeat the pattern to the left. Always spot front. For each class, choose 4 of the following turns (do each one once on each side. the same legs with different arms count as different turns): retiré, attitude back with arms in high 3rd, 4th, or 5th, first or second arabesque, a la seconde with arms in 2nd, 1st, or 5th, attitude front with arms in 1st or 4th. do singles, doubles, more, whatever you can do cleanly.
petite allegro Start right foot front. The music has no introduction so you might just want to wait for the first phrase to finish before you start so you have an idea of the speed. 2 glissade changing feet, entrechat quatre, entrechat trois (by now you should be on the left foot with the rigt in coupe back). pas de bouree under to the left, pas de chat to the left (right foot lands front), entrechat quatre. 2 glissade changing feet, entrechat quatre, entrechat trois. Temps leve, ballote so the right foot opens to the side, pas de bouree over to the left with the right foot from the side going in front, you should end in 5th left foot front for the other side. By the way, it’s fairly quick music. If it doesn’t feel fast, you’re probably going twice as slow as you should be.
here’s a slower version if you want.
balance exercise in preparation, get your right foot back (start from b-plus, tendu back, 5th with right foot back, I don’t care). 2 slow steps, right foot first, then quickly precipité and pique into 1st arebesque on the right foot and hold for the rest of the 2 counts. 2 slow steps left foot first, step around yourself onto the left foot with the right in retiré and hold 2 counts (this is basically like a lame duck, except you do the turning it before you step rather than after so you can hold the balance at the end). Repeat the first part (with the arabesque) except with arms in 5th and then penchee with arms back to regular 1st arabesque (you may come off relevé). The timing of this last arabesque and the penchee isn’t too strict (good time to develop musicality!), there is extra music at the end of the phrase so walk in a circle around yourself to the right and prepare for the left side. It should be pretty obvious where the next phrase begins (when the violin comes back) so then start left.
menage a little bit of this is stolen and adapted from the coda of stars and stripes (which is what this music is, sort of) because it’s a really fun ballet. This recording is slower than it should be, oh well. Simple menage, so go around twice (or more if you’re in a small space). Watch where you’re spotting! Every 4 counts, do 4 piques. One of them is a double. The first set, the 4th is a double. The second set, the 3rd one. The third set, the second one, and the 4th set the 1st one. Repeat all 4 sets, but on the last set try to make them all doubles if you can. Try to end in the upstage corner of the side you started on, for the end (which is the part I sort of stole from stars and stripes). 2 counts chaîné, and a double (if possible) lame duck where the leg extends to arabesque at the end (in this arabesque, your body is facing the corner you came from and your leg points where you’re going, so it’s really only a single and a half). Do the chaîné/pique thing 3 times, and then close to sous-sus, saute arabesque, glissade, and saut de chat straight side towards the side you came from.
reverance if you feel like it. Or lock the doors, pull the cutains shut, and just dance around having fun. Why not?
End of class! Please comment/PM to let me know you've seen it.
