Control in Frappes

[Guest dragonfly7]

Hi all,

 

Does anyone have suggestions for better control of the lower leg in frappes? Because this is my weakness, and I've decided to work on this for my classes this week and next (and beyond!). I'm fine doing slow beats, but when the tempo increases and we have to do doubles, I often find my lower leg (that is starting from my knee down) sort of flying off on its own accord. I have a hard time contolling the movement then. Does this happen to anyone else? Am I using the wrong muscles, maybe? Thanks!

[Victoria Leigh]

It's basically a matter of coordination and rhythm, dragonfly, and of course allowing the leg to release from the knee enough to get the speed in the petit battement action before the strike. Are you doing the kind of frappé that strikes the floor, or the kind with a pointed foot on the beats? With the striking action, the ankle joint is relaxed during the beats and then works on the stike to point the foot after it strikes the floor. So, it's a knee/ankle exercise, as nothing else is working (except of course the muscles to maintain alignment and balance point!) Practice petit battement to build the beat speed.

[Guest dragonfly7]

Hi Ms Leigh,

 

I laughed when you said it was a matter of coordination . There ARE times in class when I feel like I'm walking for the first time and realizing my legs can and cannot do certain things! We usually do the frappes with the striking action, but sometimes it's preceded by beats in the opposite direction before the strike as in (for the front, with the foot flexed) beat in the back, bring the foot to the front, then strike and lift arches to point. When this is done to a faster piece, I find it a bit hard bringing my foot back into position from the beat without losing turnout. My knee starts drifting forward, following the foot. I guess this is just a turnout issue? I will observe some more today in class. But thank you!

[Victoria Leigh]

Yes, you DO have to maintain the rotation of the thigh as the leg returns from the strike!

[Garyecht]

When you are learning any physical movement that you are going to do repeatedly, you are developing what are called motor pathways. Think of it as writing a program for your nervous system that makes your muscles do what you want them to do. Unlike a computer program that you can write in a day, however, it takes time and repetition to develop motor pathways.

 

A good way to practice is to do whatever movement you are trying to do slowly and repeatedly. That means not just a lot of repetitions at one time, but also a lot of practice sessions. Although most practice will be slower than normal, you need to also practice the movement at the speed you will normally be performing the movement. You will probably make some mistakes at that speed, but don’t worry about that. The mistakes will become fewer.

 

This approach is good for any movement, not just frappe.

 

A teacher gave me some advice once that I have found useful when my working leg didn’t seem to want to do what I wanted it to do. She urged not thinking of the working leg at all, but thinking of the supporting leg, keeping it turned out, being aligned on that supporting leg. That does help me I know.