Dick Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Hi, I had my first ever generic pas de deux class yesturday night. By generic, I mean that we did not learn a pas de deux from the répertoire but rather practiced the fundamentals. It was also her first experience for my partner. Everything went good except at one time, where I momentarily lost control over her center of gravity placing my arm to close to her hips rather than under her breast: this resulted in an improvised fish dive of some sort which resulted very scary for my partner didn't look to bad after all... Anyways, I loved the experience. And as usual, there is much more to it than meets the eye, even for the man. Lots of good work ahead. God I love ballet... Dick Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Pas de deux/Adagio/Partnering classes are big learning experiences for both men and women! Things have come a long way from the days (WWII) when schools used to give a dollar bill to the girls to go out and find a warm male body to come in and partner them. "Dibs on Louie the Wino!" "I got Harry the Western Union Guy!" Quote Link to comment
dancemomCA Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 Sorry, Mel - I know I am intruding in the mens' forum, but couldn't resist. My 13 yr old son experienced his first partnering class at RWB this summer. No lifting. He absolutely loved it and said to me on the phone one evening "It [partnering] is absolutely not as easy as they make it look on stage. I find "promenading" hard work!" At end of the summer school, he was happy that he hadn't "dropped" any partner - the older girls taught him well!! Cheers! Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 No prob, dancemomCA! Good anecdote as to how to start out partnering for young dancers. The first part is always the worst part! She: Bourrée to place. He: Try to look intelligent. She: Sous-sus. He: Place hands at waist/hip junction, push forward off balance, pull back to center, let go. Repeat to back, left, right. Finding that balance can be murder for the new partner! Quote Link to comment
Guest DancingBoi Posted October 5, 2003 Report Share Posted October 5, 2003 I have had some semi-limited partnering work before, although it was more jazzy/musical theatre type and maybe a little ballet in the mix. But my first real pas de deux class will be next week in preparation for our performace in January I believe. I'm not sure if the piece is original or from a full length ballet or not. Either way I will let you guys know how it goes! Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted October 5, 2003 Report Share Posted October 5, 2003 Good, now have a good time! Quote Link to comment
dancersteven Posted October 5, 2003 Report Share Posted October 5, 2003 Mmmmmmm, (he stares into space reminiscing. . .) RWB partnering classes, level 6 girls one day, level 5 girls the next (I was older dancemomCA). I use more from those classes every day than any other classes I have taken ever. S. Quote Link to comment
dancemomCA Posted October 5, 2003 Report Share Posted October 5, 2003 Dancersteven - that's really good to hear about RWB parterning classes. And you are right about the different level of girls, it's still going on the same way. He's attending full-time now at RWB, but in level 3, so no partnering right now - lots of technique and modern classes. He's chomping at the bit for summer school again and more partnering, but all in good time. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
Guest DancingBoi Posted October 8, 2003 Report Share Posted October 8, 2003 First pas de deux class was after regular class tonight. It was pretty good. It was me and five girls... you do the math We only did basic stuff like promenades and stuff like that. I've done those before but tonight they were on pointe and that was a new experience. It took some getting used to, changing partners every few minutes that is. I enjoyed it though. And the teacher said she would try to work on some 'male' stuff with me a little after classes like jumps and turns. But with pas de deux after the tuesday class that means I will now have 3 technique classes a week. I don't mind though, I like seeing myself improve! I hope all of you all's classes are going well! Quote Link to comment
Guest DancingBoi Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 Pas de deux class is continuing to go well we worked on penches last tuesday. I believe that starting in November the teacher will began to work on the piece for the performance. I heard the teacher talking to my partner about what all numbers she would be in and I heard her say Sugar Plum so I assume that will be the number we perform. I have seen this performed and I don't know if I will be up to that level by performane I will continue to keep you all informed. Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 Believe it or not, Nutcracker pas de deux is a lot easier than it looks. The original ballerina it was staged on wasn't very good, so Ivanov took it easy on her. Quote Link to comment
Guest DancingBoi Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 That is very reassuring to hear! But doesn't the cavalier perform fouettes a la seconde? Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 I think you mean grand pirouettes, and in the old version I did, there weren't any. I learned it from Anton Dolin, so I guess I was fairly closer to the source than many, but I've learned a lot about different people's versions since then! Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted December 1, 2003 Report Share Posted December 1, 2003 Dick, or any other posters in the Montreal area, would you mind disclosing where there are pas de deux classes offered for adults in that city? Interested ladies are asking! Quote Link to comment
Danny Posted December 1, 2003 Report Share Posted December 1, 2003 These all sound like great experiences. Does anyone know of any studios in the Northern California area that offer pas de duex classes, more on the beginner side? None of the studios in my area (Davis, CA) offer such classes. I've done partnering for receitals and local repertory but a formal class would be great (if not indispensible). Thanks. Quote Link to comment
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