developpe

[ConstanzaElisabeth]

I have noticed that my teacher asks for developpe with a different accent than students from elsewhere do. It seems that most people do a very regular rhythm, 1,2,3,4, but the way my teacher wants them is &1 for the retire, and begin to extend on 1, using all of the counts to reach a full extension. Is this an aspect of a certain technique, or just a weird Normanism?

[vrsfanatic]

I am unfamiliar with this musicality.

[Victoria Leigh]

I am too, Constanza. The developping part of the developpé is not really what we want to see, as it's like seeing the mechanics, and the difficulty. While it is an adage movement, it still should very steadily unfold as the final picture is what it's all about. One should spend a bit more time in the picture than in the process of getting there, in my opinion anyway.

[ConstanzaElisabeth]

I think what he seems to be getting at with this is showing the length and lightness of the leg as it unfolds, kind of making the audience hold its breath wondering if there is ever an end until it reaches the maximum point and extends even further with a breath at the climax of the music...hehehe, my interpretation of it. Norman is always surprisingly musical but a lot of the things we do up here are very different, including the musicality of it. does this makes sense? should i change when i go elsewhere, or do it this way first and see what the teachers say?

[Victoria Leigh]

It's usually best to do it the way it is given, musically.