Guest Eulalia Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 I recently switched schools, and I'm learning a different technique of turning. (I used to cross the passe and now it's higher and not crossed.) Anyway, everytime I'm about to turn I get scared and I dunno clank up or something. I used to be able to turn triple and quads on demi and triples and doubles en pointe. Now I can hardly do a single. I am so frustrated. It's not a strength or balance thing ( i can balance for 3 counts of 8 and I get stuck on releve occasionally). Please help me. Especially Ms. Leigh or Mr. Johnson. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 It's really a matter of changing habit. You have become habituated to doing pirouettes one way, now you have to change. It will take a lot of patience and hard work, but you can do this! Quote Link to comment
Guest Eulalia Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Thank you so much Mr. Johnson, that's really what I needed to hear! I shall persevere! Thank you again. Quote Link to comment
Guest arabesque07 Posted May 22, 2004 Report Share Posted May 22, 2004 (edited) Is it incorrect technique to not cross the passe? I have always been taught that it should be crossed. Edited May 22, 2004 by arabesque07 Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 22, 2004 Report Share Posted May 22, 2004 No, it should not. The passé position, or most correctly, retiré devant, is done with the point of the toe held at the dimple just below the kneecap of the (well-rotated) supporting leg. The little toe should just be touching the leg. In retiré derrière, the foot appears to be crossed over the supporting leg in back. Quote Link to comment
coffee Posted May 23, 2004 Report Share Posted May 23, 2004 So does that mean that it is incorrect technique to cross the foot? Or is it an acceptable shortcut for turning only? Or is it simply a difference in training, with neither method being wrong? Sorry, I am a little confused... Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 23, 2004 Report Share Posted May 23, 2004 No, in an academic pirouette, the foot does not cross in front of the supporting leg. In practice, you can do pirouettes in any position at all, but the basic plain-vanilla pirouette is done in a demi-retiré or retiré devant. I know of choreography where the foot is supposed to cross over, but not an academic exercise. Quote Link to comment
coffee Posted May 23, 2004 Report Share Posted May 23, 2004 Thanks. Thats what I thought it was, but I figured I'd better check in case I run into it in the future! Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.