Penché

[Guest dancingthroughlife]

I can do a split all the way, yet when we practice our penche I can barely make a right triangle with my legs! Is there any stretch that can help improve my penches? Thank you!

Edited November 28, 2004 by dancingthroughlife

[Victoria Leigh]

If you have a good arabesque, then you simply tilt the arabesque! Your body must move forward/downward, equal and opposite to the movement of the leg in the arabesque moving backward/upward. If you can start with a 90º arabesque, that should increase in height as you move the position like a seesaw. There is no particular stretch for penché, but practice it at the barre. It needs strong abdominal muscles and good use of the quad muscles on the standing leg. Move your upper body downward only as far as the leg keeps moving upward.

 

PS - I edited your title for spelling. You can make your own changes in your post.

[Guest dancingthroughlife]

Thank you Ms. Leigh!

[Mel Johnson]

You want a stretch to improve your sins (peches)? OK, kneel down, clasp hands, pray for forgiveness.

 

You're closer to it, though. The original post had you asking how to improve your pockets (poches).

[Guest dancingthroughlife]

I really don't seem to excel in ballet spelling!

Edited November 28, 2004 by Mel Johnson

[Mel Johnson]

There, now that's better. BTW, I fixed your spelling of "to". You spelled it "do". Slow down and read what you write.

[Victoria Leigh]

Dancingthroughlife, that's why such things as books exist! Pick up a copy of Gail Grants Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet. It's about $5.00 at most major book stores, Artistic Dance, and Amazon.com (from the link above). And for your holidays or birthday, ask for Gretchen Ward Warren's wonderful book called Classical Ballet Technique.

[Guest dancingthroughlife]

Thank you Ms. Leigh! My teacher actually suggested that book to us, so I was planning to ask my parents for it for the holidays.

[Giraffedancer]

one thing I like to do sometimes is find a door frame and practice up against that. It usually helps because there is no space for your leg to fall over. You can start out by putting your hands on the ground and when you feel comfortable with it you can do it more with your hands off!

[Guest dancingthroughlife]

Thank you very much Giraffedancer, I will try!

[KayP]

I can get a 180 degree penché, but only if I open my hips. Is this "allowed"?

[Mel Johnson]

A "six-o'clock" arabesque is rarely an arabesque anymore. The spiral design is usually lost and it's a stunt. The hip always has to open somewhat, but not be splayed wide open until you're in a halfway position between seconde and arabesque. ("Alabesque") If, however the set of the torso, shoulders and head is maintained in proper relationship to the leg, then it's an arabesque, and when some opening of the hip can be done, you can't go overboard with it. After all, what would you use it for in the classic repertoire?

[Giraffedancer]

Your welcome, dancingthroughlife. Hope it works for you!

[Guest DanceFreak5678]

I don't know if it's the actual penche you are having trouble with, or the flexibilty part, but this should help. When you are going down, pretend you are moving down a wall. I'm not sure if this makes any sense to you, but it helps ALOT to visualize yourself doing that while you are doing your penche. It helps it get alot higher, too. HTH!

[Marenetha]

In classical repertoire, where is your penche usually? If I'm stretching myself, or with someone else, I can do past six o'clock without a problem, but currently, if I'm not supporting my leg, I'm about ... *searches for ruler* 140 degrees, give or take a few.