Sofi Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Is normal ballet procedure to start combinations with the left hand at the barre, or does it matter, or am I just crazy? At my studio we've always with our left hand at the barre, but in a new class that I'm taking the teacher has us start with our right hand, which is driving me crazy because I've never done it that way. Anyway, I was just wondering.... Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I'd say most teachers start with the left hand on the barre, but some break it up by requesting that the class start with the right hand on the barre. I even had a couple over the years who had you do the pliés with the left hand on, then start the tendus with the right hand on, and so on. Link to comment
missy12784 Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 At my studio, some of us will start with our left or right hand on the barre, so that we are all facing the teacher as she gives out the combination. ( She sits next to the stereo/piano. ) Link to comment
Momof3darlings Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 sofi--it's good for your brain power and breaking of comfort zones. Link to comment
Claude_Catastrophique Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 That's an interesting question. Now that you have asked it and as I can read from the answers there is no rule about it. Am I right? I love to change hands on barre. We have two barres in my studio each at the opposite wall of the other one. On barre has two barres (a lower and a higher one) and the barre on the other side is somewhere in between the two heights of the other one. Because I am rather short I am always get moved around by my teacher so that taller girls can use the highest barre (which would also be good for me). Therefore I always have to change sides and I made the experience that it is very good for my brain to do the barre starting by different sides from time to time. Link to comment
Redbookish Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 *knock knock* Adult student dancer here I like to mark combinations at the barre using my left side as the working side, as I need to build speed and dexterity on that side more than my right. So I try to position myself in the studio so I can hold the barre with my right hand to mark. Then I turn and take up the conventional starting position of left hand on the barre, using my right side as the working side. But I like the sound of the teacher who alternates which side you start on for different exercises - that would keep a class on its toes (metaphorically and literally!) Link to comment
Sofi Posted September 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 yeah, I guess I need to make my brain work a little harder... I get lazy sometimes! Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I don't know that there's any "rule" actually written down that says we MUST start with the left hand on the barre. I believe that it's just tradition. However, some teachers mix things up, so that you don't become a "one-legged" dancer. If you always start with the right being the working leg and foot, you may be slightly more fatigued to the other side. Changing from one to another seems a good way to counteract this tendency, and benefit students who are sufficiently sophisticated, and these can be fairly young(!), to accept the change and work with it. Link to comment
Nerina Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 We start each class with a different hand on the barre, and change hands with every exercise. It is much better this way, because at my previous studio we did our exercises with the left hand only all the time. We all became "one legged dancers"! Link to comment
jphoenix Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 I must admit that I start all of my classes with the right hand on the barre, but only because that starts the majority of my students facing where I usally start out, over by the stereo. Link to comment
appleblossom Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 *knock knock* When you get to major exams the examiner can ask to see the excercises starting either side (sometimes even in the lower grades) - so it's good to known them from both sides. Also depending on the configuration of the room... when I did winter school we started with the right hand on the barre because thats where the piano is, but for exams we were in a different studio and started with the left hand. Link to comment
Hopefuldancer Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Traditionally barre starts with left hand at the barre.. but I know when I teach classes some two years from now, I will probably ask students to rotate... I am paranoid that starting with the left hand all the time makes one side (the left) better since you get corrections to apply to this side after making mistakes with the other side.. So it's better to balance things out. Plus, sometimes I exert so much on the right side that I am a little slack on the left (not saying you SHOULD be but it happens.. especially when you soutenu directly to the left side) Link to comment
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