Écarté

[Sweet-Pea]

Hey I have a question about my ecartes. When I bring my leg through retire, and try to pull it up farther before I extend it, it feels blocked. I know my hips are flexible enough to get up to my shoulder before I open my lower leg, but it doesn't seem to work when I try to do it. Any help?? It feels kinda like a tendon is in the way, could that be it? Thanks!

[Victoria Leigh]

How is your à la seconde? An écarté position, whether devant or derrière, is an à la seconde facing on diagonal. It is possible that your leg is too far back, not in your control zone, and your hip is stopping it from going up. Try moving it very slightly forward of directly side.

[Sweet-Pea]

It's ok. My toe's just under the line of my shoulder I think. I know when I try to get that real flat turn out my supporting foot wants to roll in real bad, and I know that's not good. I'll try moving it forward a little, but I'm afraid of using the top of my quads too much. I also need to straighten my knees more, maybe that's contributing to the problem?

[vrsfanatic]

Sweet-Pea are you inclining under your armpit away from the working leg enough or are you just facing a corner and thinking you are in ecarte? Often students/dancers are "tricking" themsleves into believing they are in ecarte just because they are facing a corner with the leg to the side. Ecarte is a pose of dance which means it has a mechnic, a form and an expression of movement, even when it seems you are not moving. Make sure you are not inclining your working shoulder in the direction of the working leg.

[Sweet-Pea]

I think that's it! I worry too much about my working side shoulder going up, and I think that throws everything off. Thanks so much!