brise and cabriole

[whetherwax]

I am trying to educate myself re ballet steps watching DVDs and reading Ward Warren. But i get confused and although I'm taking classes it is very slow. So, could someone , who has done them,tell me how to distinguish between brises and cabrioles.

[Mel Johnson]

A brisé ends with both feet on the floor, in a cabriole, the landing is always open, even when the step is fermée, when the motion concludes with a close into fifth. The original brisés were "broken" glissades.

[whetherwax]

Do brises go as high as cabrioles? Somehow when I watch the bluebird his steps dont go anywhere near the height of Bolle's Albrecht. Not too sure about the idea of broken glissade either but thanks , I'll work on it.

[Victoria Leigh]

No, brisés are not high like cabrioles can be. And, the Bluebird step is actually brisé volé. Brisé fermé lands on two feet (except in the Danish version). But brisé volé lands on one foot, with the other leg in a low position. It can be a cou de pied position or a dégagé position. Brisé also lands in a croisé position, and cabrioles, at least cabriole devant, is generally done in an effacé position. Cabriole derrière is done in both effacé and croisé positions.

[Clara 76]

Maybe think of the cabriole as having the underneath leg come up and beat to make the above leg go higher.

[Chinafish]

An example of brisé could be found in Coppelia -- Swanhilda does it the coda of the grand pas de deux I think? (Please correct me if I'm wrong!)

 

And it is also seen in the first variation of the Odalisque pas de trois in Le Corsaire.

 

(A search on a certain video sharing site might be helpful. I've just rewatched the video and found that after a series of brisés she actually does some cabrioles. How's that for an example! )

 

I've always been told to think of skimming the floor when doing them. Probably because my teacher loves to put really fast music with it!!

 

Fish

[ami1436]

An example of brisé could be found in Coppelia -- Swanhilda does it the coda of the grand pas de deux I think? (Please correct me if I'm wrong!)

 

Not in any version I know... but I mainly know the RB version. The coda is not just for the Grand pas, but for the entire cast. Swanhilda has hops en pointe, turning pas de chats with fouettes, and 'flying' pique turns in the RB version.

[Chinafish]

Hm.... I do vividly remember watching Miyako Yoshida at the Royal Ballet doing them as Coppelia though. I remember gasping because they were so beautifully done. Tight 5ths both en l'air and on landing. Will find out tonight when I have the full DVD!!

 

Will report back

 

Fish

[ami1436]

Fish, you're probably right - just maybe not in the coda? Hmmm. I'm thinking....

[Chinafish]

Yeah it probably wasn't in the coda.

 

I'll have fun tonight watching the DVD. Yipee!

[Chinafish]

Found it! It was in the dance that Swanhilda does with her 6 friends.

[whetherwax]

Thanks you lot. I will now go and watch Coppelia again. The idea that the bottom leg kicks the other up is useful too. I'm just getting to croise and efface, Ms Leigh. What i love about Ballet is that I'm never going to run out of new things to learn!!!