twinklingdance1990 Posted August 6, 2008 Report Share Posted August 6, 2008 i went to my first ballet class in nyc today and a teacher kindly pointed out to me that despite my 180 degree turnout i have a severe problem with my plie at the barre - that my feet is not always in full contact with the ground and i do not keep a 'squared hip' in my fourth position plie. what should i do to improve this? i can do all the splits perfectly but i am still having problems with the ballet turn out. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 6, 2008 Administrators Report Share Posted August 6, 2008 Are you talking about demi plié in 4th position, or grand plié? Link to comment
twinklingdance1990 Posted August 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 oh sorry i didnt make myself clear. its the grande plie i'm talking about! Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 7, 2008 Administrators Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Is the teacher giving you an "open 4th", where the heels do not lift and it's really just a deep demi plié, or is it a crossed 4th? In the crossed 4th the heels do leave the ground, just as they do in 1st and 5th. The hips should remain square, if you have to do a grand in 4th, which I would prefer no one had to do. I do not use or teach them because I feel that they are unnecessary and potentially dangerous to the knees. So few people can do them really correctly, and, I can find no logical purpose for doing them in the first place. However, that is just my opinion. There are many other teachers who feel the same way, but there are also many who cling to the tradition and continue to do them. I would say not to worry about whether you can do them perfectly or not, just be sure that you are doing them as safely as possible, and, if they hurt in any way, especially the knees, just don't do them. Link to comment
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