different teachers's styles

[OperaDeParis]

I was just wondering if somebody could help me out.

 

We have a certain teacher once a week that teaches very vaganova. She wants your arms to be perfectly perpendicular to your body in second and she wants your first position to be at the level of your sternum. None of my other teacheres ask us to do this. I've even been getting corrections about my arms in second being too far back. I've been working really hard in correctiong that but whenever I am in her classes she puts my arms in the position where all of my other teachers were trying to get me out of. I'm just not really sure what to do. Because I feel that the way I use my arms right now works for me and I find it prettier than what she is showing.I feel like the lower arms are more graceful:) For example I can balance in passe without my arms at my sternum but she still tells me to put my arms higher than they are now. I'm afraid that if I start doing what she wants i'm going to "lose" what I was doing before. This teacher told us that she wanted her style "engrained" in us. One of my other teachers told us she did not want us to use the high arms in her class.

 

Thanks for any suggestions:)

OperaDeParis

[Mel Johnson]

We'll have to wait for vrsfanatic to comment on the Vaganovaness of the positions, but in the meantime, you only have this class once a week. Good luck to any teacher trying to "ingrain" technical features in students at that rate. Do what she wants in her classes, then do what the other teachers want in their classes.

[vrsfanatic]

We have a certain teacher once a week that teaches very vaganova. She wants your arms to be perfectly perpendicular to your body in second and she wants your first position to be at the level of your sternum...

 

This sounds a bit straight and high for Vaganova. You might try speaking with your teachers regarding your concerns. Teachers generally do like to know when there are conflicts in training. They may not be aware of the differing ideas, but they do need to know. You are young to take on such a challenge, particularly since the discussion is concerning a class you have once a week. For the long term however, it will serve you in a good way if you can get answers.

 

Just to put us all on the same page, how would you describe where your sternum is?

[OperaDeParis]

Thank you Mr. Mel and vrsfanatic.

 

Well, I considered my sternum to be the indentation on the vertical line going through your body and above your ribs. Now that I think about it she told us she wanted our arms in first to be the height were they would be parallel to the ground. Thank you for your advice. Ill try to talk to one of my teachers about it:)

[vrsfanatic]

The fingers and forearm are parallel to the ground in rounded small 1st position, however that does not describe the height. The height is not an arbitrary height. Generally the index finger is level with the diaphram and the pinky is just above the belly button.

 

Yes, please do speak with your teachers. I hope this is resolved and you are able to feel less torn.