My lifeless arms :(

[Guest Twinkletoes98]

I've been told by several instructors (not to mention myself) that my arms are holding me back. I'm having trouble placing them in an arebesque. They just sort of hang there, not gracefully, and I can't seem to fix them. My instructors have helped me, but i have trouble finding that position again. Is there anythingI can do to help my lifeless arms?

[Mel Johnson]

Hi, twink (that's what they used to call me in the Air Force), and welcome to the Young Dancers' forums on Ballet Talk here at Ballet Alert! Online!

 

It's hard to say without getting a look at the problem, but offhand, the most common problem with arms is sort of the "willow-tree" effect, a sort of drippy-droopiness that stems from a lack of energy through the line of the entire body, whether it be in arabesque, or any other position. The arms must be supported from underneath, not merely placed in a position and held there. There is a practically uninterrupted flow of energy ("life") which emanates from your solar plexus area and radiates out in all directions, through your legs, your head, and your arms, and even some places where your body is not!!!:eek:

 

Doubtless, you can already feel this flow of energy in the legs and head, now all we have to do is get it flowing down your arms and out the ends of your fingertips! Do restrain it a bit, so that the arms do not become straight and rigid, for that is fighting entirely the opposite problem - too much strain on the arms. Also, don't let the shoulders ride up in an attempt to send the message down the arms.

[Guest Twinkletoes98]

Wow! I was practicing my arabesques today, thinking about what you said, and trying to distribute energy throughout my entire body, arms included. What a difference it has made! Granted, working only on arabesques, at my pace, allowed me to make it my only focus, but I now know what you mean, and I feel confident in improving them in my next class. Thanks for your help!

[Mel Johnson]

Keep it working, Kristen! You're on the right track now, I think, and the idea of radiance and opposition to strain will come in handy in all sorts of places! You'll find out where they are, now that you know about it!;)