beating on jumps

[Guest dancing frog]

I'm having a little trouble understanding how exactly you put the beat in jumps, like royales and entrechats. What do you beat?

 

I hope this makes sense, I've just come home from the first class of the year and I need to crash soon. It was really hot and pretty hard.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

d_frog:cool:

[Mel Johnson]

You don't beat one leg OR the other. Both legs beat equally. Most people make that mistake in adding beats.

[Victoria Leigh]

d_frog, it's actually the calf muscles that beat Practice it by lying on the floor on your back and put your legs up in the air. Pointe your feet and open your legs, cross and beat, open again, and then close. You can also do this really well in a swimming pool! In order for the beat to be visible, the legs must open first, then beat, then open again before they close to the plié.

[Hjete]

Just a beat question - I've done entrechats quatres, royales, and other beats like jeté battu, assemblé battu, and brisés, but I was wondering where entrechat six beat (and where do they close?) I've been taking a few (youth) company classes lately, and the teacher asked for entrechat six, but I haven't been taught that. (Most of the company members are in a higher level.) Thanks in advance.

[Mel Johnson]

Entrechat six starts with, let's say, the right foot in front in 5th position then beats open-close, open-close, open-close finishing in 5th position with the left foot in front. See, six movements! Just like an entrechat quatre, except one more change.

[Hjete]

Oh, now I get it! I never quite understood the numbering system for entrechats before. Thank you.

[Guest dancing frog]

Thank you Ms. Leigh and Major Johnson!

I will definetly try that exercise out.

 

d_frog:cool:

[Guest ballettamu]

ok I have a question. I was always told that the beating coems frmo the upper inner thighs during petite allegro. Well one of the dancers in my college company got injured and I replaced her in our proffessors bournville ballet piece. She told me that the beating occurs in the calf of the leg. I have pretty hyper extended legs and trying to keep them not straight enough to beat the calves is really hard. Was my first dance teacher jsut wrong or are there two different styles?

[Mel Johnson]

I think it's just a matter of different forms of expression. Beats have to originate all the way up into the hip. The object is to get the legs visibly to cross, and not just be clicking heels in the air. Try doing a beat with only the calves. It can't be done!