2. Ballet
Ballet is known as an elegant form of dancing. It originated in the
Italian Renaissance in the 15th century and it was further
developed in France, England and Russia.Ballet has its own
vocabulary, most of the words n French.
3. Basic Positions
First: ankles together toes out to the side
Second: The balls of both feet are turned out completely, with the
heels separated by the length of one foot. Similar to first
position, but the feet are spread apart.
Third: One foot is in front of the other with the of the front foot
touching the middle of the back foot
Fourth: The feet are placed the same as third position, but one
step apart.
Fifth: With both feet touching, the toes of each foot reaches the
heel of the other.
4. Pli
Pli is one of the basic steps that is first taught. It is a small
bend in the knees. The back has to be straight and the neck long.It
can be done from all the positions.
Pli is the first thing you learn, but takes years to perfect.
5. Barre
A barre is used for warm up exercises. The types of exercises that
are done on a barre are plis, battements, rond-des-jambes, tendus,
degages, etc. simple ballet steps to warm up the feet.
6. Leotards
Leotards are what dancers wear. That is required when you go to a
ballet class. You have to wear tights, a leotard and the hair is up
in a bun so that the hair is out of the face.
7. Ballet Shoes
These are pointe shoes. They allow you to go completely on the tip
of your toes.Professionals and dancers of many years usually wear
these.
These are soft ballet shoes. Usually beginners wear these types of
shoes. These allow dancers to go on the ball of their feet.
8. Physical effects of Ballet
Ballet, has physical effects. Like a musician has their
instruments, a dancer has their body. Some schools have weigh-ins
and the dancers have to keep their silhouette and they have to eat
right. This helps me because even though my ballet school doesnt
have weigh-ins, my eating habits have changed. I dont eat as much
junk food and I watch what I eat. Ballet is a good way for me to
exercise and stay in shape. Ballet has helped my flexibility and my
muscles. I have noticed that my legs have gotten more muscular. The
technique that is used: turn out is helpful because all the muscles
are working.
9. Physical (cont.)
Although all techniques are different, they each help dancers
overcome bad and unsafe habits, and help them to move efficiently
as possible. (Ambrosio 39).
Ballet helps with everyday habits. Since Ive been getting more into
ballet, I noticed that I dont do many of my old habits. My back is
straighter,my neck is longer, and I just naturally stand straight.
Ive been getting used to doing all of those because of ballet.
Along with eating healthier, my bad habits are almost broken. I
have seen a big improvement in my body.
10. Emotion in ballet
Dancing gives me a sense of purpose and freedom. When I dance that
is when I feel most alive; all of my problems just go away, as if
they never existed. With dance, I become something I could never be
without it; happy.
Their style of art was characterized by a number of different
elements, such as, love of nature, emotion, power, violence, and
tranquility. (Ambrosio 54).Emotion is a big part of ballet. The
dancers have to portray the emotions from the dance to the audience
without talking. They only have their bodies to communicate
with.
11. Flexibility
Flexibility has a big part of ballet. In order to do something like
the picture above, the dancer must have flexibility and strong
muscles. It takes a lot of muscles to jump in a split.Some people
may be flexible but may not have many leg muscles. Splits take a
while to perfect like this one. To do something like this, it takes
years. Its not the easiest thing to do.
12. Perfectionists
Looking at this picture really strikes something in me: Her line is
perfect from her arms to her legsits just beautiful. Something that
takes years to achieve.
Ballerinas are perfectionists. It always has to be right on the
spot. Never disappoint people, especially your audience. Fight to
keep a smile even though your feet are dyingyou look beautiful
anyway.
13. Ive been dancing ballet for as long as I can remember.
Ive always been amazed at how contradicting the art is. How could
something gentle (or appears to be) and soft be something that
requires to have such power, control and strength?
The longer that I got exposed to dancing, the more that I became
aware of that. Its not as soft and flowing that some people think
to be. Every fiber and muscle in your body, literally from head to
toe,has to be tense and controlled. You have to be aware of every
single movement you make from the placement of the fingers to the
flick of the head.
14. Ballet my first year
15. Ballet my first and second year
16. Ballet 5th and 6th year
17. Ballet as A Whole
Ballet helps everyone work as a whole because its not only one
person in the class. You have to make sure that when you are
dancing, you dont hit anyone and no one hits you. Everyone has to
work together to get the emotion as a whole and portray the
dance.
18. Ballet Dance June 20,2010
19. Dance
I am thankful for dance; it's a way of expressing yourself through
your body. Thank God for giving us hands and legs right? You can
tell the world a story jut through some fluid or sharp motions. The
ability of such a n art is something many take for granted. Enjoy
it while you still can. When you are ecstatic beyond words, feeling
like punching someone in the face, just want to let go, or just
want to burn some calories. Just dance.