Juliet is Back

It was a nice surprise this morning when Juliet was warming up as we have not had her for the past 3 weeks. She has been rehearsing for the Ballet Lorent tour so other teachers have been stepping in to cover (Rose and Mona). I really have enjoyed Juliet’s classes in second year and I achieved quite high marks too. This has made me think I am going to try to achieve higher marks this year!

For the past week or so my right ankle/foot has been playing up but it has not caused me as much hassel as it has done this morning. I struggled walking to dance but I did not want to sit out on the first of Juliet’s classes so I just grinned and bared it.  I felt as if I did the class to the best as I could, however with foot exercises and rises I could not perform these without being in a pain. This did put a bit of a ‘downer’ on the class because I was in a different frame of mind.

Today we concentrated on Cunningham technique. I did notice today a lot of things I could improve on. I do not know if that is because I was in different frame of mind and was not on my game but more things stood out to me than normal! We began with an exercise focusing on upper back curves. Instead of rebounding back up, I need to deepen my curve each time with the small pulses. Also when performing a high release I need to elongate my neck and not ‘crunch’ and shorten it at the back. I think I need to pay attention to my arms as much as I do my legs. My second position began to get sloppier and sloppier as the exercise continue. I need to use my back to keep my arms in a strong second. Whilst performing foot exercises I tend to go into a blur as I am concentrating so much on what my feet and legs are doing. I need to have focus and performance as well even though it is just in the studio.

I don’t think my brain was working today! When we began to travel and use the space more I felt was not there, especially the triplet exercise! I think I need to practice this exercise for next week!

Juliet gave the class some very good advice: always have the right frame of mind. Say to yourself “I can do this exercise”. This will sets you up for good performance even if get the movement wrong.

This week I will take it easy on my foot so I don’t strain it even further. Lets hope my ankle will not get worse!

Rebekah’s Friday Class Week 3

So today I have the Friday feeling! It has been a long tiring week as I have worked particularly hard.

We had Rebekah again today, so I could really put into practice what I found I struggled with in Wednesday’s class as it still was fresh in my mind. Firstly I really felt like I was always moving through the movement when performing centre exercises and travelling phrases. I was also particularly focusing on the use on my back as the back is very important in Cunningham technique and Graham technique. I feel my strength and flexibility in my back has increased significantly, already! I am pretty pleased about that. However, when performing spirals, I need to go to my maximum in order to challenge myself. I have been paying attention to upper back curves, middle back curves and high releases. These positions are acutely used both in Graham and Cunningham techniques.

When practicing floor exercises, I need to remember to always come back to neutral position on my sit bones. This will ensure that I am not leaning and will work the correct muscles. Additionally the brushes exercise requires me to push my energy as much as I can when ‘brushing’ the floor, this will allow me to reach past my feet and increase the stretch.

I really do feel my general flexibility has improved which was and still is one of my targets for the year. I need to relax my shoulders, tensing my shoulders is such a bad habit!

Rebekah Covers Class

Rebekah covered Liz’s class today so we were focussing on Cunningham and Graham techniques instead of the Bartenieff fundamentals. Rebekah switched between the two techniques throughout class. I really enjoy Rebakah’s classes so I was already looking forward to this class yesterday! I felt alert and focussed which is required for both techniques as they are very technical and challenging.

Today I was particularly focusing on fluidity. Even though there are positions such as fifth, tilts and curves within both techniques but instead of hitting each position, (position, hold, position, hold) move continuously through them without stopping. This creates a nicer quality. It also feels more pleasant to dance. Cunningham technique explores the way the back works either in opposition to the legs or in unison with them. I feel I need to work on this. Cunningham technique really challenges my ability to change direction within the body and in space.

Ballet: starting to really move

So this morning I had my weekly ballet class with Shaun. Each class I am starting to enjoy even more, I think this is because I am getting better technically and moving more with confidence. Also I really enjoy the way Shaun teaches us, she pushes the class technically but makes it incredibly enjoyable!

I was feeling good about today even before class and was raring to go. I am definitely starting to feel more confident with ballet. I have previously practiced ballet but it has never been my strongest style. I am advancing technically which then leaves me to enjoy moving in the space as I do not have to concentrate so much on technique but on performance. I think performance is a very important part of technique as it shows confidence and self belief. As it says in Claid's 'Yes? No! Maybe..seductive ambiguity in dance', the audience have a "desire to watch performers who are passionately dynamic and vitally energized."

From previous classes I was particularly seeking to make progress with my ront de jambes, predominately focusing maintaining contact with the floor remembering to move my leg freely and smoothly whilst retaining my turn out. I asked a fellow student to film my ront de jambes so I can physically see what I am doing. I felt like this helped a great deal as I can identify my strengths and weaknesses. I will be able to apply this next week. The video shoes that I still need to apply more pressure through my feet and make sure I always go through first position. Also, I need to make sure my leg goes the longest way round and does not cut corners.

I also am seeking to make progress with my arabesques. I have noticed I step under myself when performing arabesques. I need to go to my pointed foot and further. I also need to be more ‘on’ my supporting leg to give a stable foundation. This will enable me to hold my other leg higher. This also applies to pirouettes. Being ‘on’ the supporting leg will allow me to pirouette cleaner.

Focus and performance has been a primary aspect within class throughout the weeks. I have started to choreograph focus within my solo in the Advanced Choreography module. I feel already that there is starting to be a performance emerging.

Claid, E. Yes? No! Maybe...seductive ambiguity in dance. Routledge; New edition edition (2006)

The Mother of Modern Dance

So it is the last day of the 2^nd week, already! And still a lot of people are feeling the strains for not dancing for a while, sore muscles, sore feet and exhaustion.

Today’s class was extremely energetic and dynamic, and, not to forget, enjoyable! We were practising Martha Graham’s, the mother of modern dance, technique. Graham's,("the American Dancer, teacher and choreographer" and who "revolutionized the world of modern dance" Freedman 1998) technique is a deviation from classical ballet. Graham’s use of specific body movements such as the contraction, release, and spiral has had profound influence on the development in the world of dance.

Graham believed that breath was extremely important when moving and therefore is a very vital part of her technique. However, personally I still find it hard to relax and breathe whilst moving. This then has a snowball affect and results in tense muscles. An example of breath is the Graham contraction:a  contraction begins from the pelvis and travels up the spine, up to the neck and head, which remain in line with the spine. Each contraction is accompanied with an exhalation of breath. I can apply this exhalation when performing simple centre work but when moving through contractions in longer sequences which requires concentration on various things like quality of movement, I tend to forget about breath. I need to pay particular attention to my breath from now on. Breath is vital in life, let alone in dance.  

In class we performed many high releases. I have notice I need to adjust my rib cage so it maintains alignment over my hips with no break in the lower back. My head still needs to remain in line with the spine.

I asked myself whilst in class; how can I be even more present when I am dancing? I will focus on performance and presence throughout the whole module.

Today I really wanted to have a strong sense of presence when moving throughout the space. In order to achieve this I focused my attention on my body’s lines such as when performing tilts making my arms strong and existence. I also made sure I was using my focus. I felt as if I gave it a good go! I enjoy moving in the way Martha Graham intended us to and I am looking forward to class next week!

de Mille, Agnes. Martha. New York: Random House, 1991

Graham, Martha. Blood Memory. New York: Doubleday, 1991.
Freedman. R Martha Graham: A Dancer's Life, 1998

Making Connections

Today’s class was focussing on the Bartenieff fundamentals which is a branch of the integrated movement studies. Liz, our class tutor, has previously taken part in one of Peggy Hackney’s workshop which concentrated on these fundamentals. The sequence of the fundamentals follows this order:

• Breath
• Core distal connectivity
• Head- tail connectivity
• Upper and lower connectivity
• Body-half connectivity
• Cross-lateral connectivity

Fundamentals of learning include developmental movement patterns (including breathing) as a foundation for social, physical, and psychological growth and development, and an exploration of all the anatomical systems (circulatory, organs, etc.).

In last week’s lesson, the class was focused on breath and how breath connects the body and movement. In today’s class we layered upon this idea and concentrated on core-distal connectivity. This idea focuses more on the centre initiating movement, however still being aware of breath in this process.

I felt really grounded and relaxed today. I think this was due to the exercises the class began with. The exercises allowed us to be conscious of our centres and the limbs that expand from the centre: legs, arms, head and tail.

This consciousness of central initiation allowed me to move in a different way today. I was at great ease moving and I was able to shift my weight throughout the space. I felt like my limbs had fluidity to them, as if they rippled as a continuation from my centre. I really enjoyed the relaxed and easy sense of movement.

I was definitely still aware of my centre this afternoon as Nicola and I rehearsed for our solos. Nicola asked me to improvise and I honestly felt the movement coming from my centre and my limbs just following. I created new movement for Nicola to direct and use for her solo work.

www.danceeducation.org: Somatic Studies and Dance, The International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Accessed 29 September

Hackney. P (1998) Making Connections: Total Body Integration Through Bartenieff Fundamentals

Olsen, A. (2002) Body & Earth: an experiential guide.

Rose's Class: Week 2

Just a quick blog today!

It was my first day back of week two and I am already feeling the strains of not dancing for a while. I have very sore muscles! However it is a good sore feeling as I know I have been working hard! I also feel mentally tired from not being used to a daily dancing routine. This I feel, has affected my performance today in class.

I was tense throughout my body and very uneasy, I am not sure if that was because I was mentally tired or if that’s just the way my body felt like moving today. This had a knock on affect and I was unable to pick material up as quickly as I normally do! This is frustrating at that is one of my strengths!

It feels great being back in the studio, but I think I may need a few more days to adjust to my busy dance life again.