7 Highly Effective Habits In Ballet Training
By Dianne M. Buxton

A key area of dancing for females is pointe work, and a key
area for males is jumping. In early training, regardless of age,
there are 7 highly effective habits that will contribute to
excellence in both these areas. This analysis can apply to other
areas of dance in the same way also, I'm choosing this one for
the sake of discussion.

***First, education as to specific physical attributes and
shortcomings. Every dancer would like to have long and stretchy
Achilles tendons, and flexible ankles. These 2 advantages
provide the biggest movement between the bottom of a demi-plie
and the take-off point of a releve or jump. One of the dancers
in my class at the National Ballet School of Canada had a very
shallow demi-plie. Yet, she had very flexible ankles and a high
arch, and this gave her the thrust to jump very high.

***Second, technical education . Regardless of physical
advantages, understanding of the ideal movements and resulting
positions can be obtained from an educated teacher, books, and
the many DVD's available to all through internet stores. There
is no restriction on our access to information.

***Third, a teacher who not only has decent credentials, but
who has the required habit of demanding correctness in class.
This is a variable, and inexperienced teachers do not realize
how often they are going to repeat the same old correction over
the years of training, to the same students.... in a million
different imaginative ways, and with appreciation for your own
uniqueness too.

***Fourth, knowing that there is cross-training that will help
you compensate for your physical shortcomings. If you are less
flexible than you would like to be, there is Pilates, massage,
or Yoga. If you are flexible but weak in some areas, Pilates,
and weight training will help.

***Fifth, knowing where more details count - if your habit is
curiosity, that's a huge asset. If it's not, adopt it. Studying
anatomy and kinesiology is a plus. (I know you already have
homework or a job, or family obligations, but hey, if you are
serious about dance, all this is just more fun, right?)

***Sixth, coordinating your knowledge of your physiology, and
how you might be compensating detrimentally to get the deepest
demi-plie and best take-off that you can, and instead compensate
more with cross-training and less with bad habits. It's only a
life-long process, don't get discouraged.

***Seven, a truly habitual appreciation of your own uniqueness,
talents, intelligence, and determination. There will always be
an invitation to doubt yourself, envy others' real or imagined
superiority, and waste time thinking negative thoughts.

Proper rest and good nutrition have a lot to do with #7. Body
and brain fatigue, and nutritional deficiencies are directly
related to mood. Please be curious and get the information you
need.

These 7 highly effective habits are just the tip of the
icebergs, but they are a great guide to go with until you
develop your own uniqueness in training priorities.

About the Author: Dianne M. Buxton is a graduate of the
National Ballet School of Canada. She continued dance training
at The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and Toronto
Dance Theatre. She taught at, and choreographed for The National
Ballet School, York University, and George Brown College, in
Canada, and taught at Harvard University in the U.S.
http://www.theballetstore.com recommends The Ballet Bible - a
concise package of textual and visual education for a dance
student.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=163444&ca=Recreation