Arizona Ballet Theatre

New viewers may enjoy Miss Cecily's Learn To Turn Class Page...

All Ballet Wednesday has arrived. Remember that Learn-To-Turn, at 4:30, today, is a great make-up class for brave dancers of any age. Anyone can Learn-To-Turn by devoting as much time as possible to practicing; I recommend an obsessive attitude towards Pirouettes, or "turns", which can (in turn) be extrapolated to any category of movement in the ballet vocabulary. (Yes! A Pun!)

The rules in the ballet vocabulary about turning are very, very clear. One can get a fundamental understanding of the available options in a very short time. Mastering the basics, is another challenge entirely, and, as I mentioned above, requires devotion over time, consistently, and with resolve tempered by patience.

Here it is in a nutshell...

There are two directions - right and left. One may - turn to the right standing on the right leg, "en dedans." OR .... turn to the right standing on the left leg, "en dehors." The former is "en dedans," which means turning toward the supporting leg, AKA, to the inside. The latter - "en dehors" means turning away from the supporting leg, AKA, to the outside.

There are not too many choices... turn to the left or turn to the right. That's the direction of the turn. Next, you decide upon which leg to stand... again only two choices... After that, you decide on the position from which you will start, and the position upon which you will land.

OR one may turn to the left, standing on the left leg...OR...one may turn to the left standing on the right leg.

Two legs, two directions, two positions. Keep It Simple.

We begin in demi-plié and end in demi plié; One must turn on a straight supporting leg. Arms in en avant, a.k.a., The Gateway. The Working Leg, a.k.a. The Gesture Leg, could be in any of a hundred positions. Let us begin with the most common position for turns - Passe Retiré Front. Pinky toe of Gesture Foot literally touching beneath the standing knee with the heel rotated forward (turning out!) away from the leg. Hold your position while you turn. Snap.

Snap your head - AKA Spotting - or snap your shoulders which will engage the head - think of an owl....and you have almost all the pieces.

Now land in a clean position, in the beginning with both feet firmly landing on the ground. Hold.

Got it? Just kidding. Words are nice, and they help. But there is no substitute for practice, practice, practice under the watchful, demanding eye of your ballet teacher, C'est Moi.

FYI The Learn-to-Turn class starts promptly at 4:30. It is only an hour long, and I want an hour of your focus.

Finally, make sure that your hair is secured in the tightest, most streamlined, ballet bun possible. I must admit to being a bit surprised that my regular turning students aren't more prepared with enough hair accessories to create a secure bun. While the incorrect movement of one's arms can sabotage turns the most effectively, having sloppy, flying wet hair which may flick the eyeball rather painfully is a close second to undermining what a dancer is trying to accomplish. Don't shoot yourself in the foot, so to speak.

I am excited about what we are learning in ballet and absolutely love All Ballet Wednesdays! This is a big help in preparing for ABT's Spring Performances at the world class Stevie Eller Dance Theatre.

To Remind You To Think Owl, here is an Owl Masque for a Garden Ballet Scene
(It's Really Twin Sunlit Cactus Blossoms in My Garden)

Please do your best to do "good" out there. Positive people are more precious than gold. Be a positive force in the world:)

See you with dancing spirits ready to soar!