Learn ballet: How to do Échappé

Échappé is a fun little movement that involves sliding the feet apart, then pulling them back together.

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Start with the feet in third or fifth position.

Demi-plié both legs. Make sure the knees are going out sideways, not forward or to the floor.

Slide both feet evenly to the sides on the toes and straighten both legs.

Be sure that the toes and knees are not facing forward. They should continue to face out to the side.

Pull the legs back into the third or fifth position in plié with the other foot now devant.

Practice a few times in a row, making sure to change feet each time. It may be easy to start by holding onto the back of a chair.

Now try this pattern:

échappé, échappé, changement, changement

échappé, échappé, passé, passé

Happy dancing!

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com

Before and after dance class: Caring for your body

Dancers are not only artists; they are athletes.

I think many dancers, particularly younger dancers, forget that although they are making art through movement and music, they are, in fact, exercising and using a lot of energy. And, what started out as a fun after school activity/hobby has now developed into a life-long passion. In order to keep up, its SUPER important to take care of our instrument to dance - our bodies!

Dance is more than just attending classes, learning choreography, throwing on a tutu and performing on stage. It begins to take over our lives, including our health.

My dance teacher taught us very early that class started with preparation before we even stepped into the studio. Concerned that we were not coming to class with enough nutrition and energy, she read us an article about proper nutrition before exercising.

Not only is it important to take action before class, but after class as well! One of my biggest concerns are students who walk out into the cold after class! Eeek! Keep those muscles warm!

So today a present a list of dos and don'ts to care for your body before and after your dance class:

Before class...

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1. DO eat a snack! Athletes need fuel. Fruit, whole grains, protein, potassium and water are a great way to start class! It's best to eat at least 30 minutes before dancing.

DON'T eat processed food, anything fried, candy, big meals or soda. Also, DON'T not eat or you will have no energy!

2. DON'T stretch! It seems silly not to stretch before a dance class, but stretching cold muscles can actually lead to pulls and strains - not something  dancer needs. I usually do a little barre stretch at the end of the barre exercises and a more intense stretch and attempt splits at the end of class when muscles are completely warmed up.

3. DO prepare for dance class in advance. Sometimes its the little things. When I was younger, forgetting my ballet shoes would affect the way I performed in class and added stress. I always encourage dancers to get their gear together the night before so that they don't need to worry about before class.

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4. DO sleep! Your body needs rest in order to accomplish the next day's activities, especially physical ones. If you know you're coming to dance class, get some much needed rest so that you're not dragging yourself into class the next day.

After class...

1. DON'T walk out into the cold! This is especially important now that the seasons are changing. As good as the cool air feels after dancing for an hour, walking straight out into the cold air will actually cause your warm muscles to cramp.

DO put your warm clothes back on!

2. DO eat another snack! Your body uses energy, so now it's time to replenish it. 

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3. DO drink lots of water! Your body loses a lot of water while you are dancing. Be sure to give your body a drink!

DON'T touch that sports drink! It's full of sugar!

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4. DO stretch and cool-down. Stopping all movement is bad. Keep the blood flowing with a cool-down stretch.

5. DO change your clothes. This may seem strange, but changing out of your dirty, sweaty clothes can prevent acne and infections!

I hope everyone takes this heart to keep your bodies healthy and dancing for many more years!

Happy dancing!

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com

"Two ballerinas walk into a barre": The importance of barre work

Typically, all ballet classes start at the barre - a long rail used to provide support during warmups and exercises.

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My dance teacher always said that barre was the most important part of the class. She even told us that if we were more than twenty minutes late, not to bother coming in since we had already missed the most essential part of ballet class. If we were less than ten minutes late, she would make us do our plié and tendu exercises by ourselves to make sure we started class the right way. Our barre work determined our performance for the rest of class.


Barre exercises account for most of the ballet class. For my older students, I like to spend at least half the class at the barre. Most students would agree; it's the most boring part of class. Repeating the same steps over and over, then turning around to do them on the other side - it's not nearly as fun as leaping across the floor or learning new choreography. My younger students often start to complain after two exercises.

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However long, boring, and drill-like barre exercises are, a ballerina cannot live without them. These necessary exercises help to warm-up a dancer's muscles, gain speed and precision in footwork, increase strength and flexibility, and improve balance. Hard work at the barre reveals itself during center floor work and the rest of ballet class. The more effort put into barre work, the more a student will get out of class.

I believe that a students' performance at the barre sets the tone for the rest of class. I always ask my students to perform barre exercises as if they were performing on stage in front of audience. I notice a huge difference in poise and presentation.

Next time you're in ballet class, give it your all when you're at the barre instead of just going through the motions!

Happy dancing!

Miss Tess

tessc@balletpetite.com