Ms. Reeves

March 31, 2011

As you have noticed, we are working on coordinating our head and arms. I realize that this can be a frustrating time for you, but don't give up! Most of you were able to see results pretty quickly in class. Think through this some over the break and it will return with you when you return or you may be lost when you return, as if you have to start completely over and retrain your body and brain.

"Head to the front foot"! "Head to the front foot"! etc.

Most of your turns are progressing by preparing your arms and using your plie with the head. Turning involves the entire body. It takes practice just like any other dance movement, style, or technique.

A few remeinders:

  * Registration forms are due ASAP to your first period teacher.

 * Spiritwear: last order is April 12, money and forms.

  * Seniors check the board for Senior opportunities the week we return from break.

  * Changing of the chairs is Friday, April 15 and so is Prom.

Ms. D

March 30, 2011

Soreness: some important facts.

  Keep moving, remember that your soreness is coming from a progress but the progress comes from an acid build up in the muscles. The more water and gentle movement that you engage in the sooner your muscles will heal and you can move pain free until you start all over again. SO with Spring Break next week, stretch, strengthen and stay active. I know many studios will be closed but many will be open. Go take a class. See how you do in other classes. This is where your real progress comes through. You can see how you are doing when you get out of your comfort zone.

Dream about croise, en face, efface, and ecarte.  The first four of nine of our body positions. After break, we will continue with our next two positions.

Ms. D

March 29, 2012

Hope you enjoyed the Russian National Ballet last night. One can only learn from everything that you see. See as much as you can!

I hope the classes that had ballet today were able to get some helpful information that they can use over the break..please stay in shape or you will be asking for pain when we return: stretching, cardio, Pilates, etc. You can even give yourself a ballet class..esp. a barre!

What two feet  positions are used in the nine body positions? As you know we are continuing our training on the efface and ecarte body positions. Do you have a better understanding?

Ms.D 

March 29, 2011

"RAGTIME" was great!  I hope you got to see it and if you were in it, you should be proud!

Atlanta Ballet was awesome as well. Glad some of you got to see them too.

Tonight is the Russian National Ballet! See you there! It is great to see what you have been studying in class on a professional company!

Please get your forms (registration) forms back asap to your first period teacher.

We are continuing with our body positions this week and exploring the similarities and differences between ecarte and a la seconde.

Ms. D

March 25, 2011

Lots to see and support this wekend. Don't forget to see "Ragtime" with you fellow classmates at school at the Strand on the square in Marietta.

Atlanta Ballet is performing all weekend at the Cobb Energy Center. They also have a question and answer session after each performance. Great chance to ask about choreography...since you have been studying this.

Monday night: Russian National Ballet at the Fox Theatre at 8:00. I still have free tickets! Ask me for them!

One more week before Spring Break, so stay focused! There is still a lot of learning that has to happen  before the school year ends. Don't get caught up in the Senioritis! Don't forget any word that has itis in it means an inflammation!

Have a good weekend and take a second to reflect on what you learned or did not learn this past week so you will be ready for next week!

Ms. D

March 24, 2011

Efface and ecarte, our two new body positions that can be added to our first two body positionss. Today's classes demonstrated a better understanding of these positions. With your tests returned, I think you are able to understand the postions a little bit better now that you can explore them in greater depth.

As were are winding down this six weeks, it only leaves one more six weeks to finish this school year. Are you keeping your options open or closing your doors by not doing your best. I know many of you are hoping to move up to another class. The academic side to dance is important because we expect more and more in the higher levels. You may be a great dancer but the academic side is not too good. If you put you in the higher level, you may struggle and that would not have been worth putting you in the higher level if you have not learned the material from this year. How much do you want to progress?

Ms. D

 

March 23, 2011

As testing continues, we continue to learn how different parts of the brain work. For third period, it certainly look you a lot longer to get into the dance mode  today and then class was over. We were able to do a lot today but not as much as usual. We will build on all of our knowledge tomorrow on what we learned today. Yes, you may feel like it is a little slower but at some point you need to be honest with yourself and see if you really are correcting your mistakes or simply thinking you are correcting your mistakes. In dance, we see the difference in your training. Make sure we see that you are progressing!

Continuing on with our old body posiitons: croise and en face and to out new positions: efface and ecarte.

Ms. D

March 22, 2011

After receiving your graded tests today, hopefully you can now see where your knowledge is lacking and we can fix the situation as soon as possible. As I have mentioned, we are building our foundation to be stronger and stronger and what we are learning is EXTREMELY important.  

As we explore the body positions, I hope these first few positions become more clear. Keep your test and refer back to them often. I guarantee you will see them again and hear them as long as you dance!

Juniors that are testing this week, we will catch you up. We hope you are doing well on all the graduation testing that you are taking!

Ms. D

March 21, 2011

We are starting the next two body positions by comparing and contrasting from the original two body positions: croise and en face. The two we will begin studying are efface and ecarte. Remember that there are  only nine of them. Each one is very important to a successful dancer. The line you create with your body shows the audience your knowledge and training. It also determines if an audience will like your dancing because you will look good while dancing.

As you receive your test from last week, if you still have questions or are still confused...see me now!

This is extremely important because we are building on your prior knowledge.

Good dancing today!

Ms. D

March 18, 2011

After reviewing your results of the first two body positions, many of you are good at copying the positions with your body. That is great in that a dancer needs to be able to pick up choreography by seeing someone demonstrate it. As you become more professional, many choreographers will simply call out the terms and that is where many of you will be lost.

You only had the first two body positons to learn. There are a total of nine. You MUST memorize them. We use them in every way you can imagine!

Good luck next week to the Juniors as they start their Georgia High School Graduation Testing!

Have a good, restful weekend!

Ms. D