Eighth workshop and holiday rituals

So… its officially holiday season! What have you all been busy with?

I had a relaxing four day weekend cooking at home… making chicken soup, meatballs, steamed pork ribs, wonton, and matcha swiss rolls! Going back to cooking is surprisingly satisfying, since everything you cook is exactly what you want to eat, and you just get very happy after a big meal you made yourself. It’s a very different feeling from having to go with whatever is on the menu at a restaurant or whatever is available at the Citarella hot bar (which is what I’ve been eating for many months). Cooking makes you feel like you are actually taking care of yourself!

Unfortunately, cooking had never been my priority over the past few months, as I was always so crazed about getting so many things done - learn new things, go to dance classes, go to the gym, go to museums, meet friends, read books…that I rarely have time to slow down and actually relax. I kind of overburdened myself a little bit, trying to accomplish everything. The holiday season is a good time to slow down, and have the peace of mind to enjoy not doing anything. You know, living in a fast-paced and career-oriented city such as New York can make you lose sight of such a little but important thing , which is that sometimes, doing nothing is ok!

A poem from a socks advertisement on the subway.

Today is also our eighth workshop ( I didnt get to post about our seventh workshop and class was canceled on Monday due to a snow storm). So I will write everything I learned in the two workshops in below. After a week and a half’s break from ballet, it is definitely awesome to be back to class, listening to live piano while stretching on the floor and also learn to connect with your body and emotions through moving and dancing (:

Tendu to the side

Ballet is pretty much most about stretching yourself and expanding yourself like a growing tree. So last time I talked about lifting the muscle right outside your rib cage when tendu to the side, the teacher talked about lifting yourself up via upper inner thigh, which prevents your hip from sliding sideways.

Tendu a derriere

Probably the most difficult tendu, because your tend to over bend yourself and your ribe cage is no longer aligned to your pelvis. Things, hip, abdominal muscles need to all strength to prevent your hip from going back and belly going forward. You need to especially strengthen your hip, and use your glute muscle to lift yourself up when you come back to first position from a tendu a derriere. However, sometimes you grip too much and shorten yourself. You also need to think the floor is penetrable and is very muddy, and you can actually go down and up with your leg stretching into the floor and push it down.

Meanwhile, when you tendu to the back, only your big and second toes are on the floor while pressing your foot and transitioning into bending.

Here is a good video to watch:

Port de bras

When arm raises above your head, it is not directly above your head, it is slightly to the front.

Meanwhile, when you move your arms horizontally, you need to actively think your shoulders are moved to the back, while engaging your upper arm muscle to twist to the floor. Your lower arm muscle should meanwhile twist to the ceiling, and your hand should twist to the floor with your thumb pressed toward your fourth finger. Such a seemingly effortless posture is actually a lot of muscle twists! No wonder the teacher says, if you feel comfortable doing your moves, you are probably doing it wrong. LOL!

Releve

I usually releve to the fourth toe, which creates unwanted tension. We don’t want that! Weight should always be put on the second toe. The teacher said it is easier to releve to the center of the circle that is my port de bras, so that I can always shift my weight to the front when releve. It is hard and unnatural, but we will get there!

Jete

The key to jete is to remember that the release to the air should be more or less triggered by the foot, so it is more subtle and lower than a big free swinging of leg to the air. The above is a very elegant and well-taught video. Seems hard!

Et voila! That’s it for today!