"In the Russian School the angle formed by the legs in relation to the vertical axis of the body is measured in general terms. For example, 45 degrees for half height (Demi-Hauteur), 90 degrees for a horizontal position with the toe at hip height (à la Hauteur) and 135 degrees for any position considerably above hip height."
The French School refers to these angles as Positions Soulevées. But also uses the same terminology, à la Demi-Hauteur and à la Hauteur. This school also adds Piqué à Terre which is with the toes touching the ground.
See my post about en l'air for a great picture of these angles.
Showing posts with label En l'air. Show all posts
Showing posts with label En l'air. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Up, in, the air, put your leg up in the air!
I couldn't resist with the hip hop title. Sorry.
En l'air means in the air and is referring to "a movement [that] is to be made in the air". This is most typically used with Rond de Jambe en l'air. When performing moves en l'air a choreographer will usually use angles such as 45 degrees, 90 degrees, or more than 90 degrees. This is one of the many instances when math and ballet merge.
I am one of those teachers who happens to use A LOT of math terms in my classes. Enough so that my students once asked me if I was also a math teacher. (I'm not). This marriage of dance and math is not a new idea with the use of angles, geometry, symmetries, and counting, just to name a few. I was lucky enough to work with some guest choreographers at my college who have received Kennedy Center Honors with their research in combining math and dance. Dr. Karl Schaffer and Erik Stern wrote a book Math Dance where they describe many different ways that these two studies meet. For more information on their book, or some of their research, please see their website www.mathdance.org.
En l'air means in the air and is referring to "a movement [that] is to be made in the air". This is most typically used with Rond de Jambe en l'air. When performing moves en l'air a choreographer will usually use angles such as 45 degrees, 90 degrees, or more than 90 degrees. This is one of the many instances when math and ballet merge.
I am one of those teachers who happens to use A LOT of math terms in my classes. Enough so that my students once asked me if I was also a math teacher. (I'm not). This marriage of dance and math is not a new idea with the use of angles, geometry, symmetries, and counting, just to name a few. I was lucky enough to work with some guest choreographers at my college who have received Kennedy Center Honors with their research in combining math and dance. Dr. Karl Schaffer and Erik Stern wrote a book Math Dance where they describe many different ways that these two studies meet. For more information on their book, or some of their research, please see their website www.mathdance.org.
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