Whether I am sitting down watching my favorite television show or doing exercises in ballet class, I am constantly reminded of my body alignment and placement. I even find myself noticing how other people around me (pedestrians or dancers) hold themselves in everyday situations.
I am told by dance teachers each year that it takes years and years to find correct alignment. After dancing for sixteen years, I still am no where near perfect alignment. However, I feel that at Ohio State teachers have guided me to internalize the idea of alignment in a way that I have achieved it at one point (even for a split second) as a member of the dance department. I know what is right and what is wrong not only visually but also physically. I am also aware of the effects correct body placement has on holding positions or reaching a point of balance.
What really got my mind on track to becoming more aware of correct body placement is discovering my hyper extension in my knees. Courtney Harris was the first to ever explain to me that my knees were not built like everyone else. As soon as I discovered the issue it took me the rest of the quarter to find a way to counteract that hyper extension. I had to lift out of my pelvis and rotate my inner thigh in order to not buckle my knees.
I feel that the idea finally clicked in my mind. I had to use my rotate muscles, my pelvis lift, and my inner thighs all at once to work the way I am supposed to. Now that I am aware of this, I find myself being able to concentrate in ballet class on these alignment realizations. I need to mentally prepare myself in every exercise or I will resort to old habits. The idea of "holding on" is one that resonates with me. As soon as I disengage my mind and body, all hope is lost.
I am excited that I know how to work properly to an extent! I want to work on reinforcing these new positive habits of body alignment in ballet from now on!
Aimee Heslop
I totally understand the looking at other people and noticing their alignment! I constantly want to just walk up to people and tell them to roll their shoulders back and to not slouch. I also understand the hyper extended knees. My legs muscles have been overdeveloped in the wrong way for so many years that it is really hard to think about lifting from my inner thighs but because of the amazing teachers we've had I can also agree with the fact that I finally feel when I am not using them and can feel the difference when I am not using them and when I am. Even if I still find myself in my old/ bad habits from time to time!
ReplyDeleteI agree Aimee! I also have hyperextention in my knees which takes a little extra work to be in the correct placement . I find that the concepts that Courtney gave us and that Jessica is giving us are very helpful. Without that information I would be down a horribly painful path. Though I'm still working on it and sometimes really struggle with knowing when my leg is straight I'm really grateful to have such a great place to work through our little kinks and quirks.
ReplyDeleteComment from Amanda Stricko:
ReplyDeleteI agree! After working with all of the teachers here, I have learned so much about alignment. I am now aware of things I never even thought of before, and while I still am working on fixing them, at least I know I am doing them wrong. Before coming to Ohio State, I had lots of technical issues I wasn't even aware of, and you can't work on fixing things if you aren't even thinking about them. Now, at any point in a ballet class I'm thinking of multiple different things, and even though I haven't succeeded in fixing them yet, I am now aware of them and can start trying to fix them.