Ballet has always been a challenge to me especially when it comes to alignment of the pelvis and hips in addition to turning out using the rotators rather than turning out from the knees. Every class I try and work on maintaning the correct alignment throughout barre in order to be more prepared/stable for center work (I realize that is in fact the whole point). After our placement workshop last Tuesday I've really been able to feel what it's like to properly turn out and what muscles in the back of the legs should be working- and it is a whole lot harder than I've been working before, I'll admit it! I'm starting to think that maybe not having mirrors won't be such an awful thing now that I am better at catching myself when my pelvis is tipped forward and I don't have to rely on what I see in the mirror.
This same type of hard work is something that I don't feel is a rigorous in other dance styles. I feel that in modern, jazz, and hiphop I'm freer to focus harder on the motivation or feeling behind the movement and almost the lack of structure or "rules." I know that there are still specific technical requirements for each of these styles but they seem to come a bit easier to me than the demands of classical ballet technique.
I completely agree with you Liz! I was terrified when I discovered there were no mirrors in any of the studios we would be dancing in this year. But it has really helped me feel the correct alignment rather than just making it look right in the mirror. It has also forced me to put effort into where my focus is going and learning the class material faster, because I no longer have to fight the annoying urge to stare at myself in the mirror nor do I have the ability to piggy back off of people I can see in the mirror when I don't know a combination.
ReplyDeletep.s. love your title.
Well i am going to slightly disagree in a way form you two. The news of not having mirrors excited me because i knew that it was going to force me to really be aware of my body alignment more then usual due to the fact that i can not just look up and see it in a mirror.
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I have found that while not having mirrors, my adagios feel much more stable because I am paying more attention to feeling my placement and my focus. Before, I would want to sneak a glance in the mirror to see how high my leg was or how my outfit looked, but now I am focusing only on the dance. I think this is going to make us stronger, more aware and better performers.
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