The Art of Stage Dancing Part 14

The fundamental positions of the ballet are five, and their complete mastery has been the prime factor in the success of every ballet dancer since the dance was invented. You will be constantly referred to "first position," "third position," and the others throughout your instruction, and you must know instantly and intuitively what each reference means as you hear it or read it, and to do this you must have the five position thoroughly absorbed into your inner consciousness. That means, practice the five positions over and over, day after day. No ballet dancer ever was ent.i.tled to this name without she knew these five rules of the dance.

The five positions for practice at the bar are here given, and the primary exercise at each position described and pictured.

_First Position:_ Stand erect, with the head up, the legs straight, the heels together, the toes pointed out, the weight of the body evenly distributed between the two feet. Extend one arm to lightly grasp the bar, and carry the other arm straight out from the shoulder, in a slightly relaxed position, as shown in the diagram. The thumb should rest on the tip of the first finger, the middle and ring fingers slightly bent, the little finger extended so that it is slightly separated from the others, the wrist bent slightly downward.

The whole att.i.tude should be flexible and graceful.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _First Ballet Position_]

Now lower the body by bending the knees. The feet should be kept flat on the floor, the heels raised from the floor as little as possible when bending the legs. The knees should be extended to the sides, as shown in the diagram. The free arm should follow the att.i.tude of the legs--that is, it should be lowered to the waist when the knees are bent. This bending should be repeated four times.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Second Ballet Position_]

_Second Position:_ From the first position, keeping both legs straight, slide the right foot sideways until leg and foot are fully extended without moving the torso. Then place the weight of the body on both feet with heels on the floor. The head should be in a straight line above the center of the s.p.a.ce between the heels. Now bend and rise slowly four times, without raising the heels from the floor.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Third Ballet Position_]

_Third Position:_ From the second position, shift the weight to one leg, fully extending the foot and toes of the other leg. Then glide the extended leg slowly in front of the other, the heel leading, until the ankle of the leg behind is covered by the front leg. Bend and rise slowly four times; keeping the head in a straight line above the heel that is in front.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fourth Ballet Position_]

_Fourth Position:_ From the third position, slide the front leg forward as far as possible without moving the body, until foot and toes are fully extended; then put the heel on the floor, the foot turned outward. Place the weight of the trunk on both legs, the head being vertically above the heel of the front foot. Bend and rise slowly four times.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fifth Ballet Position_]

_Fifth Position:_ From the fourth position, shift the weight to the back leg, fully extending the front leg and foot. Slide the front leg slowly back to the other leg with heel well turned out, until the feet are on a parallel line, with the heel of the front leg in front of the toes of the back leg. The weight of the body should rest on both legs, and the throat should be virtually above the ankle of the front leg.

Bend and rise four times.

TERMS USED IN NED WAYBURN'S MODERN AMERICANIZED BALLET TECHNIQUE

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_Arabesque_--A posture executed with one foot on the floor.

_a.s.semble_--To bring the feet together.

_Att.i.tude_--A posture executed with both feet on the floor.

_Balance_--A combined slide (glisse), closing of the feet, rising on the toes and lowering of the heels.

_Changement de Pied_--Changing the position of the feet.

_Cha.s.se_--A chasing step in three movements: Slide (glisse), cut (coupe), slide (glisse).

_Ciseaux_--The scissors step: A point and swing with one foot while hopping twice on the other.

_Coupe_--To cut.

_Degager_--To sway; to transfer.

_Demi Pas de Basque_--A half or incomplete pas de basque.

_ecarte_--To jump from a closed position, open the feet in the air, and land in a closed position.

_echappee_--(Escaped.) Any changement done on the toes.

_elever_--To rise on the toes.

_Entrechat_--To spring into the air and change the position of the feet as often as possible before landing.

_Fouette_--A swinging of the leg.

_Frappe_--To stamp the foot.

_Glisse_--To slide.

_Glissade_--Three movements combined: elever (to rise on the toes), glisse (to slide), a.s.semble (to close the feet).

_Grand Battement_--High beating.

_Jete_--To leap or throw the weight from one foot to the other.

_Movement_--An activity of the body from a resting position; also a change from one activity to another.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BIRTH OF VENUS]

The nine standard dancing Movements are:

(1) _Droit_--to swing the foot forward and backward; (2) _Overt_--to swing the foot from right to left; (3) _Glisse_--to slide; (4) _Tourne_--to turn; (5) _Tortiller_--to twist; (6) _Battu_--to beat; (7) _Saute_--to hop; (8) _Jete_--to leap; (9) _Coupe_--to cut.

_Pas_--A step.

_Pas Ballonne_--A combination of hop, step, hop.

_Pas Boiteaux_--A limping step in three movements: Hop on right foot and raise left leg forward with the knee straight; step forward on left foot; step forward on right foot.

_Pas de Basque_--A step of three movements: Demi rond de jambe, jete (describe half circle in air with leg, leap); glisse (slide); coupe (cut).

_Pas de Bourree_--(Stuffing step.) Three little steps on ball of the foot.

_Pas de Chat_--(Cat step.) Four sideward movements: Leap, slide, step, step.

_Pas Marche_--(Marching step.) Four movements: step, swing, step, close.

_Pas Sissonne_--Imitation of opening or closing of a pair of scissors, done by bending in fifth position, hopping to one side, at the same time lifting opposite leg in second position; then leg down in front and a.s.semble in front with the leg that did the hop.