Basic Principles of Classical Ballet by Agrippina Vaganova Page A
Authors: Agrippina Vaganova
Ads: Link
may be considered one of the first adagios. It consists of the following movements which may be done en dehors and en dedans:
From the 5th position, développé forward with the right leg, plié on the left leg; turn the body a quarter-turn to left on half-toe, rotating the right leg into the 2nd position. Bring the right leg in to touch the left knee, and, without lowering the leg into 5th position, repeat the movement from the beginning.
22. Battements divisés en quarts en dehors
The movement is done four times, each time turning one quarter-turn, thus making one full turn. The movement can be made more complex by making each turn a half-turn or even a full turn. 17
Begin the same movement with développé back, and do all figures en dehors and en dedans.
III
ROTARY MOVEMENTS OF THE LEGS
RONDS DE JAMBE PAR TERRE
EN DEHORS. This movement begins from 1st position. The leg moves forward as in battement tendu; from here the toe describes an arc through 2nd position to a point opposite 1st position at the back. From this point the foot draws a straight line to the point from which it began the arc, passing through 1st position, with the heel lowered to the floor, and stretched-out knees.
En dedans. This movement is done in the opposite direction. The leg moves backward from 1st position and draws the same arc and straight line in the opposite direction, complying with the same rules. The movement is completed by placing the leg in 5th position forward.
When rond de jambe par terre is done in fast time, it is preceded by the following preparation:
From 5th position, move the right leg forward, doing a plié on the left leg, the arm going into 1st position. Draw the right leg into 2nd position, straightening the left knee and opening the arm into 2nd position.
If doing this movement in very fast time, when the foot cannot quite describe a full circle, in the movement en dehors the foot should reach its extreme point backward; and in the movement en dedans its extreme point forward.
The leg involuntarily goes astray and does exactly the opposite, i.e. en dehors it moves from 2nd position through 1st, forward; en dedans, from 2nd position through 1st, backward. This makes the movement too easy and does not provide the necessary work for the muscles.
RONDS DE JAMBE EN L’AIR
En dehors. From 5th position, the right leg is opened into 2nd position at 45°, the toes stretched out. From here the toe describes an oval (the long side in the direction of left to right), beginning with its backward arc. When the knee is bent and the toe is drawn in to the calf, but not under the knee, it should not reach beyond the calf of the left leg, either forward or backward. The hip-leg joint (pelvic arch) remains immobile, and thus the upper part of the leg, from the knee up, is also immobile.
23. Rond de jambe par terre and en l’air
En dedans. In the movement en dedans, the foot begins to describe the oval from its forward arc and, completing the movement, is lowered into 5th position front.
When rond de jambe en l’air is well mastered and the pupil begins to do it in faster time, strict attention should be paid to the retardation and fixation of the leg in 2nd position every time it passes this position.
As a preparation for this movement we may use temps relevé.
This is a very important movement playing a serious part in the further classical development of the body. It should be done in a particularly precise manner. Never let the leg shake in the knee joint, otherwise it will not get the full benefit from this exercise.
Properly executed, ronds de jambe en l’air make the upper part of the leg firm and strong and the lower part, from the knee to the toe, manageable in all rotary movements, in fouetté en tournant, for example. In this case it is particularly important, as any wrong motion of the leg may throw the dancer off balance. Besides, a well-developed lower leg which is manageable and pliable lends
From the 5th position, développé forward with the right leg, plié on the left leg; turn the body a quarter-turn to left on half-toe, rotating the right leg into the 2nd position. Bring the right leg in to touch the left knee, and, without lowering the leg into 5th position, repeat the movement from the beginning.
22. Battements divisés en quarts en dehors
The movement is done four times, each time turning one quarter-turn, thus making one full turn. The movement can be made more complex by making each turn a half-turn or even a full turn. 17
Begin the same movement with développé back, and do all figures en dehors and en dedans.
III
ROTARY MOVEMENTS OF THE LEGS
RONDS DE JAMBE PAR TERRE
EN DEHORS. This movement begins from 1st position. The leg moves forward as in battement tendu; from here the toe describes an arc through 2nd position to a point opposite 1st position at the back. From this point the foot draws a straight line to the point from which it began the arc, passing through 1st position, with the heel lowered to the floor, and stretched-out knees.
En dedans. This movement is done in the opposite direction. The leg moves backward from 1st position and draws the same arc and straight line in the opposite direction, complying with the same rules. The movement is completed by placing the leg in 5th position forward.
When rond de jambe par terre is done in fast time, it is preceded by the following preparation:
From 5th position, move the right leg forward, doing a plié on the left leg, the arm going into 1st position. Draw the right leg into 2nd position, straightening the left knee and opening the arm into 2nd position.
If doing this movement in very fast time, when the foot cannot quite describe a full circle, in the movement en dehors the foot should reach its extreme point backward; and in the movement en dedans its extreme point forward.
The leg involuntarily goes astray and does exactly the opposite, i.e. en dehors it moves from 2nd position through 1st, forward; en dedans, from 2nd position through 1st, backward. This makes the movement too easy and does not provide the necessary work for the muscles.
RONDS DE JAMBE EN L’AIR
En dehors. From 5th position, the right leg is opened into 2nd position at 45°, the toes stretched out. From here the toe describes an oval (the long side in the direction of left to right), beginning with its backward arc. When the knee is bent and the toe is drawn in to the calf, but not under the knee, it should not reach beyond the calf of the left leg, either forward or backward. The hip-leg joint (pelvic arch) remains immobile, and thus the upper part of the leg, from the knee up, is also immobile.
23. Rond de jambe par terre and en l’air
En dedans. In the movement en dedans, the foot begins to describe the oval from its forward arc and, completing the movement, is lowered into 5th position front.
When rond de jambe en l’air is well mastered and the pupil begins to do it in faster time, strict attention should be paid to the retardation and fixation of the leg in 2nd position every time it passes this position.
As a preparation for this movement we may use temps relevé.
This is a very important movement playing a serious part in the further classical development of the body. It should be done in a particularly precise manner. Never let the leg shake in the knee joint, otherwise it will not get the full benefit from this exercise.
Properly executed, ronds de jambe en l’air make the upper part of the leg firm and strong and the lower part, from the knee to the toe, manageable in all rotary movements, in fouetté en tournant, for example. In this case it is particularly important, as any wrong motion of the leg may throw the dancer off balance. Besides, a well-developed lower leg which is manageable and pliable lends
Similar Books
