Monday, May 5, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
HIstory of Perfect Ballet
Author: Martha Petrizza
Ballet is a form of dance used to evoke emotions, convey moods,
and tell stories. Its techniques are used to give the illusion
of defying gravity and to give dancers the appearance of being
suspended in air. It is a form of great athletic ability and
grace and takes many years to perfect. The word ballet is French
in origin, but balleto was the term used first in Italy to
describe the dance interpretation of fencing. During the 15th
century Italian Renaissance these elaborate productions were
performed between courses of banquets in the courts of Italy. It
was out of the court of Queen Catherine de Medicis that the
ballet was brought to France. Her love of the art followed her
to France when she married King Henry II in 1553 and introduced
it to their culture. Louis XIV established the Acadamie Royale
de Danse in 1661 in France. It is interesting to note that at
first all dancers were men. They wore masks to play the role of
the women. It was not until 1681 that the first women appeared
in a theater production. Pointe technique is classic to ballet
today but it did not begin to develop until the late 1700’s.
Special shoes were not used at this time but soft slippers were
simply reinforced with darning. The Romantic Ballet was a period
during the 1800’s when women dominated the ballet in Paris. La
Sylphide first performed in 1832 initiated the popularity of the
white tutu which is still seen today. Decline in Paris of the
popularity of ballet began in the late 1800’s, but Denmark and
Russia preserved its integrity and brought back its popularity
with the opening of “The Ballets Russes” in Paris in 1909.
Famous names like Vaslav Nijinsky and Anna Pavlova emerged to
the forefront. The United States held open arms to the art and
two great American ballet companies were founded in New York in
1940, the American Ballet Theater, and the New York City Ballet.
More emphasis was being placed on athleticism and difficult
steps were admired. The influence of a younger audience was
being felt and changed the mood of the ballet by 1960. Popular
music like Rock and Roll and Jazz found its way into many
ballets at this time and broadened the popularity of this great
art. Contemporary ballet today combines classical ballet and
modern dance and does not adhere to the strict body lines set
forth by schools of ballet technique. One should still be in awe
of the beauty of ballet and the poise and mastery of the style.
Dancers are required to perform movements unnatural to the body
and yet they do it seemingly without effort. Ballet is an
experience and appreciation of the wonders of the human body in
motion. Just once in your life you need to be treated to the art
of ball
About the author:
Marty owns Perfect Ballet which helps people learn the secret
techniques of title="perfect ballet">perfect ballet
Ballet is a form of dance used to evoke emotions, convey moods,
and tell stories. Its techniques are used to give the illusion
of defying gravity and to give dancers the appearance of being
suspended in air. It is a form of great athletic ability and
grace and takes many years to perfect. The word ballet is French
in origin, but balleto was the term used first in Italy to
describe the dance interpretation of fencing. During the 15th
century Italian Renaissance these elaborate productions were
performed between courses of banquets in the courts of Italy. It
was out of the court of Queen Catherine de Medicis that the
ballet was brought to France. Her love of the art followed her
to France when she married King Henry II in 1553 and introduced
it to their culture. Louis XIV established the Acadamie Royale
de Danse in 1661 in France. It is interesting to note that at
first all dancers were men. They wore masks to play the role of
the women. It was not until 1681 that the first women appeared
in a theater production. Pointe technique is classic to ballet
today but it did not begin to develop until the late 1700’s.
Special shoes were not used at this time but soft slippers were
simply reinforced with darning. The Romantic Ballet was a period
during the 1800’s when women dominated the ballet in Paris. La
Sylphide first performed in 1832 initiated the popularity of the
white tutu which is still seen today. Decline in Paris of the
popularity of ballet began in the late 1800’s, but Denmark and
Russia preserved its integrity and brought back its popularity
with the opening of “The Ballets Russes” in Paris in 1909.
Famous names like Vaslav Nijinsky and Anna Pavlova emerged to
the forefront. The United States held open arms to the art and
two great American ballet companies were founded in New York in
1940, the American Ballet Theater, and the New York City Ballet.
More emphasis was being placed on athleticism and difficult
steps were admired. The influence of a younger audience was
being felt and changed the mood of the ballet by 1960. Popular
music like Rock and Roll and Jazz found its way into many
ballets at this time and broadened the popularity of this great
art. Contemporary ballet today combines classical ballet and
modern dance and does not adhere to the strict body lines set
forth by schools of ballet technique. One should still be in awe
of the beauty of ballet and the poise and mastery of the style.
Dancers are required to perform movements unnatural to the body
and yet they do it seemingly without effort. Ballet is an
experience and appreciation of the wonders of the human body in
motion. Just once in your life you need to be treated to the art
of ball
About the author:
Marty owns Perfect Ballet which helps people learn the secret
techniques of title="perfect ballet">perfect ballet
Monday, March 17, 2008
Higher SAT Scores From Ballet Class and Pointe Shoes?
Author: Dianne M. Buxton
In a southern California newspaper, a report by Chris Moran says
" The College Board annually releases a report showing that the
more arts and music courses students take, the higher their SAT
scores are. Sweetwater Union High School District's survey of
its own students five years ago found that students enrolled in
visual and performing arts classes had higher grade-point
averages than those who were not. The correlation is an
admittedly chicken-and-egg argument over whether the arts make
students smarter or smarter students pursue the arts. "
A recent article in New Science Daily presents the following:
"Learning, Arts, and the Brain, a study three years in the
making, is the result of research by cognitive neuroscientists
from seven leading universities across the United States. In the
Dana Consortium study, researchers grappled with a fundamental
question: Are smart people drawn to the arts or does arts
training make people smarter?"
#8 in a series of points made is:
"Learning to dance by effective observation is closely related
to learning by physical practice, both in the level of
achievement and also the neural substrates that support the
organization of complex actions. Effective observational
learning may transfer to other cognitive skills."
MARY BELLE MCCORKLE and SHIRLEY KISER wrote in the Tucson
Citizen, "How the arts make kids smarter. Students' scores
improve in the three R's when they're exposed to music, dance
and the theater".
Betty Oliphant, former Principal of The National Ballet School
of Canada insisted on high academic standards, because she grew
up in London in the earlier 2oth Century where dancers were
considered dumb. Personally I don't think you can learn the
classics if you are dumb.
What is dumb anyway? Shyness, less-confident, dyslexic,
under-nourished? Maybe not interested in the usual social issues
and dramas?
If it were not for the internet I would not know that scientists
find this subject interesting. Artists know that they are not
less smart than scientists. They also know that the money needed
to run all these multi-university studies could run a small
ballet company for a season or two.
Scientists and artists alike need patrons - and competition is
fierce. Patrons need artists and scientists, and vice versa - so
it's a chicken or the egg situation - and it makes an
interesting holisitc picture for us all to function in.
But if your parents worry that your grades will drop if you
spend too much time in pointe shoes or the ballet class - just
mention the higher SAT scores!
About the author:
Click here for free
articles on ballet shoes, pointe shoes, The Perfect Pointe Book,
The Ballet Bible, how to get exactly the right fit, details
about turnout, pre-pointe, dance books and DVD's and more.
In a southern California newspaper, a report by Chris Moran says
" The College Board annually releases a report showing that the
more arts and music courses students take, the higher their SAT
scores are. Sweetwater Union High School District's survey of
its own students five years ago found that students enrolled in
visual and performing arts classes had higher grade-point
averages than those who were not. The correlation is an
admittedly chicken-and-egg argument over whether the arts make
students smarter or smarter students pursue the arts. "
A recent article in New Science Daily presents the following:
"Learning, Arts, and the Brain, a study three years in the
making, is the result of research by cognitive neuroscientists
from seven leading universities across the United States. In the
Dana Consortium study, researchers grappled with a fundamental
question: Are smart people drawn to the arts or does arts
training make people smarter?"
#8 in a series of points made is:
"Learning to dance by effective observation is closely related
to learning by physical practice, both in the level of
achievement and also the neural substrates that support the
organization of complex actions. Effective observational
learning may transfer to other cognitive skills."
MARY BELLE MCCORKLE and SHIRLEY KISER wrote in the Tucson
Citizen, "How the arts make kids smarter. Students' scores
improve in the three R's when they're exposed to music, dance
and the theater".
Betty Oliphant, former Principal of The National Ballet School
of Canada insisted on high academic standards, because she grew
up in London in the earlier 2oth Century where dancers were
considered dumb. Personally I don't think you can learn the
classics if you are dumb.
What is dumb anyway? Shyness, less-confident, dyslexic,
under-nourished? Maybe not interested in the usual social issues
and dramas?
If it were not for the internet I would not know that scientists
find this subject interesting. Artists know that they are not
less smart than scientists. They also know that the money needed
to run all these multi-university studies could run a small
ballet company for a season or two.
Scientists and artists alike need patrons - and competition is
fierce. Patrons need artists and scientists, and vice versa - so
it's a chicken or the egg situation - and it makes an
interesting holisitc picture for us all to function in.
But if your parents worry that your grades will drop if you
spend too much time in pointe shoes or the ballet class - just
mention the higher SAT scores!
About the author:
Click here for free
articles on ballet shoes, pointe shoes, The Perfect Pointe Book,
The Ballet Bible, how to get exactly the right fit, details
about turnout, pre-pointe, dance books and DVD's and more.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Chunking and Imitational Learning In Ballet Shoes and Pointe
Author: Dianne M. Buxton
Please let me explain. "Chunking" is a new verb. It is a
scientific word. It means breaking down a movement into its
series of mini-movements so that someone learning it can learn
it more accurately and faster, and build the right neural
pathways. Like a ballet class, or a ballet exercise.
Neuroscientists use this word. Try not to think "chunky" because
to a dancer "chunky" is a very threatening idea.
I am trying to be serious and academic about this but the verb
"chunking" is too funny.
Brandeis University's Volen Center for Complex Systems published
a study "Monkey See Monkey Do". It attended to the lack of
research on imitative learning, which has apparently been
neglected, in favor of studies in verbal learning, even though
we learn more through imitation than by words. The study notes
that:
"Several strategies may help leverage a learner's attention and
motivate imitative learning. Organizing the motor skill practice
is key. For example, Sekuler, an expert on the neural and
cognitive terrain of visual memory, says that breaking down a
behavioral sequence into chunks can aid imitation learning, just
as chunking can help us memorize a string of seemingly unrelated
digits or other material. Agam and Sekuler have their sights set
on identifying strategies that teachers and coaches could use to
make complex actions more "chunkable," and therefore easier to
imitate.
The researchers' long-term goal is to devise simple methods that
will allow teachers and coaches to take any arbitrary complex
action that they want to teach--like that series of dance steps
or that perfect golf swing, and then re-package that action into
components that make for optimal learning."
If the researchers had watched a classical ballet, and then a
ballet class, they would see a supreme example of chunking.
Don't you just love that word? All those pre-pointe routines
make pointe work chunkable.
The gazillion degages are chunking the aspired to, smooth,
floating, gliding glissade. The stretchy, elastic,
muscle-elicious fondu in adage are chunks of grand allegro.
The quick footwork exercises at the ballet barre are chunkettes
of petit allegro.
I do not mean to diss brain research but I find this hilarious.
So please appreciate the careful chunking that your ballet
teachers are so good at, in helping you develop organized
thought patterns, build neural pathways and build strength in
your ballet shoes and pointe shoes.
The best example of chunking that I know right now is
manual, which chunks perfectly for pre-pointe practise and
essential ballet technique for all.
About the author:
Click here for free
articles on ballet shoes, pointe shoes, The Perfect Pointe Book,
The Ballet Bible, how to get exactly the right fit, details
about turnout, pre-pointe, dance books and DVD's and more.
Please let me explain. "Chunking" is a new verb. It is a
scientific word. It means breaking down a movement into its
series of mini-movements so that someone learning it can learn
it more accurately and faster, and build the right neural
pathways. Like a ballet class, or a ballet exercise.
Neuroscientists use this word. Try not to think "chunky" because
to a dancer "chunky" is a very threatening idea.
I am trying to be serious and academic about this but the verb
"chunking" is too funny.
Brandeis University's Volen Center for Complex Systems published
a study "Monkey See Monkey Do". It attended to the lack of
research on imitative learning, which has apparently been
neglected, in favor of studies in verbal learning, even though
we learn more through imitation than by words. The study notes
that:
"Several strategies may help leverage a learner's attention and
motivate imitative learning. Organizing the motor skill practice
is key. For example, Sekuler, an expert on the neural and
cognitive terrain of visual memory, says that breaking down a
behavioral sequence into chunks can aid imitation learning, just
as chunking can help us memorize a string of seemingly unrelated
digits or other material. Agam and Sekuler have their sights set
on identifying strategies that teachers and coaches could use to
make complex actions more "chunkable," and therefore easier to
imitate.
The researchers' long-term goal is to devise simple methods that
will allow teachers and coaches to take any arbitrary complex
action that they want to teach--like that series of dance steps
or that perfect golf swing, and then re-package that action into
components that make for optimal learning."
If the researchers had watched a classical ballet, and then a
ballet class, they would see a supreme example of chunking.
Don't you just love that word? All those pre-pointe routines
make pointe work chunkable.
The gazillion degages are chunking the aspired to, smooth,
floating, gliding glissade. The stretchy, elastic,
muscle-elicious fondu in adage are chunks of grand allegro.
The quick footwork exercises at the ballet barre are chunkettes
of petit allegro.
I do not mean to diss brain research but I find this hilarious.
So please appreciate the careful chunking that your ballet
teachers are so good at, in helping you develop organized
thought patterns, build neural pathways and build strength in
your ballet shoes and pointe shoes.
The best example of chunking that I know right now is
manual, which chunks perfectly for pre-pointe practise and
essential ballet technique for all.
About the author:
Click here for free
articles on ballet shoes, pointe shoes, The Perfect Pointe Book,
The Ballet Bible, how to get exactly the right fit, details
about turnout, pre-pointe, dance books and DVD's and more.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Give A Ballet Cross Stitch Gift To Your Favorite Ballerina
Author: Julia Wigham
Article:
A gift for a dance instructor. A fun project for your child who
has a love of dance. A way to decorate a child's room. With a
ballet cross stitch motif, you'll find a great way to combine a
love for cross stitching with a love for ballet dancing.
Many different designs and themes exist when it comes to ballet
cross stitch. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or
advanced cross stitcher, you can find patterns and graphs online
that perfectly suit your tastes and skill level.
It is always hard to find a unique gift for a ballet teacher,
but creating something special for a holiday, recital, birthday
or for no reason at all is a great way to show appreciation to
the work they've done for your child. Your ballet cross stitch
is something the teacher will keep and cherish.
For the teacher who has younger students, consider creating a
design with children ballerinas. You could also choose pink
ballet slippers, or a ballerina putting on her shoes. Don't
forget to say "thank you" by including a personal message or
quote about dancing. Remember, too, to stitch the date the gift
is given on the completed piece.
Allow your child to choose just the right cross stitch pattern
for the teacher's gift, even if there's no occasion for a gift.
With your guidance, you can help your child learn to love cross
stitching as much as she loves dancing. Taking the time to cross
stitch together will strengthen your relationship as well as
give you an opportunity to teach something that's meaningful to
you.
If your daughter wants ballet decorations in her room, there's
no end to the choices available to you. And cross stitch
projects you've made will fill her room with love. Using the
word "ballet" in an acrostic would be unique to go along with
dancers in different poses. Whatever you choose together, your
daughter will enjoy spending time in her ballet themed room.
Combining hobbies with ballet cross stitch motifs are a great
way to get your child involved in two different activities and
teach them to display an appreciation for dance. The items can
then be used as extra special dcor or great gifts.
About the author:
Julia Wigham is an experienced writer and co-founder of Patterns
Patch cross stitch
forums. An online cross stitch community whose members get
free: patterns, articles and tutorials. Come to our colorful =>
cross stitch
blogs today!
Article:
A gift for a dance instructor. A fun project for your child who
has a love of dance. A way to decorate a child's room. With a
ballet cross stitch motif, you'll find a great way to combine a
love for cross stitching with a love for ballet dancing.
Many different designs and themes exist when it comes to ballet
cross stitch. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or
advanced cross stitcher, you can find patterns and graphs online
that perfectly suit your tastes and skill level.
It is always hard to find a unique gift for a ballet teacher,
but creating something special for a holiday, recital, birthday
or for no reason at all is a great way to show appreciation to
the work they've done for your child. Your ballet cross stitch
is something the teacher will keep and cherish.
For the teacher who has younger students, consider creating a
design with children ballerinas. You could also choose pink
ballet slippers, or a ballerina putting on her shoes. Don't
forget to say "thank you" by including a personal message or
quote about dancing. Remember, too, to stitch the date the gift
is given on the completed piece.
Allow your child to choose just the right cross stitch pattern
for the teacher's gift, even if there's no occasion for a gift.
With your guidance, you can help your child learn to love cross
stitching as much as she loves dancing. Taking the time to cross
stitch together will strengthen your relationship as well as
give you an opportunity to teach something that's meaningful to
you.
If your daughter wants ballet decorations in her room, there's
no end to the choices available to you. And cross stitch
projects you've made will fill her room with love. Using the
word "ballet" in an acrostic would be unique to go along with
dancers in different poses. Whatever you choose together, your
daughter will enjoy spending time in her ballet themed room.
Combining hobbies with ballet cross stitch motifs are a great
way to get your child involved in two different activities and
teach them to display an appreciation for dance. The items can
then be used as extra special dcor or great gifts.
About the author:
Julia Wigham is an experienced writer and co-founder of Patterns
Patch cross stitch
forums. An online cross stitch community whose members get
free: patterns, articles and tutorials. Come to our colorful =>
cross stitch
blogs today!
Friday, January 4, 2008
The Ballet Stores, Pointe Shoe Stores, Ballet Schools and
Author: Dianne M. Buxton
Article:
What could ballet stores offer a serious student that would help
her/him work hard and develop a healthy perspective? Healthy
eating, weight loss or gain, and strength building all
contribute to a good dance technique. Getting exactly the right
fit in pointe shoes and ballet wear, is important too. Above
all, information.
When studying a fine art, discipline and perfectionism are not
the same thing. The talent and charisma of a performer must be
matched with physical abilities such as voice, aural perception,
rhythm, overall physique, and 'the right' looks. When it comes
to ballet, there are many detailed physical proportions,
flexibility requirements, general health necessities, and
psychological endurance needs to be factored in to a successful
training period and subsequent career.
Some students with a genetic predisposition to an eating
disorder or a tendency to perfectionism will choose ballet to
fullfill the attraction to a type of behaviour. Unhealthy
behaviour is not necessarily built in to the field of ballet,
although some studios or individual teachers may contribute to
an atmosphere of excess when it comes to weight loss or
obsessive practise over details that take years to fine tune.
Fortunately, there is more awareness now about eating disorders
and neurotic perfectionism. If it's not a family behaviour,
parents will notice. Anorexia results in hospitalization to
ensure survival, followed by years or life long therapy.
Fierce competition among children is extremely stressful. The
favoured and more able students may feel isolated. It's not
their fault they are better or more physically prepared to do
ballet! And the less talented have to make hard decisions at a
young age. Should they stick with the art they love to play
supporting roles with no expectation of reaching the top? Or
should they go into another art form that is less demanding in
some way?
Sometimes the parents decide for a child. If the guiding
opinions do not support that a child will make it to the top of
the field, often parents don't see the point of the gruelling
training, or expense that may infringe on the whole family.
Luckily, many dancers grow up and become professionals in other
professions, but their love of dance leads them to refer back to
dancers in their practices. Whether they end up in dance
medicine or psychology, they reach out to young dancers with
information and education. I chanced upon the article below and
felt compelled to point it out.
..."Eating disorders are more common among female dancers than
among the general population, but many factors can contribute to
the higher prevalence..." By Elizabeth Cooney Worcester TELEGRAM
& GAZETTE STAFF. The entire article can be read at
http://www.telegram.com/article/20071224/NEWS/712240378/1012
For more on all of the above go
About the author:
Dianne M. Buxton is a graduate of the National Ballet School of
Canada. She taught at, and choreographed for The National Ballet
School, York University, and George Brown College, in Canada,
and taught at Harvard University in the U.S.
shoes, pointe shoes, pre-pointe exercises, getting exactly the
right fit, dance books, ballet forum,diet and health for
dancers,DVD's and more.
Article:
What could ballet stores offer a serious student that would help
her/him work hard and develop a healthy perspective? Healthy
eating, weight loss or gain, and strength building all
contribute to a good dance technique. Getting exactly the right
fit in pointe shoes and ballet wear, is important too. Above
all, information.
When studying a fine art, discipline and perfectionism are not
the same thing. The talent and charisma of a performer must be
matched with physical abilities such as voice, aural perception,
rhythm, overall physique, and 'the right' looks. When it comes
to ballet, there are many detailed physical proportions,
flexibility requirements, general health necessities, and
psychological endurance needs to be factored in to a successful
training period and subsequent career.
Some students with a genetic predisposition to an eating
disorder or a tendency to perfectionism will choose ballet to
fullfill the attraction to a type of behaviour. Unhealthy
behaviour is not necessarily built in to the field of ballet,
although some studios or individual teachers may contribute to
an atmosphere of excess when it comes to weight loss or
obsessive practise over details that take years to fine tune.
Fortunately, there is more awareness now about eating disorders
and neurotic perfectionism. If it's not a family behaviour,
parents will notice. Anorexia results in hospitalization to
ensure survival, followed by years or life long therapy.
Fierce competition among children is extremely stressful. The
favoured and more able students may feel isolated. It's not
their fault they are better or more physically prepared to do
ballet! And the less talented have to make hard decisions at a
young age. Should they stick with the art they love to play
supporting roles with no expectation of reaching the top? Or
should they go into another art form that is less demanding in
some way?
Sometimes the parents decide for a child. If the guiding
opinions do not support that a child will make it to the top of
the field, often parents don't see the point of the gruelling
training, or expense that may infringe on the whole family.
Luckily, many dancers grow up and become professionals in other
professions, but their love of dance leads them to refer back to
dancers in their practices. Whether they end up in dance
medicine or psychology, they reach out to young dancers with
information and education. I chanced upon the article below and
felt compelled to point it out.
..."Eating disorders are more common among female dancers than
among the general population, but many factors can contribute to
the higher prevalence..." By Elizabeth Cooney Worcester TELEGRAM
& GAZETTE STAFF. The entire article can be read at
http://www.telegram.com/article/20071224/NEWS/712240378/1012
For more on all of the above go
About the author:
Dianne M. Buxton is a graduate of the National Ballet School of
Canada. She taught at, and choreographed for The National Ballet
School, York University, and George Brown College, in Canada,
and taught at Harvard University in the U.S.
shoes, pointe shoes, pre-pointe exercises, getting exactly the
right fit, dance books, ballet forum,diet and health for
dancers,DVD's and more.
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