I'm really happy with the progress I've been making. It's not a TON, but I can see definite improvements in both technique and in strength since I've started. (I have just completed my third full week [give or take a day or two] of 5 days a week, 1-3 hours a day, usually 2-3 hours.) I think I've mentioned this before: my primary focus right now is on building strength, but I'm learning where I need to focus my strength-building through beginner ballet videos I've found.
Today was probably the most I've worked, around 3.5-4 hours total, and I still plan to use the Theraband to stretch my feet, and one of those larger (but not huge) super bouncy balls to massage some of the tightness from my feet.
Finis Jhung Technique
My first rental from Dance Flix came in: "The Finis Jhung Ballet Technique, Level One: Barrework for Beginners". It's exactly what I was hoping for! Today, I went through Tamra Chace's "Year One, Lesson Three"- both the barrework and (for the first time) the Center work. I'm really enjoying her videos- they are helping me learn new movements with some focus on technique, and giving me an introduction to choreography. The Finis Jhung DVD I'm working with is going into a lot more detail on technique, with some light choreography right now. It's an excellent supplement to Tamra's videos.
On Friday, the day after I got the video in the mail, I went through eight of his lessons. Here is what the first eight cover; there are 17 exercises in all (and yes, you can use the menu to skip around, which is perfect):
Today, though, I did the two Lesson 3s (working a little extra on the faster rond de jambes) and I went up to number 4 on the DVD. I was really focusing on doing the grand pliés properly, since that's such an essential thing. I also worked on my demi pliés in the five positions, because I'm having trouble getting my weight balanced evenly on both feet in three through five.
Turnout
The other really important thing I worked on (again) was my turnout. I've heard two helpful ways to get into the right turnout for my body. One was on a YouTube video I don't recall, and the other was Jhung's way. From the YouTube video, stand with the feet parallel/in 6th. Then sort of quickly pop your feet to the side. Don't push it, just let them go as far as they will in that quick motion. That really makes a lot of sense: do it quickly so you don't have time to think about it, and your body won't really let you go past it's limits unless it's forced.
The Jhung way is one I've started using more of since I first viewed it. Again, stand in sixth, feet parallel. Lift one leg up into the air in front of you (not too far) and turn out the whole leg, then put it in that position on the floor. Do the same with the other leg. This way seems to force you to only go as far as your hips allow, as long as you aren't trying to force it.
When we were doing the isometric pliés, I discovered something new. I won't go into the isometric ("opposing forces") technique of it (rent/buy the DVD!) but he has the viewer doing pliés in a VERY wide second, maybe a foot less on each side than the length of the arms when they are spread out to the sides. The feet start turned out before going into this position.
I was in that position when I pushed my hips forward just a little bit. I felt a stretch deep in my hips, so I pushed to one side a little bit, then to the other. All of this had me feeling those deep turnout muscles getting stretched! I did it really slowly, really feeling my body, making sure I wasn't pushing it too hard to avoid overstretching. But it really seemed to make a difference! I paused the DVD for a bit and just did that slow stretching, really feeling the muscles. After a few nice minutes of this, I decided to try his version of turning out... and it was SO much of a better turnout than only a few minutes previous! I'm definitely going to work on that more!
Today was probably the most I've worked, around 3.5-4 hours total, and I still plan to use the Theraband to stretch my feet, and one of those larger (but not huge) super bouncy balls to massage some of the tightness from my feet.
Finis Jhung Technique
My first rental from Dance Flix came in: "The Finis Jhung Ballet Technique, Level One: Barrework for Beginners". It's exactly what I was hoping for! Today, I went through Tamra Chace's "Year One, Lesson Three"- both the barrework and (for the first time) the Center work. I'm really enjoying her videos- they are helping me learn new movements with some focus on technique, and giving me an introduction to choreography. The Finis Jhung DVD I'm working with is going into a lot more detail on technique, with some light choreography right now. It's an excellent supplement to Tamra's videos.
On Friday, the day after I got the video in the mail, I went through eight of his lessons. Here is what the first eight cover; there are 17 exercises in all (and yes, you can use the menu to skip around, which is perfect):
- Posture
- Turning out, demi plié in first position
- Isometric grand pliés, relevé
- Battement tendu en croix, first position
- Port de bras
- Battement tendu à la seconde, grand plié
- Battement tendu devant & derriére
- Working the foot, relevé in plié, 1st position
Today, though, I did the two Lesson 3s (working a little extra on the faster rond de jambes) and I went up to number 4 on the DVD. I was really focusing on doing the grand pliés properly, since that's such an essential thing. I also worked on my demi pliés in the five positions, because I'm having trouble getting my weight balanced evenly on both feet in three through five.
Turnout
The other really important thing I worked on (again) was my turnout. I've heard two helpful ways to get into the right turnout for my body. One was on a YouTube video I don't recall, and the other was Jhung's way. From the YouTube video, stand with the feet parallel/in 6th. Then sort of quickly pop your feet to the side. Don't push it, just let them go as far as they will in that quick motion. That really makes a lot of sense: do it quickly so you don't have time to think about it, and your body won't really let you go past it's limits unless it's forced.
The Jhung way is one I've started using more of since I first viewed it. Again, stand in sixth, feet parallel. Lift one leg up into the air in front of you (not too far) and turn out the whole leg, then put it in that position on the floor. Do the same with the other leg. This way seems to force you to only go as far as your hips allow, as long as you aren't trying to force it.
When we were doing the isometric pliés, I discovered something new. I won't go into the isometric ("opposing forces") technique of it (rent/buy the DVD!) but he has the viewer doing pliés in a VERY wide second, maybe a foot less on each side than the length of the arms when they are spread out to the sides. The feet start turned out before going into this position.
I was in that position when I pushed my hips forward just a little bit. I felt a stretch deep in my hips, so I pushed to one side a little bit, then to the other. All of this had me feeling those deep turnout muscles getting stretched! I did it really slowly, really feeling my body, making sure I wasn't pushing it too hard to avoid overstretching. But it really seemed to make a difference! I paused the DVD for a bit and just did that slow stretching, really feeling the muscles. After a few nice minutes of this, I decided to try his version of turning out... and it was SO much of a better turnout than only a few minutes previous! I'm definitely going to work on that more!
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