Pose

When closing toward an the leg stretched out in devant position...

1. Initiate closing movement from hip
2. Push off using back foot

Centerwork - balance

Balance by using arms in second position.

1. Activate scapular muscles.
2. Imagine that the upper arms are resting on a table (pushing downward) 

My ballet teachers

1. Kayla Duke
2. Elizabeth Thng
3. Finis Jhung
4. Sharon Goh
5. Grace Wee
6. Sanna Kaappola, Kenzuke Yuzoru, Zhao Jun
7. Chen Wei
8. Rebekah Yeo
9. Tina Tong

How did they cope with teaching such clumsy students?

Battement Fondu

Finis Jhung: Fondu = Plie releve


Fondu is a classical ballet term meaning “sinking down.” It describes both the movement and the quality of a dancer where they are doing a plié on a single leg. If you think of a plié being for two legs, a fondu is the same, just for one.


Fondu is one of the most beneficial exercises at barre because it allows the dancers to work against gravity, push strongly against the floor, and focus on controlling the movement every centimeter of the way. This movement, when done properly, helps the dancer gain lots of strength and control that is then translated into countless other steps. If a dancer does not have a good fondu, almost every other step will be more difficult and not done as smooth. Like the plié, never forget the importance of a fondu!

Choreography of Hebrew alphabet

At Toby's hip hop class today, I realized hip hop groove movement could be used to reflect the strokes of Hebrew calligraphy.

For example, the alphabet 'yod'  could be expressed by clasping the sides of one's head with one's palms, and a quick sway of one's head from left to right and back.

The alphabets that form Jesus' name could inspire a dance phrase.

Ballet, Latin, Contemporary, Street, Jazz

Today, I attended Jay's hip hop class at Bugis club. It was a popping locking choreo, which reminded me of Rashidah, my first dance teacher. I am now learning Ballet, Latin Dance, Contemporary Dance, Street Dance. Once in a while, I attend Jazz dance lessons.

Ballet originated from the Italian Renaissance imperial courts and was developed in France and Russia. This is a dance form that requires enormous amount of training, discipline and technical rigor. Favorite dancer: Alessandra Ferri

Contemporary dance Contemporary is a versatile form of expression as it is able to draw from movements and techniques from different dance genres. Favorite choreographer: Shen Wei

Latin Dance is a dance from Latin American countries. Think Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and their svelte perfectly sculpted brunette beauties on stiletto heels. Dance style is flirtatious, sensuous, sometimes even erotic. Favorite dancer: Yulia Zagoruchenko

Street dance is an expression of a people of no repute, and desperate for acceptance. Movements like popping, whacking and locking express 'overkill'，and reflect the image of punks, bengs and lians who 'overkill' with outrageous weird hairdos, false eyelashes, mini-skirts, camisoles, loud accessories. Personally, I identify with street dance during times of my life when pushing for breakthrough.

Fan kick

Today, I figured out how to do a fan kick.

Core: The center of gravity (pelvic floor) has to push through the direction of the supporting heel.

Example with left leg as working leg...

Right supporting leg: knee is bent and turned out.

Left working leg:
0. Preparatory position is a lunge facing position 2 with supporting leg forward (ouvert)
1. Grande battement in croise until it reaches the highest point (position 2).
2. Sweep in an upward arc to the highest point of grande battement a la seconde
3. Lower to a la second en face before ending in croise / lunge (position 8).