Principles of Movement

31 August 2024

Movement Principle
Working at the Barre 1. Treat the barre as your partner's hand. Be gentle but firm with it. Do not grip or grab the barre. Thumbs must be along or on top of the barre. Never under the barre.
2. Rely on your own alignment and balance to perfect your technique for the centre. Over reliance on the barre like grabbing the barre instinctively when you pique back to the barre instead of relying on own balance will hinder progress in the centre.
3. Gripping the barre while working on whole foot or demi-pointe is an indicator that you're not in alignment (balance) to work efficiently. Correct it immediately so it doesn't become a habit.
Assemble Always Slide Working Leg along the floor and out in the air first.
Then push off and jump with Supporting Leg.
Bring both legs together in the air at the apex of the jump. (That creates the "uplift" of the assemble.)
Land on both feet with plie, cushioning the landing through the tips of the toes & balls of feet and progressed to the soles of both feet, followed by both heels on the floor.
Types of Assemble
(Point of Reference for Sissonne, Glissade and Pas de Bourree)		 Here are 6 Basic Types:
1. Assemble devant (Front leg slides to the Side and Closes Front)
2. Assemble derriere (Back leg slides to the Side and Closes Behind)
3. Assemble over (Back leg slides to the Side and Closes Front)
(..analogy: Much like climbing over something. Step one foot forward, heave yourself up and bring the back leg "over"..)
4. Assemble under (Front leg slides to the Side and Closes Behind)
5. Assemble en avant (Front leg slides to the Front and Closes Front)
6. Assemble en arriere (Back leg slides to the Back and Closes Behind)

Note: Advanced Level Assembles will include entournant.

Generally, Assembles Do Not Travel unless it's for Grand Allegro.
Memorize the 6 Basic Types of Assemble above and use them as a Point of Reference when unclear which direction or leg to use in Sissonne, Glissade and Pas de Bourree.
Beats in the air (Entrechat) If you know the order in which jumps come from, it'll be easier to differentiate the beats.
1. Saut
2. Changement de pied
3. Royale (or Changement Battu)
4. Entrechat trois (devant & derriere)
5. Entrechat quatre
6. Entrechat cinq (devant & derriere)
7. Entrechat six
Detourne Turns From 5th position:
1. Turn On Front Leg (Supporting Leg)
2. Turn Towards Back Leg (Working Leg)
En Croix "In the Shape of a Cross."
This is a Fixed Pattern. Movement is to be done in the following order:
1. To the Front.
2. To the Side.
3. To the Back.
4. To the Side.
Petit Jete and Assemble Stays on the spot. They Do Not Travel.
Only Exceptions given when traveling across the floor during Grand Allegro.
Reversing Steps All steps can be reversed Except:
1. The 3 Main Directions.
2. The Sequential Order of steps.
Rule of 2nd Leg The 2nd leg is the One that pushes off or exerts energy in jumps like assemble, glissade, jete or in pique as in pique arabesque or pique turns
while the 1st leg directs the path in jumps or anchors the position in pique.
Sissonne Always Jump off from Two Legs and in a diagonal direction, landing on one leg first and, split second later, close by the other leg as in Sissonne Fermee. In Sissonne Ouverte, the other leg does not close.
Sissonne "cheat sheet" 1. Sissonne over: Jump in the Direction of the Front Leg.
2. Sissonne under: Jump in the Direction of the Back Leg.
Pirouettes Preparation arm: One in 1st postion, the other in 2nd position. Here's the order of coordination:
1. Plie as you begin to open 1st position arm to 2nd position. (Keep the other arm in 2nd position.)
2. Once arm reaches 2nd position, immediately push off with working leg to retire and at the Same Time releve supporting leg. (Immediate assumption of correct alignment is expedient at this point in time.)
3. Spot head immediately and bring arms to 1st position, keep supporting leg straight while turning.

Note:
All of the above are to be completed in 1 second.
Any pause in between each coordination loses the torque, force, effect and momentum to create the turn.
Keep knee Turned Out in retire.
Releve Supporting Leg Only after push off from Working Leg.
Keep upper body still and do not attempt to make adjustments while turning.
Hold arm in 1st position firmly.
Keep supporting knee straight, engaging your lower glutes and ankle stable in high releve while turning.
For multiple turns, spotting head is crucial. Double pirouettes should be completed in 1 second. The faster the spotting, the more turns you'll achieve, assuming all of the above are adhered to.