ALL
ABOUT
BALLET By Amy
Page 12 How To Break In Pointe Shoes
Ballerina Word Search Page 13
Page 5-7 What Ballet School is best for you? Quiz Page 9 French Poems on Ballet
Table of Contents Ballet Culture Pa" 3 E#to$al Pa" 4 Which Program % Right for Y&? Quiz Pa" Are y& Ready for pointe Shoes? Pa" 8 French Poems of Dance Pa" Pointe Shoe Tools Pa"
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Breaking in pointe Shoe Pa" 11 Buying Pointe (oes for fir) time Pa" 12 Word Search Pa" 13 Adve*%ements Pa" 14
Special Thanks to: Mr. Lee (For Editing) Paris (For Messing something up ‘For the better’) And everyone reading this! (For reading this) Ballet (For, simply, being here in our lives)
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5-7
THE BALLET CULTURE
As many dancers know, Ballet has a rich culture and interesting terminology. Dancing has many cultures, different dance types cultures, a dancers own culture and a companies or schools culture! While this may confuse dancers and other people alike, I mean that everything has it’s own small culture. Have you noticed at your dance school or school that something always happens and just at your school? That is an example of a culture inside a culture. If you want to go deeper, another example is how a dancer dances. Although you may do the same move as an Arabesque, you may do it more sharper or softly. Then again, ballet is a disciplined art. Now that you are familiar with the culture of ballet, it’s time to move onto terminology. Our terminology is not in english but french. Mostly, we don’t have much slang besides RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) or, one I heard recently, BAD (Brilliant Awesome Dancer). Concluding, our ballet culture is rich and is yet not fully discovered.
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Editorial: Dancing Improves many things
Being a dancer myself, dancing enriches your life. As every good dancer knows, dance expresses emotions, feelings and, sometimes, a story. A happy story. A sad story, any story. And when you are down, dancing may help because you are expressing yourself. Have you noticed after dance you’re feeling super-eminent and relaxed but worked hard? You can make yourself feel better by dancing. Although you can express your happy by smiling, you have to pour yourself into the dance. You have to project your feelings and thoughts as you focus on the movements. While this now leaves you with no more sadness or anger because you poured it out! Even if you projected happiness, you are feeling even better! Dancing can express your emotions but it’s also fun and challenging. Obviously, as you watch a dancer dance, they look effortless. Then as you try what they did, it’s challenging and you just can’t get close to what it looked like. A disciplined art, ballet makes you work hard and pushes you all the way to your limits. As my dad says, “Why be mediocre if everyone else can be mediocre, too?” With that in mind, dancing is a very cutthroat competitive art. Sometimes you’re competing against yourself and sometimes others. Overall, your competing against yourself. Once you get through all the hard work, blood, sweat and a few tears, this art is extremely enjoyable. While you go to classes, you make friends and have an amusing time. Dancing with your friends is practically the greatest thing a dancer could do! Well, besides making it to a top company and being a Principle dancer (a Principle dancer is one or is the best dancer in the dance company). Anyway, dancing is most relaxing, especially improvisation. Honestly, after a hard day, I don’t want to follow rules or do practiced exercises. Relaxing and letting yourself loose as you dive into the music, is why I like improvisation the best. Obviously, you can see improvisation dancing is the most relaxing and fun dance in my opinion. You may conclude, dance has many ups and downs and certainly is a tough form of art. When your feeling down, dance because many things can come out of it. Including an answer. Page 4
QUIZ: Which dance School % Right for Y&?
(Answers on Page 7)
1. Do you strive for perfection in everything (how your hair is, how you dance, etc.)? A. TOTALLY! I want nothing to be wrong and I am a perfectionist! I get everything perfect! B. Yes, I want to perfect my technique and how I dance. Not sure about my hair though... C. I dance for fun. I like it but I am not sure about if I want to go pro... D. Uh... no. 2. How committed are you to dance? A. I am super committed and everyone tells me! I am ready to take my dance to the next level and be perfect in how I dance! B. Yes. Sure. I want to go pro. C. I told you I dance for fun. I sometimes practice, I sometimes don’t. Depends. D. I don’t dance. I am completely not committed. How can I be committed if I don’t do it? 3. Do you have time to drive around like crazy, maybe not at the best hours, spend quite a lot of money, and dance for (practically) fifteen hours a week? A. B. C. D.
Completely. No questions asked. I think, besides talking to my parents. I don’t know. I would like to but a lot has to be done. Look, I am not sure and I am dancing for fun. Maybe later in the future. Look. I don’t dance. I am just some random citizen reading this because I am bored and I found this. Try finding a school for me now! ;)
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4. Are you willing to go through a lot of pain to be a dancer? A. Yes! I will! B. Um... yeah! I guess. C. Hm... not really. Maybe. D. NO! I don’t dance so why should I go through pain? Wait... Dancers go through pain? That’s funny. 5. Are you okay with writing a test on ballet? A. YES! I will be awesome at this test! B. Okay. But I already have school for test. But Yes, this will be fun. C. Maybe. But... what happens if you fail? D. No. Who wants to do a test on ballet? 6. Are you a strong dancer with a strong technique? A. Yes. Yes. And, yes! B. Yeah, pretty strong. C. I don’t know. I guess I do. D. WHO CARES? Oh, and what do you mean by technique? 7. Can you remember complex exercises? A. No problem. B. Sometimes I mess up but otherwise, yes. C. Not really. I can try... D. Why do ballet when you can do __(Insert passion)_____? 8. Why are you really doing this quiz? A. I want to know what school is best for me and I want a good school B. I want to know what school. Maybe see what it is and stuff... C. Just doing it. Hey, you never know what you might learn from this. D. I am just randomly reading this. Turns out, this quiz means nothing to me (You don’t say random annoying citizen). Page 6
ANSWERS TO QUIZ: Mostly A’s:
You are a perfectionist in everything about ballet. You are committed and always trying to be the best of the best! Also, you are probably a very good dancer. School recommended: VJPD (Vancouver's Junior Professional Division) RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Mostly B’s:
You are committed. Although you aren’t much of a perfectionist, you focus on getting everything right in ballet. Well, besides the hair and little other extras. You are probably a very good dancer! School recommended: RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Shift Anna Wyman Mostly C’s
You dance for fun, mostly. At times you are really serious about it, other times you slack off. You do it for the joy, mostly. School recommended: Any!!!! You’re good!!!! Mostly D’s You don’t dance and for whatever reason, you took this quiz. I have no school recommended for you. Just keep on doing whatever you are doing. Oh, and may you learned a lesson on making quizzes. ALWAYS CONSIDER OTHERS TOO NO MATTER HOW AWESOME THE SUBJECT. ;) So, to conclude, don’t go to any dance schools unless you want to or you get paid a heck lot of money. Page 7
ARE YOU READY FOR POINTE?
This is what every dancer dreams of getting someday; Pointe shoes. As every dancer knows, the wait is painful. When you get older and older, you learn more things about this dream. Pointe isn’t this effortless thing, your dancing on a wooden block! This requires much strength and ability to tough things out. So, how do you know I am ready for pointe? It’s simple, really. Before going into all the pointe work and strength, you must at least be eleven years old. No questions asked, as I think a seven year old won’t be able to do this. Furthermore, you must have a strong arch that can go over your toes. Even when you do Demi-pointe, the arch must be pushed over your toes. Adding to this, you must have a strong core. For balance and such other reasons. However, your arch and strength does matter very much, but so does your attitude. A distraught dancer that doesn’t take anything seriously should not deserve or get their own pointe shoes. Even if, in strength wise, they are ready. Certainly, the dancers attitude also affects when their first pair of pointe shoes shall be bought. Undoubtedly, the dancer also should be able to handle a few blisters here and there and ugly feet. If you want pretty feet, this is not the thing for you. Hopefully, you are ready and if not... Well, patience is a virtue.
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FRENCH DANCE POEMS: Behind the Stage for the First Time Being nerveux (nervous) is like an infecter (infection) back here. Fellow dancers and friends don’t whisper or giggle, just stand in solid crainte (fear). What if I mess up? What if I faint on stage? What if I trip and fall and break a jambe (leg) onstage? Questions tourbilloner (swirl) and twirl stealing every bit of foi (faith). Oh non, Oh non, Oh non! Our temps (time) is almost up before going onstage. The other dancers make it look easy, and quite amusement (fun) really. People consoler (comfort) us but it’s not really swaying us. You’ll do great, just have amusement (fun), they say. Some even say break a jambe (leg), quite excitedly. Ripples of crainte (fear) and panic comes out here and there. Oh non, Oh non, Oh non! I am not sure if I will do good or bad but it is temps (time) to go. My stomach twist and kicks and drops in crainte (fear). Oh non, Oh non, Oh non! Hopefully, I won’t break a jambe (Leg)!
Authors Note: Going onstage for the first time as a small child is stressful. What if you mess up? What if you faint? These are the thoughts of a small child going onstage for their first time.
Ballet Ballet Emotive Beau Bougeant S’Exbrimant montrant Magie, Croyance Musique Amour Vivant Content Ballet Page 9
Pointe Shoe Tools and Helpers: Pointe shoes hurt and some tools can help prevent certain injuries. You can find these products at local dance stores. Ouch Pouches: - Prevent blisters -Soften the impact on toes to the pad of foot -Make Pointe shoes more Comfy Lamb Wool: - Softens impact on Toes and Buttons down Toe Spacers: - Only to be used if big toe or small toe curve in - Keep toes straight and not a big mess - Easier to dance in pointe shoes Toe Caps: - Protect toes - Soften Impact on toes - Prevent Blisters Tape: - To prevent blisters on toes - Put it on toes Note: You can buy these at Duck Feet in West Vancouver (This store is near Anna Wyman) Page 10
Breaking in your first pair of pointe Shoes: Honestly, pointe shoes are the heart and soul of a ballerina. As some of you may know, pointe shoes are only broken in for one fourth of their life. Breaking them in is a very important and slow process! How to Break in your Pointe shoes: 1 . Find a place to break them in and work in them. Do not practice or stand on them on a wooden floor! Your floor will get dented and your parents won’t be happy. Carpet floor will work well. 2. First of all, everyone has their own way of breaking these guys in. There’s plenty of ways! Ask: Friends, Teachers, Internet, Etc. 3. Try rolling through your feet while wearing them first 4. Press down on the box/vamp of the pointe shoe. This softens a box but some dancers, like myself, prefer a stiff box. 5. Walk around on Demi-pointe when wearing them. When you first get them, going on full Demi-pointe is a hard thing to do. 6. Practice! Do normal exercises but don’t do pirouettes or anything hard. Tendues and slow releves will be good for beginners (make sure you are warm before you do this). 7. You can also put the box on the ground then push over the box to break in the Shank. 8. Take the pointe shoe by both ends and bend them (the way you pointe) a little but not too lightly. This helps break in the shank. TIP: Also bend both ways, this helps even more. 9.Remember, it takes a long time to get your pointe shoes broken in. Just keep on trying and enjoy pointe!
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Buying Pointe Shoes for The First Time It’s an amazing moment, when you are told it’s time to buy your first pair of pointe shoes. Although you are oblivious about how much it hurts to go en pointe for your first time. Anyway, before going to buy your pointe shoes, ask your ballet teacher to come with you. Even if the store knows what it’s doing, your teacher will provide extra help for the right fit (your parents probably don’t know anything about buying these so a teacher will help). While your teacher may be helping, it won’t make the process go that much faster. Pointe shoes and products is a huge industry, with all type of different shoes and fits. You might buy a Capezio pointe shoe or a Bloch pointe shoe? Who really knows. Usually, it takes much time to find your perfect fit so go with much time to spare. Also, make sure you tell the truth when the assistant ask you how you feel. Even if you love how the pointe shoe looks but your heel is slopping around and it’s too tight... tell them. Don’t worry, you will find better pointe shoes. After getting them, only practice for five minutes a day. After you had five classes of pointe. Some of you may know this, don’t expect too much when you start. Trust me, you will be disappointed. When you first start, you do Tendues and releves. Sometimes only releves in parallel/sixth position. Overall, buying pointe shoes is fun and exciting. Just hope buying them doesn’t take too long. Page 12
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Ballet Word Search ALL ABOUT BALLET!!!
DSWGHDGKLOPQRSTVUD F A DR FEXERCISESDFGG BBN A JAWQERTYUITDFD AFGCLASSICALDGJKNBB LLHFEBDQALHIUSDFGCX LPIROUETTEZGRACWQAS EOCHOREOGRAPHWSXDH T IFGJKPLDRFLQXZAWEN A NSDFGHRA QHJKLMNER G TDHGTIKJCTELETUBYG E E E E E E E E E J K L M N O PT U I I XWQUTDGJKSCGEWUOGE PD HFEETGDETUTU DD FH R I SE O F D D D B G D F E S A X K U L EDSRGRSFYGKLDSAAWER SSEFREXPRESSEDPOITTY SAYWHDEWATJKLOJMNVX
Words: Ballet Choreograph Dance Expressive Pointe Pirouette Classical Grace Exercises Tutu
Type to enter text
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Good luck!
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