Posts Tagged ‘demi-plie’

By Mignon Furman

Tip 1
When teaching jumps, tell the students to push the floor away. My teacher always said, “Treat the floor like your worst enemy and it will turn out to be your best friend.”     

When teaching springs or sautés to young children, tell them first to bounce with their feet parallel. Then tell them to stretch their feet and legs as they push the floor away. Progress to a turned-out position and show the “window” made by the open knees in first position demi-plié. Reinforce the idea of maintaining a tall body as the dancers spring into the air and as they alight.

Tip 2
The basic vocabulary of ballet jumps includes sauté, changement, glissade, jeté, assemblé, pas de chat, and sissone. These steps should be taught slowly and carefully between the ages of 7 and 10, with continued practice to establish muscle memory so that they perform the steps correctly without having to stop and think. (“Practice makes perfect!”) Emphasize the following concepts:

• The foot never leaves the floor without stretching.
• All springing steps begin and end with a demi-plié.
• For the steps that start with a swish, such as jeté and assemblé, a firm thrust with the working leg gives the impetus for the jump.

By Mignon Furman

Tip #1
A demi-plié provides both spring and momentum in allegro work, making fast steps easier, jumps higher, and landings softer. Demi-plié must be used at the beginning and end of all springing and allegro steps, including glissades. A well-executed glissade must be completed in one count, making certain to put the same energy in stretching the closing foot as in the leading foot.

Tip #2
Demi-plié also facilitates the transfer of weight in a piqué. Before stepping onto a piqué (or posé), the dancer should demi-plié on the supporting leg to enable a good push off onto the stepping leg. This places the dancer solidly on the stepping leg on pointe or demi-pointe.