Third Positon, Classes and Dveloppé

Happy New Year to all.

I finally added the inamorata ballet logo to the right last night. I wanted it on the top of the page but for some reason Blogger was giving me a hard time with that.

Check out the links below – Susan Jaffe’s demonstration and Rosalie O’Conner’s positions. Lovely.

Third position (Troisième position): (you can see all positions in this link)
In the third position one foot is in front of the other, heels touching the middle of the other foot.

I recently took an intro class with a substitute teacher and she asked us to do an exercise in third position. I had never had a teacher ask us to do something in third position but I guess it is a good idea for real beginners.

Developpé
Time developed, developing movement. Through common usage the term has become abridged to développé. A développé is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and slowly extended to an open position en l'air and held there with perfect control. The hips are kept level and square to the direction in which the dancer is facing.

Now am I crazy or are some teachers pronouncing it kind of like “Devel–coupe.” Someone please let me know. At first I was trying to figure out what a Devel-coupe was but now I realize that some people have a different way of pouncing it.

It is been tough the last few weeks for ballet since I (along with most people) have been eating more than usual and there have not been any classes on on Mondays and Tuesdays for the last two weeks.

On top of that my knee began bothering me after class last Thursday and I was still in discomfort on Friday and didn’t go to Pilates mat. The knee is slowly getting better though, hopefully I can go to class on Wednesday and/or Thursday.

I don’t believe in New Years resolutions but there are a few things I want to try in 2008. One goal I have for the coming year is to try a couple of new/different classes. This includes taking some Beginner level classes a few times instead of basic beginner, try a different school and get myself to a Sunday class now and then! Also I am trying to see about taking Pilates and water aerobics during my vacation (unfortunately there will not be any ballet there) but I have a little time for that. I send you all the best wishes for a great 2008.