|
 2 Tips
for Teachers
By Mignon Furman
Moving Steps
TIP ONE
for young children
For children ages 5 to 8, start the class with moving steps,
before they stand still for demiplié or tendu. Suitable steps
would be gallops, runs on a high demi-pointe, and what I call
“picked-up runs,” which are running movements in which the
raised knee bends and the foot is lifted behind the body.
Combinations of the above movements can also be used. Moving
at the start of a class builds enthusiasm and helps the
children work off excess energy in a positive way or snaps
them out of a state of lethargy (characteristic of warm days).
This is also a good way to warm up for the class.
Teachers must insist that the feet are stretched, that the
body is held in an upright position without any flopping, and
that the hands are on the waist or the fingertips are on the
shoulders or holding skirts. Vary the combinations of the
moving steps and arm positions to maintain interest.
TIP TWO
for older dancers
For children ages 9 and older, the class should end with
moving steps (about the last 8 minutes). For example, temps
levé in first arabesque, then the lifted leg steps across and
the back foot goes to passé position. This is done in a series
en diagonale. The dancers could do this two at a time,
depending on the size of the class. This forms the basis upon
which other steps can be developed, such as failli, assemblé,
or grand jeté en avant. The same combination should be
repeated over several classes, which saves time in teaching a
new combination and increases the dancers’ ability to improve
the movement. Also, stamina will be built up. And with more
confidence, the quality of their performance will improve.
Photo by Costas
Send
Page To a Friend
|
Contact:
Dance Studio Life, P.O. Box 2150, Norton, MA 02766,
Phone: 888-i-dance-9,
508-285-6650, Fax: 508-285-3179,
Email:
Goldrushdance@aol.com
|
|
Copyright 2007 Dance
Studio Life
Magazine, a division of the Rhee Gold Company and Gold Standard
Press, LLC. Dance Studio Life Magazine and Dance Studio
Life Online is
published twelve times annually. No contents of Dance Studio
Life
Magazine and Dance Studio Life Online may not be duplicated
in whole or in part without permission of the publisher. Inclusion
in Dance Studio Life does not imply endorsement by Dance
Studio Life or
its employees |
