PS) Breathe!: Prayers for Class

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Prayers for Class

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.

All: And enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Leader: Send forth your spirit and they shall be created.

All: And you will renew the face of the earth.

Leader: Lord by the light of your Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In that same spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

A prayer taken from part of the Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick

Christ behind me and before me,
Christ beside me, Christ within me,

Christ beneath me and above me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

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Ballet Dictionary

Arabesque: One of the basic poses in ballet. Arabesque takes its name from a form of Moorish ornament. In ballet it is a position of the body, in profile, supported on one leg, which can be straight or demi-plié, with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it, and the arms held in various harmonious positions creating the longest possible line from the fingertips to the toes. The shoulders must be held square to the line of direction. The forms of arabesque are varied to infinity.

Barre:

The horizontal wooden bar fastened to the walls of the ballet classroom or rehearsal hall which the dancer holds for support. Every ballet class begins with exercises at the bar. Common exercises at the barre include: plies, tendus, jetes and rond de jambe.

Battement: Beating

A beating action of the extended or bent leg. There are two types of battements, grands battements and petits battements. The petis battements are: Battements tendus, dégagés, frappés and tendus relevés: stretched, disengaged, struck and stretched-and- lifted .

Battement dégagé: Disengaged battement.

Battement fondu développé: Sinking down, developed.

This is an important part of barre work exercises and a preparation for jumps. The supporting leg plies whilst the other is in cou de pied, then both legs co ordinate together to stretch and the leg is brought back to cou de pied. The plie and stretch action is like the landing and take off for a jump.

Petit Battement sur le coy-de-pied: Small battement originating and finishing at the ankle (AKA: "neck of the foot")

Battement tendu: Battement stretched

A battement tendu is the commencing portion and ending portion of a grand battement and is an exercise to force the insteps well outward. The working foot slides from the first or fifth position to the second or fourth position without lifting the toe from the ground. Both knees must be kept straight. When the foot reaches the position pointe tendue, it then returns to the first or fifth position. Battements tendus may also be done with a demi-plié in the first or fifth position. They should be practiced en croix.

Bras: Arms.

Bras bas: Arms low or down

Example: Port de bras en bas

Center:

The portion of class when dancers move from the barre into the center. Without the support of the barre, they continue to work on their balance and coordination through a series of combinations and sustained poses.

Combinations:

Sequences of steps in a ballet class, or a modern dance class, or choreography.

Croix, en:

In the shape of a cross. Indicates that an exercise is to be executed to the front, side, back, and side. As, for example, in battements tendus en croix.

Sur de Cou-de-pied: On the "neck" of the foot

The working foot is placed on the part of the leg between the base of the calf and the beginning of the ankle.

En Avant: Forward

If a step is travelling forward, it is described as "En Avant"

Example: Glissade En Avant.

Jambe: Leg

Plié: Bent, bending

They are both a movement and position in ballet. Pliés warm the muscles and are done at the beginning of class at the barre and during center work. Pliés provide stability for poses. Pliés prep and/or end jumps and steps.

Port de bras: Carriage of the arms

The movement of arms take to pass through each position. In a typical ballet class, the dancers have a set port de bras exercise designed specifically to work on the back and arm muscles.

Supporting leg: A term used by dancers and teachers for the leg which supports the body, so that the working leg is free to carry the movement.

Relive: Raised

A raise either on pointe or demi-pointe and your foot rises off the floor, either with a small spring or softer motion.

Retire: Withdrawn.

The position for pirouettes where the thigh raised and the toe is placed in front, behind or at the side of the knee. The supported leg in straight, on demi-pointe for pirouettes and balances.

Rond de jambe: Round of the leg, a circular movement of the leg.

Rond de jambe can be done clockwise (en dehors) and counterclockwise (en dedans).

Turn-out:

The turn out is initiated from hip joints and continues through the feet, so that the whole leg is engaged.

Working leg:

The leg that is carrying out the movement, while other leg is supporting the balance of the body.