Challenge of the week: March 23rd, 2015

Location:  Center

Combination:  Adagio

Step:  The full challenge sequence is: developpé croisé front, elevé, close to high fifth, release back leg into third (Vaganova) arabesque (still on your balance), quarter promenade still on demi pointe to first (Vaganova) arabesque, lower heel. 

Challenge:  Maintaining balance!

Success?: Only one direction (balancing on my right leg).  My core placement and support is much better on the right side, so although I could do everything until the promenade on both sides, to the left, the promenade just fell apart. 

Tip:  Remember that your core holds you up, and pulls you out of your hips.  Stay pulled up on your supporting side throughout the balance, and place your arms with precision and decision.  Do the whole rotation to the same degree with every part---i.e., don't yank the heel on your supporting leg around and leave the gesture leg (new term I've recently seen; I like it) out where it was.  Don't turn just your hip and have it poking out while the rest of your body is still in its previous position.

Also, use your eyes and look up and out to where you're facing. 

One of my friends, who used to dance at a conservatory in Brazil, reported that Sylvie Guillem was capable of doing a full promenade en pointe with no partner.  That's just crazy.