Basic Principles of Classical Ballet (23 page)

En dedans.
From the same position, after demi-plié, draw the left leg to 2nd position and carry it to 5th position front, rising on half-toe and pulling in the leg. Then turn to the right (en dedans), accompanying it by the same movement of the arms, and finish right foot front. Attention must be paid, that the leg en dehors and en dedans does not describe an unnecessary arc on the floor, but returns from 2nd into 5th position in a straight line.

The next exercise is a change from one foot to the other with a half-turn on half-toe.

From 5th position right foot front, do demi-plié, dégagé with the right leg with extended toes on the floor into 2nd position; rise on half-toe of this foot, and draw to it the left leg into 5th position back with a half-turn en dedans; stop with the back to the audience, demi-plié, dégagé with the left leg into 2nd position, rise on the half-toe of the left leg, drawing the right one into 5th position front with a half-turn en dehors.

105. Change from one foot to the other in half-turn

The arms open into 2nd position at half-height during dégagé; during the turn they join in preparatory position with the same elastic movement as in the foregoing exercise.

The same kind of movement is jeté on half-toe making half-turns: with each change of legs move to the side, turning the body a half-turn, i.e. face—back—face—back, etc. The leg is drawn to the side, raising it every time to 45°. During dégagé into 2nd position with the right leg, the right arm is in 1st position, the left one in 2nd; during dégagé with the left leg, the left arm is in 1st position, the right one in 2nd.

106.
Jeté
on half-toe in half-turn

This movement teaches control, especially during the second turn, when the body is with its back to the audience. Attention must be paid to the turn-out of the knee of the leg on which the plié is done.

Having mastered the above-mentioned turns on half-toe, the student will easily continue to study the execution of them on pointes.

After these preparatory exercises one may begin to do tours in their simplest form.

TOURS FROM A PREPARATION, DÉGAGÉ

En dehors.
Stand in 5th position, right foot front; demi-plié, dégagé with the left leg into 2nd position at 45°, draw it to the front of right leg on half-toe and turn on left foot, raising right one sur le cou-de-pied front. Fall on right leg in demi-plié, open left leg to the side in 45°, and continue the movement.

107. Turn from dégagé en dehors

Such tours can also be done diagonally. In these cases, when falling on the right leg, the left should be opened to the side diagonally.

The arms move the following way. Open the arms into 2nd position at half-height, at the instant of dégagé and during the tour join them in preparatory position. This movement of the arms gives the necessary force for the tour. During tours the arms should not be jerked sharply, this will only throw you off the spot.

En dedans.
The following form is widely accepted: from 5th position, right foot front, demi-plié, dégagé with right leg into 2nd position at 45°, and step out on the half-toe of the same foot, turn en dedans, the left leg sur le cou-de-pied front; fall on left leg in demi-plié, the right sur le cou-de-pied front; and continue the movement. Subsequently these tours are studied diagonally, and later in a circle; then the left leg is sur le cou-de-pied back of the right one. At the beginning of the execution the body is turned effacé. During the tour the leg is kept sur le cou-de-pied back.

The arms move the same way they did in tours en dehors.

After these tours begins the study of tours from 4th position. Because of the preparation in 4th position these tours are easier achieved than the tours from 5th position which follow them.

108. Turn from dégagé en dedans

TOURS FROM 4TH POSITION

The study of these tours is preceded by preparatory exercises, during which all the movements comprising these tours are studied without turns. These movements should be taught in the beginners’ classes.

En dehors.
Stand in 4th position croisé, left foot front, demi-plié, push off the floor with
both
heels, which is very important, rise
high
on half toe
²⁷
of left foot, as if jumping on it with a short push (this manner is the manner of the Italian school, and it should be strictly adhered to, as it is of great help in the execution of tours); place right foot in a very close sur le cou-de-pied front just as sharply as it will have to be placed for the correct execution of tours. Hold this pose, trying to find in it a firm balance, and finish in demi-plié in 4th position, right foot back.

109. Turn en dehors from 4th position

The arms: during the first pose the right arm is stretched out in front, as if it were in 3rd
arabesque
(the body, too, has the direction of 3rd arabesque), the left arm is drawn to the side, the wrists slightly raised. Rising on half-toe, join the arms in 1st position at 45°, keeping them rounded and strong. In the final pose just open the palms, leaving the arms in the same position.

With this exercise we prepare for tour en dehors. It also furnishes the preparation and the conclusion of the tour.

En dedans.
Tours en dedans are studied in the same manner. The difference lies in the way the force for the tour is taken. In tours en dehors you push off with both feet from 4th position. In tours en dedans, you push off with the heel of the right foot, open the left leg into 2nd position at 45°, spring sharply on the half-toe of the right foot, drawing the left one closely sur le cou-de-pied front. When you are in 4th position, the right arm is bent in front of you in 1st position, the left one open in 2nd position; then both arms open into 2nd position during dégagé, and join at 45° during the tour; during the concluding pose in 4th position in demi-plié (left foot back) the arms remain in preparatory position, just slightly opened.

It should be said that this tour may also be finished with the left foot in 5th position front.

110. Turn en dedans from 4th position

When the students are well enough prepared, they are taught to make one turn, and later two and three. And then both the preparatory movements and the tours are taught on pointes. At the beginning of the study of turns, it must be remembered that the force for turns is furnished by the arms, never by the body, which must be immobile. It must also be remembered that the force is not taken with the shoulder, and the turn is done only around its axis.

TOURS FROM 5TH POSITION

Tours from 5th position are more complicated. Without the preparatory movement we had in 4th position, which furnished a convenient push, we must rely here mostly on the work of the arms.

We prepare for the study of these tours with the same kind of exercises.

En dehors.
Stand in 5th position, right foot front; demi-plié, spring on half-toe of left foot with the same push-off as in the foregoing exercise, raising the right leg sur le cou-de-pied front.