Tendu a la Seconde
Dancing Smart Newsletter
February 11, 2005
Announcements: I'm teaching the third out of a 4 part series for pilates teachers in Cleveland on February 26th, from 1-5pm. The topic is Exploring the Upper Extremity. If anyone is interested in taking this workshop please contact Scott Meyers at 440-376-5897
I'll be in Watertown, NY on April 9th doing 2 workshops. The morning workshop is on "Moving Smart: Tips to increase flexibility and reduce injuries", and the afternoon workshop is on "Dancing Smart: How to evaluate and improve your turnout and Range of Motion of the hip joint". Contact person is Shereen Daly 315-785-5513, or email at inmotion@twcny.rr.com
Onto the question of the week!
I have a question regarding turnout in tendu a la seconde a terre. I realize turnout is turnout, however, we all have different philosophies and methods for teaching. In regards to tendu second, some teach that it is across from ones toes on their supporting side, whereas others teach it as being directly across from the supporting leg heel, which truly is side. When the body executing the tendu is aligned and lifted, then I feel this truly is the best method as it is where tendu ö la seconde should be and I think it's not as easy to fake. But I prefer to teach it across from the toes of the supporting leg, as I feel this is safer for the supporting leg. I feel students are less likely to wrench their leg as they often do not use the correct musculature to maintain their turnout. Is there any validity in this manner of thinking? Is one of this less harmful than the other? Obviously I want my students to turn out, but I am always wary of injuring them and/or developing the wrong muscles that they may at some point have to undo.
Thanks, Leigh
Great question, Leigh! I applaud you for being so aware of the nuances of tendu ö la seconde. Working the gesture leg from it's established first position is the best way to keep the standing leg from turning in. Turnout is always established by the standing leg.
The wrenching you are referring to happens when the student who has less than ideal turnout tries to take the tendu leg truly side and ends up either turning the tendu leg in slightly, or the standing leg even more so. We tend to notice what's happening on the standing leg less. It is natural to be focused on the movement of the gesture leg, so the more common pattern is to cheat on the standing leg for the beautifully aligned gesture leg.
Aligning your gesture leg more to the toe of the standing leg is a good goal. Often, the beginning dancer will do well to make sure they maintain the turnout they are standing in by taking the tendu in a straight line wherever their first is. This will be much more of a diagonal line, then what we think of as side.
The reason you start your beginning dancers sliding straight out from their first is to establish the pattern of using their turnout from the hip, and not changing directions as they move through the tendu. As they gain the flexibility and the stability to open their first position the angle of their tendu will reflect this.
Too often I have seen dancers begin by forcing their first position and either pronate the feet or torque the knees to stay in this forced first. Standing like this certainly compromises both the ankles/feet as well as the knees over the long term. Much better to work in a smaller first initially, and then work your way to open.
Remember, if you have any question about the amount of turnout the dancer has, check their turnout by having them lie on their stomach with their legs underneath them. Then bend one knee and let the foot fall over the other leg. That is an estimate of their turnout. When you let the foot fall out away from the other leg, that estimates the amount of turn in they have at their hips. Don't allow either hip to come off the floor as you are testing.
Sometimes dancers are so good at faking turnout that you don't know there is a problem until they come to you with chronic aches or pain.
Until next week,
Deborah