Eric Conrad's Ballet Revolution- V&T Dance Master Class

[ennewby]

I'm also having trouble understand the transfer of weight when doing tendu's etc.

[ennewby]

I have a question pertaining to the floor work in the first dvd. I'm from a small town and i'm a guy. It's hard to find good training, but I was wondering about when i push my back in to the floor like instructed does that make my tailbone tuck under? i've been told that your tailbone is not suppose to tuck under and that the back is suppose to be free. If you could share some light on this subject i'd really appreciate it. I really want good placement because i want to do things right.

[MissEllie18]

This video helps a lot! Personally, as a dancer, I see those other girls better than mediocre. I dont think its fair to call them that! I see every dancer that has ggreat potential as a beautiful dancer. I understand that their hips were off and their technique wasn't perfect but dancing has more than that! You can be an amazing dancer and not have all the greatest technique. Personally, this is just my opinion. <3 Dancing has more to that. passion, hard work thats what dancing is about!

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@MissEllie18 The dancers themselves are not mediocre, their training is, what is lacking is attention to detail on the part of their teachers. Of course dancing isn't about technique, or it shouldn't be, but unfortunately it has become increasingly about flexibility and tricks, even in Russia. That said, technique must become second nature for true artistry to exist, again extremely rare to see. In America dancers are particularly victims of neglect, especially when they become professionals

[722erodz]

i need to be more flexible : }

[Ohgod777]

Hey Eric! Such a wonderful blog and the work you've been doing has been magnificent. You really are one of the few that really get the purpose of ballet. Say, I was wondering if you have an estimated release date on that new DVD of yours. I've been biting my nails for you to announce it! Thanks!

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@Ohgod777 Thanks so much for watching, which DVD are you referring to? I have a new Floor Barre DVD coming out which demonstrates how to teach turn-out and correct placement from the beginning. I have a DVD out already, Volume 1 of the Secrets of Russian Ballet, Volume 2 will be out in a few months in the best case. Please let me know what you are interested in and I will give you an exact answer.- Cheers

[dance4562]

Eric, thank you for posting these wonderful videos. These girls seem to have lovely arms and arm placement. This is a sticky issue for many of my students. I'm curious, have you posted any blogs regarding correct port de bras and how to achieve the aesthetically and technically accurate placement necessary to maintain proper placement? Thanks!

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@dance4562 I have not posed a blog specifically about this as of yet as I'm still answering questions about fundamental placement, which is a prerequisite for teaching port de bras, and it makes leaning correct port de bras much easier for students. I am also putting out a new DVD that focuses on this, it is basically Volume 2 of the series.

[dance4562]

@AmericanCinemaBallet, Thanks, Eric. I'm still working through Volume 1, I will be on the lookout for Volume 2. Can't tell you how much your work is appreciated.

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@dance4562 I'm delighted that this work is helping you, please feel free to post questions anytime and I will create a Blog to answer it for you- Cheers!

[mjacobsen2010]

I would also like to know, as the previous question, is there a way to verbally communicate what a student should be feeling when they have correct placement. My daughter is 11, after watching your blogs, I've been asking her certain questions about placement. Her teacher had the students working on passe placement, and when my daughter finished she said her rear hurt from squeezing to hold her turnout. Is this some of the things she should be feeling?

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@mjacobsen2010 The quick answer is yes, I can convey a sense of what a student should expect to feel when they begin working their placement in this way. Certainly intense muscle soreness, some swelling of the muscles resulting in some stiffness can be expected in the beginning. What would be great is if you would be willing to make a short video clip of your daughters questions, for example, showing the "passe position" that you are referring to, then I will Blog about it

[mjacobsen2010]

@AmericanCinemaBallet I did film a little of her in class the other day working on positioning in passe. Would this be okay to send? Also, how do we find out where and when you teach Master classes? We have a few mom who are interested as well as their teacher. Thanks again for your time!

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@mjacobsen2010 Yes that footage will be great. I am in the process of organizing master classes myself as I am now getting a lot of requests, but the way I have been doing it is a school usually hosts it and does the publicity, shares the revenue etc. Now that more and more students, parents and teachers are aware of my work I will begin hosting them myself, this next week I'll be deciding on which studio to work with etc. Thanks so much for your interest, I will get back to you shortly.

[Sanchara]

it was interesting to see that one younger girl working on tendu to the front - that hip pop is sooo subtle I had to go back and watch the clip over a couple times to see it.

Do you have any advice on how to feel and correct placement problems while you are practicing on your own?

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@Sanchara Yes although I will need to make a visual Blog to adequately answer your question, so I will do that in the next week or two

[tutus4life]

hahaha don't you just love it when parents tell you what to do to teach their own child? hilarious

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@tutus4life Yes on one hand, one the other parents have been so let down by the ballet teaching community that they are just trying to figure it out for themselves. As a parent I understand their concern, as a pedagogue I understand the impossiblity of it; they are in a really difficult position

[isthatmarcee]

OMG! ERIC I LOVE YOUR TEACHING TECHNIQUES :)

Could we arrange a master class in the future in my school in 2 hrs from LA?

[ondinedancer]

Hello Mr. Conrad, I was wondering: You said those girls in the vaganova video were not very good, I would like to know why, Are their legs not high enough? is their placement incorrect? have they no artistry. I would like to know, because for me they look amazing but I, of course, dont have the trained eye you have. I am truely curious!

[AmericanCinemaBallet]

@ondinedancer The gals in this video have tremendous talent, it is just by Russian standards, their training has been a bit careless or neglect might be a better word. The principal issue here is that they should be able to totally isolate the movement of their legs with that of their body ( in many but not all exercises); in this video you can see how their bodies echo what the legs are doing, which in Russia is considered sloppy. Does this help?

[ondinedancer]

@AmericanCinemaBallet. Thank you so much, it does help a lot.

[mjacobsen2010]

This was so interesting! I sent the link to my daughters Russian ballet teacher.  Along with several other parents.