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From: swalston3
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  • I think you are great!

  • Guys... when you're a grade 3 you don't have to have the highest extensions

  • There's a very nice fluidity you show in this exercise, so if you pass that on to pupils you are doing fine! Ceccehti famous for p. d. bras, rightly so. As for some comments - teachers have to know how TO and how NOT TO do things & not be prima ballerinas themselves, as passing on knowledge gained thru' often painful experience can be so much more useful. Too many 'teachers' are happy just to show off their prowess rather than develop their pupils. lol

  • @MrKLT1945 : Wow, one of the best compliments so far! Thanks so much. Teaching and learning to teach and learning the Cecchetti work and being able to teach it correctly and pulling all the minute details out of the work definitely looks and feels and is different from just being able to dance a piece. Each element of dance is so genuine .... teaching, choreography, dancing ... sometimes it's hard to appreciate the other element if you are not involved in it... Thanks again!

  • @swalston3 No problem! I am old enough to remember the Royal Ballet School introducing their teaching diploma as a direct result of many of their ballerinas retiring and teaching amateur/recreational children as if they (the girls esp.) were all perfect prima b. material like they had been. They had no understanding of physical anomalies etc or how to teach the less gifted! It was more like another opportunity for them to be admired, forgetting they were there to teach, not show off.

  • @MrKLT1945 Oh now that's pretty cool to know about your knowledge of the RBS! I had no idea! I have been fortunate enough to teach a few very gifted students who just had the whole package. The body, the flexibility, the strength, the centering, etc. They are SO FUN to teach. And then there's the other 99.9% of the students looking for ballet lessons. It's nice to have comprehensive teacher training. The CCA program I'm going through beats out the college training I've had hands down!

  • @swalston3 I have a great advantage over you - I'm VERY OLD! My knowledge & experiences go way back. Best experience of my pro. career (apart from actually dancing) was masterclas with Nureyev who had the patience of a saint with us. Favourite, offstage, was Fonteyn, who refused my offer to let her 'jump the queue' for drinks during reh'sal break. Such class & manners. Hard to think just how badly the ROH tretated her in her later, impoverished, life, after all the kudos she brought to the RB

  • @MrKLT1945 WOW!! I am so honored to "meet" you! We must correspond, I would love to hear all your stories! You knew Nureyev & Fonteyn?? I bet 90% of the commenters here, who are under the age of 21 just went to look those names up on Wikipedia! We, in the ballet world, lost the last of a great era of dancers with the death of Fonteyn and Nureyev. WOW, I'm incredibly humbled that you had anything nice to say about this Gr. III arabesque video! ha!! I really am honored. Tell us all more!

  • @swalston3 Will talk more when I get back from a long-awaited holiday in African bush - unless I get eaten by lions/crocodiles!

  • @MrKLT1945 Fantastic! Can't wait to hear all about Africa and everything else! :)

  • I study this same style and I have never seen the second arm on arabesque do that?

  • @Darebear940 : Do what, exactly? You'll have to be more specific. I study with Dr. Kathleen Tenniswood, who holds a Ph.D. in ballet as well as the Cecchetti Diploma. I have never received a correction on my 2nd arabasque arm in an exam or when I'm teaching and other teachers are in the class/audience. I'm presently working on my Professional Intermediate Teaching Certification. So, please be more specific.

  • Just plain incorrect technique/ability. The knee should never bend DOWNWARD like that - keep it lifted. Ballet is a lot of work - just keep right on going.

  • @nickderekyelli: You think the entire thing is technically flawed?  That's interesting. Thanks for the comments!

  • @nickderekyelli

    to be fair - i did not say 'the entire thing was flawed'. I am a ballet teacher/dancer - and gave my best advice on that developpe. Also, keep your 5th position tight. I like the way you work through the moves slowly and carefully, and really use the floor.

  • @nickderekyelli Hmmm... I don't know what part of the developpe has my knee bending downward... don't see it and I def. don't teach it like that. Thanks for stopping by!

  • @swalston3

    ok - so you begin the developpe and get your foot to your knee, right? That's good, but it's when you extend the leg - you must lift from the knee instead of letting the knee bend downward and the foot leads the way. just watch some videos of that part - you'll see the difference. it's just a technical thing, and of course, it's hard!

  • @nickderekyelli well we start the developpes from retire, not from pirouette... and yeah.. i agree with the mechanism re: extension. although being not a robot, i'm prone to mistakes. thanks for stopping by.

  • Wow, amazing muscles in your back. I take ballet but it's not really my thing. Way too tedious and boring to me. However, I have a huge respect for people who can do it. I love watching you guys. It's so graceful (unlike me). It's a necessity even for hip-hop dancers. It improves your dancing overall. I'm into hip-hop, modern, musical theater, jazz, and breakdancing. Ballet is SOOOOOOO helpful. My technique has improved a lot. I'm starting point this year! :)

  • @MyUnspokenVoice I TOTALLY WISH I COULD DO HIP HOP!!!!!! It looks like so much fun. I look absolutely retarded when taking a HH class. Or a Modern class. LOL!!! Ballet definitely isn't for everyone. I am infinitely envious of my friends who are more versatile dancers than me. Growing up I only had ballet and tap. That's all that was available. It's a different world for dancers today though - much more diverse and demanding. Thanks for the kind words and KEEP DANCING!!!

  • Well it doesn't matter what people think because this was a very well done exercise!!!

  • @dancer123099 Hey Thanks So Much!!!

  • So typical as there is lots of females. I wish people would stop bitching and being so nasty.

  • @shollo12 LOL... well that's ballet world for ya! It doesn't bother me. I work within my own capacity and am confident in my ability as a teacher/dancer.

  • I'm no ballet pro but I don't get why this video has been disliked so many times. I wish I could do that...

  • @shollo12 LOL....well the dance community is REALLY critical of it's members - it's always been a cut throat environment. It doesn't bother me.... Dancers aren't happy unless they can tear each other down. :)

  • Amazing strong muscles in your back and shoulders! You must work really hard. Great job.

  • @Zephyr705 Awwww thanks!

  • This just increases my dislike of the cecchetti method. I understand the theories behind teaching it, but wow it's just so incredibly boring and ugly. (not the dancer in the video just the form itself). I keep trying to watch cecchetti based videos of various levels, but there's just nothing to it! Not a fan!

  • @trappedinside1: There aren't very many Cecchetti videos on YouTube and what little is there does leave some to be desired (including mine!) I think the Vaganova method is the prettiest, but it isn't necessarily the safest way to teach and it isn't even available to learn in the area. I recently tried to teach the major work (Level 6, Intermediate Professional) to advanced dancers but they were unable to do the work. Most professionals cannot complete the major work. It's a tough program.

  • I like it. It's better to keep it low with grace and passion, than being sick perfectionist :)

  • @Gabrysiowa : Well thanks!! 

  • -___-

  • wow well um im in 6th grade for school

    well thank you

    i love cecchetti

  • Comment removed

  • LOL I'm watching this video 2 yrs later thinking, YUCK!!! LOL!!

  • Fantastic strength shown there. I'm pretty sure the leg could be held a smidge higher, sometimes you just have to go for it. Fantasic excersise though (y)

  • @LilEmmyOx Thanks! I should really stretch more I guess!! Am into Gr. 6 now and have that leg a little higher now!

  • i am going into grade three and i look way younger then her

  • @dancerperformer10 hey! congrats on making it to gr. 3. I'm 34... guess I was 32 when i filmed that - i was prepping for a teacher exam. not sure how old most gr. 3 students are - in cecchetti it's not about the age of the dancer really ... am working on teacher gr. 6 now.

  • @swalston3 thank u

    sorry im new to youtube i didnt know how to reply

    thats so cool that your teaching that level

    do you want to be an exam teacher or not

  • @dancerperformer10: not sure about examiner... that's a lot of traveling and usually it's reserved for people who have a lot of experience performing/teaching/etc. i'm no where near that level and not sure if i ever will be - this is mostly a hobby-job for me.

  • i'm not extremely flexible so i wont comment that, just a few thing to watch

    in your fifth arabesque,keep your pelvus under

    watch ur arm when they're en bas, they're kinda just hanging ...

    bee a lot more grounded and stretch your leg in arabesque more on the second side

  • ez borzasztó:S

  • i love cecchetti =] i used to train all my life with this until my teacher died and there were no other local schools so i went into RAD which i do enjoy aswell. I just think the cecchetti lines are so much nicer (: fond memories!

    xx

  • this is not how we did them :l

  • ke skifo xD

  • your strength is good but your flexibility isnt. no offense meant at all. there is a very good arabesque stretching video on youtube if you search arabesque stretches youll find it.

  • @alliemuffinpants Thanks! I'll look it up. I'm not very flexible - it doesn't come naturally. I'm like - just average. I'm just not consistent with stretching. So many things to do - so little time. I'm a mother to 9 kids. Finding time to sit and stretch just never makes it on the priority list!! :)

  • @swalston3 wow thats very impressive that you still have time for ballet. the video is only two minutes long and the stretches shouldnt take you more than 10 minutes or so. if you find some time its definitely worth checking out. good luck

  • @swalston3 part of it is you turn out in the working leg (when extended the heel should be flat to the ground), improve that a little and your flexibility will also improve

  • @MajorBunHead LOL.... MajorBunHead, your comments prove your ignorance related to Cecchetti Syllabus Training. PS. I've watched your videos. You have high arches and clenched feet. Your technique is HORRIBLE with your feet. Try to learn to use them correctly. You'd have gorgeous feet if they weren't clenched up. I don't know how you dance en pointe with those clenched toes!!

  • Au risque de paraitre difficile a impressionner, il n'y a rien d'extraordinaire

  • @MissInesM Sorry, I do not understand. :)

  • @swalston3 she said, i might look tough to impress but there was nothing extrodinary

  • Im 12 and in grade II. I do CCA songs

  • Thanks swalston. I'm going to give this a shot just to get a little more graceful in my old age! Wish me luck!

  • Good luck Gangoffour1!! You can do it! Heck if i can get back into ballet after a  13 years out of a studio and 4 babies later.... anyone can do it! (Well maybe not anyone...) But good luck - keep me posted on how you're doing!

  • @swalston3 I wish there were lessons in this method on DVDs. It seems more doable than trying to use the other method. What I mean is at 62 I find I can do this but don't count me in for the splits!

  • Oh well there's so much to the method - DVD for instruction would be so pointless! But you can purchase a DVD of the Gr. I material from the Cecchetti Council of America and you can find Cecchetti teachers all over to take lessons from.

  • the cecchetti system was started for proffesional dances, that did class every day to improve strenth and line... if u know the syllubus u know that the work is set out in days of the week, if u just did some adage and grand allegro everyday it would help you improve no matter what system u trained in!! I'm 34 yrs old and through out the years have done RAD russian and Cecchetti, allthough i teach and RAD in my school I belive that cecc gives you so much strength and passion for dance

  • Actually the Cecchetti Council of America was started specifically to improve and elevate the level of training for students and teachers in America. I believe the focus was different here than it was in Europe, where, obviously, Cecchetti himself left a great influence.

    I trained in Vaganova as a student. Found Cecchetti when I was 18 and fell in love with it. The lines are so clean and strong - nothing else like it really.

  • Why is there so little Cecchetti on utube? For somebody that doesnt know the system, it all looks very simple and maybe boring...but for those that have trained in cecchetti u will understand the very strong and correct training that it has to offer, try putting an rad student, to do the cecc. ports de bras and it just woulnt work!!(not nocking the rad but just cant comare the 2)

  • I've wondered the same thing - about why there is so little Cecchetti on You Tube. I am presently working on my Elementary Professional Teacher's exam and if I ever get to a point where I feel like recording my pathetic attempt at the Elementary Professional Work then I'll record and upload for you. :)

    I had a RAD teacher last year in college. She was amazing and I loved the choreography. The technique i basically the same though. RAD Rocks. But yeah - Cecchetti Ports de bras take the cake!

  • nice!

    I thought this was a grade 6 cecchetti exercise... I know the grade fours do this, though not with the leg en l'air.

    I suggest you stretch your back leg a bit more, and reeeeeach your arms in each position!

  • it was for gr. 3 - we teach it per the syllabus - with leg lifted. i guess someone could teach it with leg on the ground.

    :)

  • @swalston3 - I'm working on Grade 3 and this is correct with the leg en l'air.

  • @babigirl911 Yes, this is grade 3 - only 3 arabesques. I know grade IV has all 7 arabesques (2 are demonstrated w/out music). :)

  • @babigirl911 I'm sorry - I meant 5 arabesques in grade III

  • HI! Can anyone explain mean what Cecchetti method is about?

    I do RAD, so.. help me!

    Thanks!

  • Does anyone know the name of this music? its important i need it for a presentation

  • @balletchick8092 - You can only get this through the Cecchetti Council and need to be a member.

  • you are a nice dancer, i am a Cecchetti boy, im in ADV 1 at the moment, really try and stretch your back leg in all your arabesque's, and turn out from you hips and use you rotators, and you ballet will improve 20% :)

  • I actually enjoy reading all the comments. Negative, constructive, helpful, complimentary. The people who know a little or more about Cecchetti and the CCA are, naturally, the ones whose input seem intelligent and useful. The other comments are just interesting to me. Thanks for stopping by!

  • oh my god haha i just finished grade threee of checchetti and i rember doing tht haha tht step was soo hard to do and u did it soooo pretyy and perfct like and for those who are saying the didnt do this in grade three thts probably cuz this is checchetti and not just regular bellet see regular bellet is frerch and checchetti is italin

  • i cant remember doing this in grade 3???

  • i cant rember doing this kinda stuf in grade 3???

  • this isnt grade three cecchetti its like grade 5 standard

  • becareful of your arm swining to far back :) really good though x

  • try gettin your leg to 90 degrees......it just makes the line look so much better.

    ive never heard of this type of ballet before. i do RAD so..yeh.

  • Pretty and Very graceful, but working on more flexibility and getting that leg higher. But Nicely done, Brava!

  • Hey, good job!

    I'm in Grade Five now, thankfully. Grade Three and Grade Four were so boring and dumb.

    And to the people who say to dance this with emotion or passion or whatever---it's Cecchetti. You're supposed to be improving your technique. It's tedious stuff. You have to follow guidelines for everything. It's terrible.

  • @CrepeSuzette7 I thought 3 and 4 were boring too!! I'm finishing up 5 and have started working on 6 & 7. I feel like in 6 and 7 I am finally getting to DANCE!!!! 1-5 is so ROBOTIC. :) But it's so necessary. Cecchetti dancers make the most beautiful ballerinas!

  • @swalston3 there's no grade 7 ... :S

    i agree that cecchetti really makes u a better dancer ... i found grade 5 wasnt that robotic, not as much as grade 3 anyway ... the arabesque in grade 3 is sooo stakado it didnt even feel like an arabesque ...

    is it just me, or the exercice isnt exactly like the one in the video ??? i remember it was deffrent when i did it ...

  • @FyreBalletDancer

    In America there is Prof. Elementary (commonly referred to as Gr. 5), Professional Intermediate (referred to as Gr. 6) and Prof. Advanced (referred to as Gr. 7). I believe in Europe/other countries there are diff't levels/names. Not sure. I'm in Texas and train with a 3rd Gen. Cecchetti teacher, so I just got with what she tells me - she's the authority round these here parts....

  • Comment removed

  • @FyreBalletDancer The exercise as shown here is the correct sequencing for the Gr. 3 arabesques, but I think it might be diff't in diff't schools like ... European curriculum comp. to CCA (America) curriculum vs. the Cecchetti USA curriculum, etc.

    Gr. 5 is fun, but I think that Gr. 6 is where you really get to start to dance vs. feel like a Cecchetti Robot. Ask me again in 8 months when I'm just dead sick of Gr. 6 and ready to get the exam done and move onto 7. (Prof. Advanced)

  • Comment removed

  • @FyreBalletDancer : Yes, have been working on 6 for a few months. Barely getting into it though b/c my teacher/coach moved 3 hrs away from me and there's not anyone closer to work with. :( So I have the DVD from CCA for 6 and work in my studio a few times each week and then once a month get together with my coach to hammer out details. It's definitely a change from what I'm used to (classes 3-4x/week) so it'll take some work. But it can happen! How about you?

  • @swalston3 okk, ya it must be hard to learn from a video ! i dont have a private teacher we're about 6 in the class .

  • @CrepeSuzette7 yeah it's cecchetti, which doesnt mean u should have a blank face !! she does need to perform cuz cecchetti is still dancing so it's still an art ... anyway, i passed grade 5 last year too ! how did it go ?

  • @FyreBalletDancer This was filmed for family review - not for performance. Never thought it would have 50k + views... LOL

  • @swalston3 well u did good :) and there isnt much videos of cecchetti exercices on youtube :((  urs is the only one i found, except some of grade 1 ...

  • @FyreBalletDancer : re: youtube & cecchetti - i wish there were more, i'd love to see what other dancers are doing and what other combinations look like. Do you love the work? Gr. 6 and 7 are tough levels!! So in Canada do you go on to the Maestro Enrico Cecchetti Diploma after Advanced?

  • beautiful. im in grade III and this is hard! its prbly the hardest step except for tour releve`(i dont think that was spelled correctly)

  • bahhhhhhh

  • ummmm

    i dont think you enjoy dancing.

    this is like

    ..1...2..3.uhhhh...whatever.

  • hahaha que vergonha

  • WHERES THE PASSION! HAHA

  • itscecchetti there is no passion. i hate it with a burning one though. yucky it makes me so bored! but nice positions though!

  • You need to be a little less stiff but you're good!

  • Get you leg up higher

  • Maybe she can't get it higher!? Ever thought of that?????

  • Comment removed

  • No you weren't 'just saying' how you phrased it was like an order/command.

    'GOD' hypocritical much!? :'D

  • She COuld Aim To Get Her Leg Higher, But More Importantly The Core Muscles, Turn out And Supporting Leg need To Be COrrect First To Allow The Leg To Be Higher Without Throwing Her Off Blance Or Her Injuring Herself.

  • Why do you even care???? She is very pretty and very graceful but working on flexiblity would relly help!

  • I actually have an old injurly in my L. leg and I have pretty limited flexibility. I tore a major muscle in my L. leg when I was 14 while doing a stretch at the barre. I'm 33 now - Scar tissue stinks!! Be careful all you dancers - SAFETY FIRST!!! :)

  • orrible

  • i am liking this turned out supporting leg! I know it can be really tough maintaining that turnout in supporting legs in arabesque, and even the best of us dont hold it like that!

  • Ive been doing Cecchetti for many years but in New Zealand where we did the traditional method, so the choreo is a bit different but has all the same elements. This exercise while simple has the potential to be beautiful! even just adding an inclined head can make a huge difference, if you look like your enjoying it than those who are watching you will too! Good luck with your exam!

  • Straighten and lengthen your legs. You can do it!

  • Although many may feel that progressing through the Cecchetti syllabus is undesireable, dry, boring, and undance-like, it can serve a valuable purpose. It is a structured and sound basis for studying technical components. Basics and principles are covered in a logical progression. The "dance part" must be added by the performer/student. The Cecchetti syllabus can give local dancing schools, that may not otherwise have, a standardized approach or a solid or consistent curricula.

  • omg can u at least pretend that u love it??!! have some emotion it will help u find more control

  • Good job! just try to extend and stretch your legs a little more and it will be perfect! You definetly have the potential to get a highly commended!

  • '

    Thats a develope

    and you need to keep your hips to the front

  • great turnout!:D just keep thinking to point your toes and pushing your shoulders back! other than that very clean and technical :)

  • Not bad at all! This exercise is much harder than the european grade 3 arabesque.

    Shouldn't you head be turned and inclined in 5th arabesque by the way?

  • aww aren't you nice!

  • i do cecchetti, i haven't done this (yet :P) it looks pretty hard lol, there isn't many cecchetti videos :( lol, great work i loved watching x

  • Actually yep, I am. Thanks for stopping by!

  • not very good technique at all

    but its okay....i guess its good to have fun!

  • To me you look very gracefull and elegant. Your port de bras are lovely! Nice to watch!

  • Really nice job, actually! Good timing, coordination, etc... Just keep working on arching the back and lifting the leg higher to get those beautiful lines!

  • o.k... that was good?

  • I passed levels one and two. My class is working on three now. Very nice! I just did a the a workshop in Johnson City.

  • Greetings, swalston3!

    My input: good uprightness, timing, & lower half. Maybe flare foot slightly in air. Relax shoulders. Examine arabesque arm lines in mirror (Ex. in 1st arab. show one line from hand to hand). In 2nd pos., keep hands lower than elbows & fingers w/ air. Lift chin in 1st arab., turn & incline head toward audience in 2nd arab. I have done C. I-V, all with pass+ or pass++, much owed to my life-long teacher, a C. examiner & past president of CCA. Good luck!Continue the tradition!

  • Oh come on now...do tell who your have studied with! Presently I am working with Dr. Tenniswood and have studied briefly with Renata Sanford as well.

    I passed commended the Teach. Gr. III and am now working on Gr. IV. It's a lot of fun. Lots of work but a lot of fun! Thanks for all the input!

  • This is well performed; with extremely good camera work; placed in just the right place to see the dancer from profile and straight on, using the reflection in the mirror. This makes the video extremely useful.

  • that was relly good! ya just LIFT!! and think up, it really helps!

  • How cool! Are you studying teachers grade III?

    Its really nice that there are some cecchetti postings on youtube!Its hard to study on your own!

  • I noticed there aren't many cecchetti postings on youtube - I wish there were more too. I passed my Gr. III already and am working on Teachers IV and V.

  • Its spelled soutenu ;)

  • nice control. try to think also of bras bas as a real position. you are not REALLY held and lifted when you go into your soutenou (can't recall the spelling, darn!).

    checcetti is a great method!

    thanks for posting!

  • very graceful :)

  • Thank God all I have to do is teach this! LOL! Seriously though - this was recorded for my mom and sister and can be used as a visual guide for the Gr. III Cecchetti work - esp. if you are not working with a coach right now. Older/advanced students are expected to have a higher arabesque leg..

  • essaye de monté plus t'es arrabesque !! continu sinon comme sa

  • I have no idea what you have said - I think you are saying that the leg has to be higher to be an arrabesque line - and something about continuing, continuous.... i'm not sure - would like to know though! can you post in english?

  • oh cool i remember this,

    its got all the 5 arabesques!

  • No need to apologize - but it's just not that easy for us old ladies. :) LOL! Have you done much Cecchetti work?

  • no... I don't think so at least, Im in VA, and i klnow this must b really confusing since I am using my brothers account and mine sometimes :D

  • oh ok =] sorry i didnt know... im only 13 so that looks kind of easy for me since i've been danceing for 10 yrs

  • wow thats easy... 90 degrees isnt that much

  • LOL - not so easy. And not when you are 32 and haven't danced in 13 years. :)

  • aw dude i remember that excersize. I hated it. and we had to get our legs up 90 degrees. Not fun. But you did pretty well

  • wow. i remember doing that. except i found it the most annoying exercise...its sooooooooooooooo hard!!! so u did pretty good. :)

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