All posts tagged “Davison

comment 0

Probable Quote of the Day

Meghan Trainor, the contemporary pop artist, often speaks of her deep love for ballet. In fact, her hit song All About that Bass originally included a reference to ballet technique.

Alex_Davison_Boulder_Ballet_Meghan Trainor

I can shake it shake it, like I’m supposed to do: with turn out

Unfortunately the lyric was omitted from the recorded version of the song, and Trainor often expresses her regret at having taken it out. As she explains in many quotes, the song originally went like this:

‘I’m here to tell you every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top…as long as you have turn out.’

 

 

 

comment 0

Welcome to Impressing Franco

Franco De Vita is a widely respected dance teacher who currently teaches at American Ballet Theater’s JKO School.

Impress me

Why are you not impressing me

 

Under the direction of ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens designed and wrote ABT’s National Training Curriculum in collaboration with ABT’s artistic advisors and the medical advisory board, which is kind of a big deal.

 

 

 

If you can impress Franco De Vita, then you are well on your way to mastering dance. To help you put your best foot forward, Claire Davison, current dancer at ABT and former student of the JKO school, wants to share what she believes are the keys to impressing Franco.

When Claire is busy, I will do my best to relate what I have learned through my experiences  about how to impress Franco. Having taken class from the man literally several times, I believe I have lots of advice to offer.

Enjoy!

comment 0

Probable Quote of the Day

Besides playing one of the most beloved characters in science fiction television and cinema, Leonard Nimoy was also an accomplished stage actor, director, photographer, and author.

Really, Bill?

Really, Bill?

 

Fans of Nimoy’s character ‘Spock’ always comment with awe on his uncanny ability to remain focused and serious despite costar William Shatner’s increasingly strange line delivery.

 

 

Even the vulcan sign for prosperity is less ridiculous than an SAB student's hands

Even the vulcan sign for prosperity is less ridiculous than an SAB student’s hands

 

Nimoy was also an accomplished ballet dancer, and frequently voiced his belief that the School of American Ballet needed to calm the hands of its students.

 

 

Nimoy passed away, but he will be fondly remembered for the wisdom he shared both on and off screen. For example, he probably said this quote:

‘I think it’s my adventure, my trip, my journey, and I guess my attitude is, let the chips fall where they may. Thank goodness I have turnout, though.’

Definitely would have been harder without turnout

Life definitely would have been harder without turnout

comment 0

The Psychology of Turnout

It is high time to have a serious discussion about turnout. Some people have it, and some people do not, but for everyone the benefits of turnout are easy to see. Compared to people with no turnout, people with turnout score higher on standardized tests, are more likely to give change to people on the street, have more tastefully decorated homes, and are able to form much more meaningful relationships with others.

Turnout enables this couple to have a deeply fulfilling relationship

Turnout enables this couple to have a deeply fulfilling relationship

People with turnout are well liked, form friendships easily, are assumed to be very trustworthy, and often earn more than people without turnout. Almost all successful actors have turnout, and the majority of public figures including politicians on the local and national level have turnout.

 

 

People without turnout are often seen as less important than those with turnout. They appear less trustworthy and less kind, and are even regarded as bad people despite any amount of evidence to the contrary. They are often seen as unable to maintain proper hygiene, and are usually thought of as not good with dogs or children.

Lack of turnout makes this man a poor companion and general weenie

Lack of turnout makes this man a poor companion and general weenie

A lack of turnout translates to an average 10 to 15 thousand dollars less income in a lifetime, as well as more time spent employed in work that is not enjoyable. People without turnout often have low opinions of themselves, and frequently underrate their abilities.

 

The psychological power that turnout holds is no longer conjecture. Numerous studies of the psychology of turnout prove that humans favor those with turnout, despite claims of having no bias. For example, several studies have shown that when two identical resumes are sent to employers, only the person with turnout is called in for an interview.

Or Would you call this one?

Or Would you call in this one? (Definitely this one)

bad

Would you call this Michelle in for an interview?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you make decisions based on turnout? Are your friends turned out? What about your favorite celebrities? Comment and share your turnout experiences!

comment 0

Translating Teacher Talk

Those who take it know that ballet class is often accompanied by a barrage of commentary from the teacher. While these remarks may seem self-explanatory, often they have a deeper or even completely different meaning and should not be taken at face value (maybe because teachers are trying to keep students on their toes! Haha!). Finally, in response to numerous requests for a ‘dance teacher translation guide,’ I have created the following dance teacher translation guide.

Here are some commonly heard dance teacher expressions, followed by their actual meanings.

None of you have any real talent

None of you have any real talent

She says: ‘good,’ to an individual.
She means: ‘I hate you.’

She says ‘good,’ to the group.
She means ‘I was not even watching.’

He says ‘better,’ to an individual.
He means ‘better,’ but leaves unstated that it would be impossible to do worse.

He says ‘quiet please,’ to the group.
He means ‘next person who talks will be killed.’

He says ‘quiet please,’ to an individual.
He means ‘I am going to kill you.’

This next combo involves you all leaving and me never having to see you again

Let’s do a combo involving you all leaving and me never having to see you again

She asks ‘who can show this step?’ to the group.
She means ‘I have become so jaded that I no longer think any of you are capable of even the simplest step.’

She asks ‘can you show this step?’ to an individual.
She means ‘do you have any redeeming qualities?’

He says ‘who remembers the combination from last week?’
He means ‘I do not remember the combination from last week.’

He asks ‘why don’t you do that every time?’
He means: ‘usually you are just awful.’

See girls? This is why only Cassie will make it

See girls? This is why only Cassie will make it

She says ‘really jump!’
She means ‘you need to lose some weight.’

She says ‘light hand on the barre!’
She means ‘everything you are doing is so bad that the only thing I can even begin to correct is your hand on the barre.’

Let's see you talk back after dancing with all of these tacks in your shoe

Let’s see you talk back after dancing with all of these tacks in your shoe

He says ‘let’s skip adagio.’
He means ‘there’s still a chance you could make it as some kind of jazz dancer.’

He says ‘why aren’t you doing what we talked about last time?’
He means ‘why do I even bother with you?’

She says ‘That costume looks great!’
She means ‘There is literally nothing else I can compliment you on.’

She says ‘I have really enjoyed teaching you this year.’
She means ‘I have been drinking.’

Please feel free to comment with other phrases and translations!

 

 

comment 0

Probable Quote of the Day

Besides being the guy that Edward Norton would fight if he could fight anyone, William Shatner was also famous for his quirky delivery of dialogue as the captain of the starship Enterprise.

For instance, he probably said the following quote:

“If you make a fool of yourself, you can do it with dignity, without taking your pants down. And if you do take your pants down, you can still do it with dignity as long as you are perfectly turned out.”

and don't sickle

Your…pants…may be down…but should your arabesque heel…be…up?

comment 0

Probable Quote of the Day

The man with the mustache, Salvador Dali is the famed alter-ego of actor Adrien Brody. Known mostly for his painting ‘The Persistence of memory,’ Dali probably painted other works as well.
He also probably said the following quote:

“My love of everything that is gilded and excessive, my passion for luxury, and my love of oriental clothes will always be second to my love of ballet.”

Ballerinas often spoke of the desire to create an arabesque with the same graceful curve as Dali's moustache

Ballerinas of the day often spoke of the desire to create an arabesque with the same graceful curve as Dali’s moustache

comment 0

Probable Quote of the Day

Classic American Literature is divided into those novels written either the Hemingway, or the wrong way. While this great writer was known for his enjoyment of bull fighting, he also frequented the more adventurous ballet productions and had many thoughts on the art form. He expresses some in this quote, which he probably said:

“Never mistake motion for action, and never mistake action for substance. Also, never mistake skill for artistry, or flexibility for technique.”
-Ernest Hemingway

Take your leg from behind your ear and show me some dancing

‘Take your leg from behind your ear and show me some real dancing’

comment 0

Probable Quote of the Day

John Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. He was a brilliant writer, and countless quotes remain to inspire and guide us. Like this one, which he probably said:

“You know how advice is. You only want it if it agrees with what you wanted to do anyway. So go ahead and bounce in that stretch because we both know you’re going to no matter what I say.”

-John Steinbeck

'As if any amount of stretching will make up for those biscuits'

‘As if any amount of stretching will make up for those biscuits’