The basics aren’t so basic anymore. Somewhere along the line, many young dancers have been showcasing a lack of knowledge for the fundamentals to which many other building blocks are added upon. The importance of this is a dwindling concept and though generalized for the purpose of this blog, I’m sure it carries across to all genres of dance, Western rooted and otherwise.
So where have the basics gone? Why is it young dancers don’t know how to do a pas de boureè or know how many steps it involves? Why aren’t dancers prepping properly for pirouettes or know the difference between an en dehors or en dedans turn or a turned out preparation vs a parallel jazz turn? Why don’t dancers know how to chassé? Why can’t they pivot? Why don’t they know where a contraction comes from? Why don’t they understand port de bras placement? Why don’t they plié out of a leap and toe-ball-heel through the foot?
My guess is we need to be prioritizing and teaching a bit more sequentially. To layer and build our lessons. Many dancers right now want the tricks, the flash, to turn fifty times and do tilts, to leap and I get that- I do. But if we as teachers don’t teach the basics, what we wind up with is poor technique, recurring injuries and uninformed dancers. I say this because the basics don’t or shouldn’t just pertain to the physical steps. Are we teaching our dancers the why’s, where’s and how’s? Are we discussing where the style and step comes from- its lineage, its purpose, the mechanics, it’s historical significance…. These are all things that lend itself to fully understanding not only “simple” steps or concepts but the context to which they are executing. It creates a connection between the body and mind.
So while breezing by the notion that, sissonè goes from two-one foot, we are short changing our students the deserved education from doing things with detail and thoughtfulness. The basics are the basics for a reason. They set the foundation. And we all know what happens in any capacity when a foundation isn’t solid! So, take your time with it. It may feel tedious at the time for your dancers, but it’s important and crucial to their dance training. They’ll appreciate it later on when they can not only execute those multiple turns but can do them properly and efficiently.
Food for thought!!
Good luck!
See you in the dance studio,
Jess
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