Balanchine the Teacher: Fundamentals That Shaped the First Generation of New York City Ballet Dancers

1.11. Classes from the 1970s: April 1, 1970

180 1.11 Classes from the 1970s April 1, 1970 Class Three Barre 1. Plié First position: Each plié will be done in three counts—two grand pliés in first position, two in second position, two in fifth position right foot front, and two in fifth position left foot front. TEMPO: 3/4  = 84 2. Tendu Fifth position, right foot front: Tendu without demi-plié all straight, done four each way en croix. (Medium slow tempo.) Thirty-two counts in all. TEMPO: 3/4  = 126 3. Tendu Fifth position, right foot front: Tendu done faster but to the side, closing back and front. Thirty-two in all. TEMPO: 2/4  = 69 Classes from the 1970s / 181 4. Tendu Fifth position, right foot front: Tendu dégagé the same as above. TEMPO: 4/4  = 138 5. Rond de Jambe par Terre First position: Eight en dehors and eight en dedans, and repeat. TEMPO: 6/8  = 126 6. Grand Rond de Jambe Right foot pointing back: Grand rond de jambe battement. Brush through first and développé through effacé into a very high straight leg, battement side, and holding the turnout, lower the leg to tendu back. Arm remains side. Repeat the movement three times and brushing through first, grand battement front to tendu front, and reverse. TEMPO: 3/4  = 132 7. Frappé Pointing in second position: [CT&1–3] Frappé one front, one side, one back. On [CT4] three frappés to the side, then reverse the entire step. [CT1,2,3] Three ronds de jambe en l’air. [CT4] Double rond de jambe en l’air ending in demi-plié, point side. Reverse. TEMPO: 4/4  = 69 8. Frappé The same step, done faster: The frappé to the side are double frappés. TEMPO: 4/4  = 69 182 / Balanchine the Teacher, Part 1 9. Fondue Start pointing side: [CT&12] Fondue quite fast to above waist height, done one each way, and then repeat on toe. (The fondue must roll up. There should not be a hint of jumping up to toe.) TEMPO: 3/4  = 116 10. Développé Fifth position, right foot front: [CT&1] Développé quickly to the front. [CT2] Hold. [CT3&4] Lower the leg. Repeat side, back, side. [CT&1] Développé front. [CT2] Carry the leg side. [CT3&4] Lower the leg closing fifth position back, and reverse the exercise. Développé back, and carry the leg to the side and close. Développ é side, carry the leg to the front and close. [CT1] Développé front in one count. [CT2] Grand rond de jambe to the back. [CT3&4] Lower the leg, and starting from the back, reverse with the grand rond de jambe to the front. TEMPO: 3/4  = 138 Center 1. Tendu and Grand Battement Fifth position, right foot front: [CT&1–4] Three tendues directly front and grand battement front. [CT5– 8] Same step to the side. [CT1–4] Same step to the back. [CT5–8] Tendu directly back. Drop heel into a large fourth position, and pirouette en dehors . Repeat the exercise to the left. TEMPO: 2/4  = 116 Classes from the 1970s / 183 2. Tendu Fifth position, right foot front: [CT&1–3] Three dégagés side closing back, front, back. [CT4] The fourth dégagé goes into demi-plié. [CT&5] Pas de chat to the right. [CT&6] End in a large fourth position. [CT7&8] Pirouette en dehors. Repeat to the left. TEMPO: 4/4  = 104 3. Pirouette Starting on left side of room, B+ with right foot back: [CT&1–4] Tombé pas de bourrée, pas de chat to fourth, and pirouette en dehors ending in fourth position, done across the floor. Balanchine stressed that in the pas de chat, he wanted the feeling of both legs being held in the air simultaneously , but also the feeling of the legs passing each other. This means that as the right knee begins to lower, the left knee is still lifting. Musically one, two, and. TEMPO: 6/8  = 126 4. Échappé on Pointe and Pirouette Fifth position, right foot front: [CT&1–4] Four fast échappés to second on pointe. On [CT5] échappé out to second on toe and [CT6] immediately from toe both legs move to fourth position simultaneously, the right leg back ending with a straight knee. [CT7&8] Double pirouette en dehors. Do step to the left. TEMPO: 2/4  = 66 5. Grand Battement Fifth position, right foot front: Grand battement done one each way. The last side battement closes right foot fifth back. Repeat to the left. (The...