Update!

Here is another prompt from our syllabus:

What combinations have we been working on? Which ones are easy/fun to do? Which ones are the hardest for me? Why?

Some of the things we have been working on are:
Barre work:
Tendus and degages
Plies/ balance in retire
Rond de jambs en terre and en l'aire (90 degrees)
port de bras (circular) and cambres

Center:
tendu, degage, grand battement
Balances
Pirouettes (1/4, full)

Across the floor:
Chasses
Chaine
Pique Turns


I really enjoy tendus and degages, because they force me to focus a lot on holding my turnout and it helps me to improve on that. I also like rond de jambs, because I have flexible legs and I love doing arabesques. However it is also something I want to improve--I do not have a very flexible back and I'm doing yoga now to help with that.
Balancing on one leg is harder than I thought--doing it in first or fifth is completely fine, but once I have to go up to retire or passe it kind of all fall apart. Some of it is that I am not all that comfortable in ballet shoes--I know for a fact that if I were in jazz shoes I would be totally fine (I've tried it!). It feels much different in ballet shoes...it actually hurts the ball of my foot A LOT which is why I can't hold it or balance. Something work on...I might look for new shoes as well as mine do not fit great.

As for center, I love doing our battements because I've always loved kicking! Its taking so getting used to to use only my abs and legs, as opposed to a plie or prep like in jazz and cheerleading. I also need to remember to slow it down a little bit and not have it be a really fast kick. I also really like learning to turn but it is something I need to work on. I used to have a pretty good double but have kind of lost it. I also really do not like turning on the floor in the studio, because I am used to turning on hardwood for dance team. My main problem is FOCUS and its something I am trying to work on! (I feel like yoga is starting to help me with that).

Same kind of goes for doing chaine and pique turns. Im working on focus so I can spot accuratly and for piques, I need to work on keeping my body tight and keeping my working leg in the correct placement (heel forward, toes on knee, and not sticking my hip out). Once I can remember that I think my piques will be pretty good.

Overall, with over half the semester done already, I am feeling pretty good. I think I have improved a great deal and am looking forward to taking classes this summer and pushing myself harder.

xx Eugenie