Isabelle Bracamonte wrote:
> I could use some stage grace. I took ballet for a > couple of years when I was young, and quit a few > months after I got on pointe ("ouch" was the operative > word there). I'm thinking of going back to it. > > I am, at this stage in my life, VERY unflexible, have > forgotten all the moves and any sense of coordination > or elegance, and am about 5 pounds overweight (that's > 10 pounds in ballet language).
I am Ms. Two-Left-Feet - what helped me tremendously in stage movement and coordination was taking the Crittenden Opera Workshop here in Washington - he also gives it in New York and Boston. He has an intensive 2-week summer workshop here in Washington and also in Boston, I believe.
The workshop I took isn't "about" stage movement, but he focuses very much on practical techniques for moving around on stage. The key is having the movement (and not just your feet) be consistent with the music and with the phrases of the music and with the character being portrayed.
I'm not experienced in ballet, but the one voice student I know who has a strong ballet background has had great difficulty unlearning the very "held" ballet posture, which has not been good for her singing.
Wouldn't something like Jazzercize get the same movement/coordination benefits as a dance class for a lot less money and time commitment?
Peggy
-- Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA "Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile" mailto:peggyh@i...
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