In 1987 we had a guest teacher from Montreal who came to Indiana University to teach during the summer. Her name was Kathryn
Biever. These are some of the notes I took related to the corrections she gave during class.
- Keep your back forward and shoulders pressed down.
- Don't let your chin jut forward in arabesque.
- Tendu: begin with heel front and toes to back for tendu front.
- Port de bras forward: keep equal weight on both feet in 5th position, be careful not to stand only on back foot.
- Pirouettes en dehors: arm in front doesn't go side before turning, especially en suite pirouettes.
- Keep toes pointed strong a la seconde (rond de jambe en l'air and thru 2nd in grand rond de jambe en l'air.
- Keep tendu in any direction extending beyond its limit.
- Developpe ecarte: don't lean body toward leg that is up; lean slightly away so it can be a higher extension.
- Pirouettes: stronger spot, especially for the second turn in a double pirouette. Keep supporting knee tight and really feel working foot attached at knee during the turn. Pirouettes en dedans, spot front both turns.
- Lengthen back and tuck under lower back.
- Grand battement en avant (to the front): don't collapse stomach or shoulders, keep lifted during ascent and don't contract.
- Attitude derriere: keep upper thigh lifted
- Pirouettes en pointe: go to leg, don't snatch foot under. Keep turn out for pirouettes en dehors.
- For triple pirouettes, think 1, 1, 2 instead of 1, 2, 3.
- Don't hop after second turn
- Keep back turning and arms in front (not twisted)
- Spot all 3 turns strongly
- Push instep hard into floor but feel lifter higher in retire
