Assemblé tutorial

a few basic things about assemblé.
Thanks for watching my lessons and tutorials! Please leave questions and tutorial requests in the comments! I look forward to dancing with you!
About Me:
Hi, my name is Victoria! I’m a ballet dancer and teacher trained in the Vaganova method. I make instructional videos without sugar-coating the gritty details. I danced professionally as a freelancer, and in a contemporary company for several years in NYC. Due to the pandemic, I now reside in rural Pennsylvania. I'm a little salty because I struggle with chronic illnesses & invisible disabilities, but I try to keep it real and raise awareness...
FAQs:
Are you actually Russian?:
Yes, I’m technically a tiny bit Russian.
We always thought my mother was 100% Italian. But when she took the ancestry test, we learned she’s actually a bit Middle Eastern and Circassian (Southern Russia) as well!
Did you train in Russia?:
No, I did not attend ballet school in Russia.
But all of my instructors have direct lineage to the Vaganova Academy. I received a majority of my training from Ballerina Irina Lebedeva, as well as other former principal dancers from the Mariinsky Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet.
What ballet academy did you attend?:
I never attended a formal ballet academy. All of my training is a culmination of public dance studios and open adult ballet classes that would run 2-3 days a week- with the occasional summer intensive. This is why I’m only about 85% competent in my execution and lessons. I just do the best with what i've got- The average American dancer might not notice this, but the Russian dancers definitely do!
Growing up near NYC, I took advantage of the most prestigious schools and teachers in the area, including; Gelsey Kirkland, Simon Kazantsev, Yaroslav Fadeyev, Katherine Healy, Leslie Browne, Lupe Serrano, and collegiate programs at American Ballet Theatre.
I did visit St. Petersburg and Moscow after I graduated college in 2012. I had the absolute honor of visiting the Vaganova Academy and observing some classes. I also took company class with Yacobson Ballet.
Where do you work as a professional?:
Since I got such a late start in my training, (and went to college right after high school) I didn’t join a company until I was in my late 20s. Until then, I was mostly teaching and freelancing. I did Nutcracker gigs, occasional guest appearances for studio productions, and entertainment gigs for high end parties. In 2019 I joined a contemporary ballet company in NYC. I left in 2021 when I moved to Pennsylvania. Now I teach in multiple studios in PA, but I'm trying to start my own ballet company.
What’s the story with your company?:
I’m the founder of Indigo Ballet, a collaborative, dancer-run company with no hierarchy. Currently, I’m working on building a repertoire of virtual performances (music videos) to show people what we have to offer. We will be performing for a live audience in Spring/Summer of 2024!
If you wish to donate towards this endeavor, funds will go directly to the dancers of Indigo Ballet. You can do so at- gofund.me/fe171a40
Why do you talk about your chronic illnesses?:
Firstly, this is just the platform where I have the most outreach. I am passionate about raising awareness about hidden illnesses, also called “invisible diseases.” I feel these illnesses are especially relevant to the average ballet dancer since; The field is dominated by AFABs that frequently gravitate towards dance because of natural flexibility. This correlates to hyper mobility spectrum disorders and connective tissue disorders which are rarely diagnosed, and can lead to serious problems later. AFABs also have higher rates of autoimmune disorders and are most likely to have our pain dismissed, if we are not already hiding it for fear of being seen as unreliable or weak.
The ‘teacher’ in me wants to educate any chance I get. If my shared experiences can help a dancer get a diagnosis, early treatment and a longer, healthier career; why wouldn’t I talk about it?

[@mat2man]

Thanks for the great lead! When we first did this in class it BLEW me away how poorly i jump from one leg. Muscle weakness + no muscle memory = fred flinstone! I immediately gained 10000% for how difficult ballet really is. And dancers make it look so easy! My new favorite line from Marie, Dancing Still "Dancing is easy when you don't know how!"

[@mat2man]

(edit to read "10000% appreciation and respect" - Thanks. M

[@TheFeilong88]

Thank you for the multiple movements from different starting positions. Valuable lesson!

[@Mvisokay]

I genuinely appreciate your candor! I watch your videos for a different approach at explaining when I’m teaching, so thanks!

[@yolandali2922]

thank you very much for your clear and precise explanation

[@waynecai6785]

Great video about Assemble. Thank you.

[@DavidPaul714]

Thanks!

[@savigliamariposa2404]

Oh dear, thank you for this ! Have you considered doing a series of exercises + explanation + music ? (what you do here + an exercise we could follow , with music, for different pas )? I would buy it !!

[@mikaelahorvath9223]

Thank you!! Very helpful!

[@nirvonna]

Wonderful videos

[@liubovburtseva7536]

Thanks! Very helpful

[@strongself37]

Thank you

[@rigelmoon5230]

Very good video! Thanks for the explanation!

[@faithhackworth972]

Great video! You did a great job so helpful! 😍

[@fragrantrose16]

You are amazing thank you for making videos

[@CowboyBebop444]

Awesomeness

[@altheaartieda4205]

Thank you for sharing. God bless ❤️

[@SaltySugarPlum]

Thanks for watching!

[@happyflower777]

Best 😊

[@melindahuntley9873]

I've always sort of hated jumps until lately...it is possible, great tutorial as always

[@nirvonna]

Wonderful video tutorials, Salty Sugar Plum. Perfect demo. It seems to me that the initial description of jumping from two feet is misleading, however. Yes, assemble starts from two feet but the actual jump doesn't initiate until one leg is fully stretched and fully pointed in tendu. It's impossible to jump (take off) from a leg that is fully straight with only toes touching the ground. The actual jump is happening from one leg, not two.

[@SaltySugarPlum]

I guess I meant to say that the jump typically starts from fifth position (two feet on the ground) similar to how you would begin a hopscotch game. (it is usually from fifth to fifth - 2 feet, back to 2 feet) but I hope I became more clear through the demonstration that you really are only pushing off one leg, but both feet are in contact with the floor before take off 😅

[@liaaaaaaur]

This was hecking helpful. I still have a recital despite quarantine, and my dance has this is it, and zoom isn’t helping me learn.

[@TansyBlue]

TIMESTAMPS 0:00 How to do an assemblé (basics) 0:55 Assemblé right 1:13 Assemblé left 1:22 How to do an assemblé (more detailed) 2:03 Reverse assemblé 2:34 Assemblé front 2:53 Assemblé back 3:01 Double assemblé 3:12 Multiple assemblés 3:26 Beated assemblés 3:58 Summary

[@TansyBlue]

When I do timestamps it is entirely self-interested btw, I want to be able to easily refer back. 😅 Anyway, thank you for the tutorial! Assemblé is stupid hard for me (jump? One foot? With what muscles?) and having it broken down really helps.

[@hadasmatzman4822]

wow thats such a good video thank you so much ! I think you should create your own digital online course for ballet that explains everything from the very basics. I wowuld pay monthky retainer for this...

[@penangiteInAU]

Thanks Salty Sugar Plum. This is helpful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Do you run any subscription based online or on-demand beginer class?

[@alee3146]

back-to-front = over / close in front / above / on top of --> dessüs [de(bit)-s’YOU] front-to-back = under / close behind -> dessous [de(bit)-SUE] de(bit) means pronounce only the first syllable as in debit (ignore the ‘bit’), not dee or duh

[@narutowebby]

I love your voice! It's so unique I think you could try for voice acting or something! Like you sound really bored but kinda cool idk but I love listening to it.

[@SaltySugarPlum]

narutowebby haha thanks, it depends where i'm recording. If im doing the voice over at home, i have to be quiet to not disturb anybody. So then my voice gets low and boring. But if im talking on camera in the tutorial, im slightly more exciting. I used to want ro be a voiceover actor actually :P i like to sing and do strange voices. I can do a good JigglyPuff impression haha.

[@sodit8477]

How did you get such a perfect turnout ❤️🥰

[@Pajamapuma]

When your legs meet in the air, do they meet right above where you land, or off to the side? Or does it vary? I thought I saw some of both in the video. Great video overall, very helpful in the level of detail!

[@SaltySugarPlum]

'ideally' the bottom leg comes to meet the top leg in the air, before landing so the legs may appear to be sideways (slightly horizontal in the air) but the feet land underneath the body, right above where you are about to land. sometimes in grand allegro combinations the assemble will travel, but this one is just straight up and down! you do not travel or land to the side... i may have accidentally travelled sideways when i was hanging on the bar to exaggerate some of the movements for the video.

[@madhuhjhjjkh924]

Do you give online classes?

[@amirasafwat7101]

Can you add to the list how to improve beats or how to start it?

[@SaltySugarPlum]

yes, it is on the list already! :)

[@tweetydog9488]

Amazing video as always!! Great teacher!! Also I had a question what is the oldest age you can get accepted to vagovana as a foreign student??? Thank u in advance!!

[@SaltySugarPlum]

I am not 100% what the oldest age is. If you already have a strong foundation and good training, i think you can be accepted as a foreign student as late as 15. I knew a dancer who moved to Russia when he was about that age age to study at the Vaganova academy. But if you are already in your teens and don't have much training at all, they probably wont accept you. Keep in mind, the Vaganova students "graduate" around age 18. So they may not think it's "worth it" to accept a foreign student who is already close to 18 and wont have many years to learn with the academy.

[@tweetydog9488]

Salty Sugar Plum oh OK thank you very much!!