Ballet's Secret Code - a documentary (six key principles of Classical Ballet)

What are the fundamental principles of Classical Ballet? This documentary explores the six all-important physical principles to improve any dancer.
Check out the film's official and exclusive website www.balletsecretcode.com/ to find over 150 more videos which didn't make the film - and subscribe for even more teaching vids on this channel.
You can contact Julie (me!) for teaching at: [e-mail] and read about all things Cecchetti related with resources on www.TheCecchettiConnection.com
And if you really LOVED this film then you can show support by donating us a coffee at: www.buymeacoffee.com/balletse... (Thank you! xx)
Ballet's Secret Code stars dancers Salvo Nicolosi and Muriel Valtat
Written by Julie Cronshaw
Filmed, edited (and co-written) by George Massey
Directed by Julie Cronshaw and George Massey

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Hello dancers! If you enjoyed my film then feel free to explore its official website for lots (LOTS) more! www.balletsecretcode.com/ And if you found the film useful, and would like to make a donation to help the cause (of any amount at all - it's all useful these days!) then you can PayPal us a donation to: [e-mail] We really really appreciate it! And here's the full list of videos available on our website. We've worked very hard on them. Enjoy :) Monday: 1 - Assemblé Cecchetti 2 - Commentary 3 - Adage; Coupé et fouetté 4 - Commentary 5 - Temps levé, chassé, coupé, fouetté, posé, assemblé, entrechat trois, en avant et en arrière 6 - Commentary 7 - Développé croisé avec relevé, glissade, entrechat six de côté 8 - Commentary 9 - Demi - contretemps, entrechat six de côté (en diagonale) followed by pas de bourrée entrechat six en tournant (autour de la salle) 10 - Commentary Tuesday: 1 - Adage; Developpé fouetté Cecchetti 2 - Commentary 3 - Adage - Pas de chaconne Cecchetti 4 - Commentary 5 - Adage - Tour en dedans pirouette renversé développé à la seconde 6 - Commentary 7 - Pas de bourrée, dégagé, petits battements, dégagé, fouetté, jeté, chassé, pas de chat 8 - Commentary 9 - Relevé, petits battements, posé, petits battements, pas de bourrée, pas de bourrée avec allongée 10 - Commentary 11 - Jeté battement, rond de jambe sauté, etc. 12 - Commentary 13 - Pas de bourrée, posé, fouetté to arabesque, tombé, pas de chat 14 - Commentary 15 - Douze ballonnés, piqués, tombés, pas de bourrée 16 - Commentary 17 - Jeté, petits battements, deux ballonnés en avant 18 - Commentary 19 - Jeté, petits battements, deux ballonnés en arrière 20 - Commentary Wednesday: 1 - Adage; Pas de la Mascotte 2 - Commentary 3 - Jeté rond de jambe sauté, deux fois, jeté, trois ronds de jambe sautés 4 - Commentary 5 - Salvo - Temps levé développé, temps levé fouetté, jeté, gargouillade volée, deux jetés, etc. 6 - Commentary 7 - Muriel - Temps levé développé, temps levé fouetté, jeté, gargouillade volée, deux jetés, etc. 8 - Commentary 9 - Deux (slow) gargouillades en - dehors, deux (quick) gargouillades en - dehors, etc. 10 - Commentary 11 - Ronds de jambe relevé retombé, etc. 12 - Commentary 13 - Demi - contretemps, rond de jambe relevé en dedans, jeté devant allongé à l’arabesque, etc. 14 - Commentary 15 - Coupé dessus en tournant, septs ronds de jambe en tournant en-dehors, etc. 16 - Commentary 17 - Full contretemps, assemblé dessus, ronds de jambe sauté, réleve en attitude, etc. 18 - Commentary 19 - Double rond de jambe sauté en dehors, posé en avant, etc. 20 - Commentary Thursday: 1 - Adage -Pas de l’Alliance 2 - Commentary 3 - Glissade derrière, jeté to arabesque croisée, dégagé en tournant, entrechat six 4 - Commentary 5 - Jeté, relevé, posé, coupé, cinq fois (with ending) 6 - Commentary 6B - (Additional observation) 7 - Glissade derrière, jeté à l’arabesque croisée, etc. 8 - Commentary 9 - Pas de bourrée, jeté en attitude, quatre fois etc. 10 - Commentary 11 - Pas de bourrée couru grand jeté en tournant, pas de bourrée couru, fouetté sauté en tournant dans 1ère arabesque 12 - Commentary Friday: 1 - Adage; Glissade Cecchetti 2 - Commentary 3 - Adage; Glissade de Mami 4 - Commentary 5 - Glissade cabriole devant, glissade cabriole derrière, etc. 6 - Commentary 7 - Brisé volé en avant, brisé volé en arrière, grand pas de basque, entrechat trois 8 - Commentary 9 - Pas de basque battu, etc. 10 - Commentary 11 - Posé, cabriole devant, trois fois, pas de bourrée dessus à la quatrième arabesque allongée 12 - Commentary 13 - Entrechat quatre, entrechat quatre volé, deux fois, trois entrechats quatres, entrechat six 14 - Commentary 15 - Brisé dessus, cabriole devant fermée, entrechat quatre, entrechat trois, brisé volé en avant, cabriole fouetté, jeté battu, cabriole derrière fermée 16 - Commentary 17 - Pointework Observations - (with Emma Moran) 18 - Pointework Observations (with Madeline Squire as a Student) Saturday: 1 - Adage - Six relevés 2 - Commentary 3 - Adage -Deux grands ronds de jambe en l’air avec arabesque 4 - Commentary 5 - Fouetté sauté à six temps en arrière 6 - Commentary 7 - Coupé sauté, ballonné, jeté en tournant, posé, jeté, posé, jeté 8 - Commentary 9 - Temps levé, chassé en arrière deux fois, temps levé posé deux fois, jeté élancé à l’attitude, pas de bourrée renversé, assemblé coupé derrière, entrechat six 10 - Commentary 11 - Temps levé, chassé croisé, temps levé en arabesque croisée, coupé dessus, ballonné, grand jeté en tournant, posé 12 - Commentary 13 - Additional steps for men - Deux temps levés, chassés en arrière, assemblé devant, double tour en l’air 14 - Commentary 15 - Commentary only - Pas de l’ange (additional steps for men) En Diagonale: 1 - Pas de bourrée en dedans, jeté, fouetté en tournant en dedans, développé à l’arabesque 2 - Commentary 3 - Coupé fouetté, coupé fouetté en tournant, coupé, pas de basque, tour en attitude renversé 4 - Commentary 5 - Pas de bourrée en tournant, coupé trois temps levés en 4ème arabesque en tournant, etc. 6 - Commentary 7 - Temps levé chassé, deux fois, deux tours en dehors (with arm movement and renversé) 8 - Commentary 9 - Additional steps for men - Double tour en l’air, chassé en arabesque, glissade, cabriole etc. 10 - Commentary Barre: 1 - Pliés 2 - Commentary 3 - Pliés - Additional Summary 4 - Battements tendus, relevés and dégagés 5 - Commentary 6 - Ronds de jambe à terre avec ronds de jambe jetés 7 - Ronds de jambe à terre - Commentary - Muriel 8 - Holding the arms in à la seconde - Commentary 9 - Battements frappés 10 - Commentary - Salvo 11 - Commentary- Muriel 12 - Petits battements 13 - Petits battements - Commentary - Muriel 14 - Ronds de jambe en l’air 15 - Ronds de jambe en l’air - Commentary- Muriel 16 - Adage movements - Commentary 17 - Grands battements & battements balancés 18 - Commentary - Salvo 19 - Commentary - Muriel 20 - Value of the Cecchetti Barre 21 - Barre Summary Centre Practice & Pirouettes: 1 - First set of Ports de bras - Salvo 2 - Second set of Ports de bras - Muriel 3 - Commentary 4 - First set of Ports de bras & grands battements - Muriel 5 - Commentary 6 - Battements tendus & dégagés 7 - Commentary 8 - Ronds de jambe à terre 9 - Commentary 10 - Battements frappés & petits battements (with 2nd ending) 11 - Commentary 12 - Grande préparation pour pirouette en dedans (in 1st arabesque and on the knee) - Muriel 13 - Commentary 14 - Grande préparation pour pirouettes en dedans - Salvo 15 - Commentary 16 - Pirouettes en dehors sur le cou-de-pied 17 - Commentary 18 - Deux tours en-dehors, rond de jambe à l’attitude croisée, etc. 19 - Commentary 20 - Série de coupé, rond de jambe, pas de bourrée renversée 21 - Commentary Interviews with Katharine Kanter: 1 - Cecchetti - Why take on the challenge? 2 - Muriel Valtat - interview 3 - Salvatore Nicolosi - interview 4 - Muriel Valtat & Julie Cronshaw - interview 5 - George Massey - interview 6 - Morta Grigaliūnaitė - interview 7 - Florence and the Hamlyn School 8 - Nicoletta Santoro - interview 9 - Alessandra Alberti - interview 10 - Elisa Corsini - interview www.balletsecretcode.com/

[@ardeladimwit]

thank-you so much-- that was incredibly interesting. The difference is palpable because there is an incredible lightness of being in Cecchetti movement and even smallest delicate movement fills the entire space of stage.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much and glad you enjoyed the film!

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thanks for a great observation! I believe the same could be said for an actor who can whisper but still their voice reaches to the back of the auditorium.

[@gitachakrabarti1107]

Hello Julie. I am Indian but follow all classical ballet. With my limitations, I wish to add that you are a saviour to all the modern ballerinas. Your method is scientific and aesthetically very graceful and artistic. That is what dance should be isn't it ? Please forge on and may you find greater and richer patronage amongst your people. Thanks.👍 for bearing with me.

[@nancymay4441]

Thank 's👏👏👏🇧🇷

[@tinydancer7426]

70 years old here ..... I wish my ballet teacher had explained the what and why while she taught, because this is what she was how she was teaching. I wish I could tell her how much I appreciate this method protected our bodies while teaching us the art of ballet.

[@glittermama]

Same here.

[@cynhanrahan4012]

I wish I had been taught this. In the 1960s-70s I was the hyper flexible girl who could fly, but by my mid twenties my knees and hips were wrecked, and my lumbar spine showed arthritis in my early 30s. This film shows the physics and geometry in Cecchetti's principles, which make great sense. Thank you for this.

[@MSYNGWIE12]

Our national ballet teaches the cechetti method, The National Ballet of Canada- what is the difference in how the Russians or French teach? I took adult ballet classes at age 26- they should be banned- schools need money- the school I went to was owned and run by a former soloist with THE NATIONAL...The teaching was good BUT the human body is not meant to turned out with feet pointing east and west! At least not mine- within 6mos I was in so much pain from bursitis of the hip, I had to see an orthopedic surgeon who amazingly had been the doctor at The Royal Ballet- so he knew. He was a character and told me to take up belly dancing! That was a long time ago- to to this day, I need arthritic rubs, cortisone shots, pain killers and cannot sleep without a pillow under my hip. I am thin and plan to be thinner, and well, if I had a child who showed promise, I wouldn't stop them but I'd make sure they spoke to good teachers, dancers etc- it is such a gamble. I will always love all genres of dance but I wish my hip couldn't predict the weather! This documentary is fascinating and I wish it had been out! Her detailed explanations can only add to my enjoyment from the front row!

[@alanaronald244]

@@MSYNGWIE12 As a former ballet teacher who enjoyed teaching ballet to adults as well as tochildren, I'm very sorry you had this experience. A good teacher of adult ballet will be exceptionally conscious of the limitations of an adult body as opposed to a pliant "blank slate" of a child's body, and will teach accordingly. I used to emphasize musicality, enjoyment, spirit and fun as opposed to goals. like attaining leg height, speed, and athletic prowess. Each student was asked about goals, why they were now studying ballet, and health and safety concerns were pre-eminent. I tried to incorporate little snippets of dance history, information about musical and dance styles, and would tell students if they wanted to learn how to compete with younger, stronger students of greater stamina, my class wasn't for them. There are always aerobics classes, gymnastics, etc, but they were immersing themselves art form. The highest aim was to feel something that transcended the body, to transmit that feeling to others, to merge with music and to convey love. Writing now seems a tad inadequate, but I loved seeing the smiles, seeing fluidity, watching the joy of discovery. I would err on the side of caution, to avoid injury, and strive to bring out the most beautiful components of each student. Sometimes victory was seeing a student relax into a lovely balance, stretch into a long line of arabesque, and hold that for a few seconds. Sometimes a ripple of infectious joy moved through us as the class polkaed together, breathed into a porte de bras, or did 6 clean sautes. If not a labour of love, why teach? If gentleness isn't incorporated, what is the point?

[@ballet_by_neila6606]

Yes, I agree. I wish I had been trained in this method also when I was younger.

[@balletforever7993]

Cyn Hanrahan, I am exactly the same,you are so right, I am 58 with so many injuries,wish I could turn back time and have the opportunity to learn the Cecchetti method…..too late now,but this video is amazing

[@noelbecker7002]

I was trained in the cechetti method and have never had an injury and know of no one who had an injury. I continued for many years to take classes as an adult, for my enjoyment. Now in my 70s, my knees, and my body, are in fine condition. I was always taught so carefully to move so as to protect my body. Bless my wonderful teachers!

[@nursesteve12]

As a non-dancer I find these videos facinating. The strength and endurance of these dancers is amazing! Thank you for breaking down this most beautiful art form.

[@littlebird2037]

"Dance is reaching extremes that go against artistry." True, true. The more I learn and teach Cecchetti, the more I am astounded by his genius!

[@bobloblaw9679]

funny how he was seen as bombastic/circus dancing when he first appeared in russia..

[@soniahabtom1786]

That is so true.

[@georgesteplitsky8561]

Cecchetti is old fashion

[@inesxenia]

@@georgesteplitsky8561 Fashion is irrelevant. Art is eternal.

[@lindanorris2455]

LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE! EVERYTHING IN THE USA IS EXTREMES NOW. JOB SEARCHING, FINDING A JOB, GROWING UP, BUUYING A CAR, IT'S ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL SO EXTREME! AND WHY? FOR MONEY, ONLY!!!

[@marymarkoy4885]

Ballet is about feelings, expression, mood, line...should I go on? It has become a sport the last decades and there's no difference from one dancer to another. Who does higher, who does more turns, who stands on one leg longer...it has changed so much! Dame Margot Fonteyn didn't have the best feet, she didn't have the highest extensions...but WOW, you couldn't take your eyes off her when she danced! I miss the individuality of the difference of style, the ballet of each school of dance...they all look the same! Just how I feel...

[@philipkuttner7945]

Well, I've just been watching Marianela Nuñez, and I can't take my eyes off her. Mood, line, feelings, and the most beautiful expressions in her face. The great dancers of the past are irreplaceable, yes, but there are wonderful dancers today whom we will look back on as irreplaceable too someday. Just the thoughts of a non-expert.

[@helivonwestrem8861]

Tetsuya Kumakawa !!

[@LoyaFrostwind]

Just like in figure skating. It's all about the quad jumps now. The beautiful artists like Jason Brown don't get as much credit. There's too much weight placed on jumps in the code of points. Same with gymnastics.

[@martadickson5272]

Just how I feel too. Actually, I think the lines and extensions are ugly. The banana legs and over extended arches aren't eye pleasing in my opinion. Take me back to Maria Tallchief or Dame Margot please.

[@a351must2]

For dancers from the past, I prefer Moira Shearer ... wish there was more video of her... and saying that, I wish there was more video of Margot Fonteyn as well.

[@lburgess63]

The demonstrator Muriel Valtat is That petite allegro about nine minutes in had me sympathetically gasping for air, followed by the urge to stand up and yell, Brava!" Those insanely fast yet articulated entrechat sixes, while maintaining a beautifully relaxed upper body and precise epaulment -- good Lord! Loved this film. I kept stopping and rewatching to study and savor the fantastic, rare footage. So glad this has been saved for future generations!

[@lburgess63]

Oops. Entrechat quatre.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much! This project was truly a ‘labour of love’ and I am forever grateful to Muriel and Salvo who gave their time -and trust- to me and the team, so we could realise it.

[@annettethermos4965]

I would love to see side by side something danced using Cecchetti’s method and today’s method.

[@tammystiletto]

For the sake of every dancer I hope these words are heard.

[@soniahabtom1786]

Yes, Me too!

[@TheMama166]

Thank you for bringing us back the art of classical Ballet. I studied with Vincenzo Celli and Richard Thomas. In NYC. Our technique and style seemed so antiquated back in the 80’s! I am 61 still teaching and demonstrating, I attribute my longevity to my excellent training.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

It is amazing and unique (so far) to hear from someone who studied directly with Vincenzo Celli. Richard Thomas had a following in NYC at the time if I remember. Good technique is never out of style and you are still dancing ...so what more needs to be said? Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the film!

[@TheMama166]

There is a dance magazine from 1980 with Cynthia Harvey on the cover. There is a short article about Celli in the photo is myself and another young dancer , my then fiancé took the photo. There is also a short film that was made in 1981 directed by Carol Jeffries and features my then teachers Jonette Swider and Eddie Verso and Toni Ann Gardella . The Film features Celli instructing the exercises, these dancers demonstrated the syllabus. It is a wonderful and important archive. Unfortunately I have lost contact with these people and was never able to get a copy.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Maybe someone reading your post can help find this film, it would be so valuable.

[@TheMama166]

@PMKKO as far as I know Richard Thomas taught cecchetti method

[@harmoniabalanza]

Excellent training also serves singers who learn bel canto. They don't have to have nodule surgery from shouting at 34. Nor probably anytime.

[@viva7679]

I was lucky to have learned ballet with this method and never suffered an injury. Ballet was and is an art.

[@voyaristika5673]

Though never a dancer I've a life long love of classical ballet. I can understand how turning it to athletics would take out the emotion, the magic. Gymnists are awesome but, now that I think about it, watching is not emotional. I watch the ballet for the magic. I hope this video is watched by many who can make a difference in classical ballet.

[@clairelutter6940]

As an RAD trained dancer I found many similarities. I agree the magic is being replaced by tricks. I don't go to the ballet to see tricks! Your programme was so well put together and any dancer would learn from it.

[@leavesofdecember]

This is mind-bending !! I finally see what older generations of dancers were talking about when complaining about today's acrobatics. I can never look at my ballet classes the same way ever again and I cannot thank you enough for putting this film together and sharing it with the world !

[@ultramarinetoo]

Monday 11:39 Aplomb - Standing in the vertical; Tuesday 18:42 Epaulement - Opposition about the vertical; Wednesday 24:38 En-Dehors & En-Dedans - Turnout Thursday 32:39 Les Jetés - Transference of Weight Friday 36:25 La Batterie et Les Temps de Pointe - The Aerial Plane Saturday 40:27 Les Grands Fouettés Sautés: Ballon - Bouncing

[@destinycharles2237]

Woah, thank you!!

[@2degucitas]

The great stir fried whips.... LOL!

[@proseccoqueen3636]

I have heard of Ciccheti, but not in the States, as much. Pure genius! As a physical therapist, I can see the method's obvious deference to the body's dynamic movement. I'm tired of cringing in sympathetic pain when I watch some ballets. This should be part of every dancer's training!

[@dianepage7568]

I am a graduate of the Canadian National Ballet School, where I trained under Betty Oliphant. This video is marvelous, because I learned all these difficult combinations while young. I am now pretty old, yet still teaching ballet at the Colorado Ballet Academy. Throughout my long career I have never had a dance-caused injury, and I credit my Cecchetti training with keeping me safe. One thing I really like about Cecchetti is that the arms are controlled, and not all over the place as one sees from so many contemporary ballet dancers. Maybe Cecchetti is making a comeback!

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Maybe! Thank you so much for your comments! It’s an interesting exercise to look back and never forget the best elements of the great teachers of the past. At the very least we could see a return to a ballet class with combinations that reverse, use interesting step vocabulary and a closer relationship between the dancer and the musician.

[@dianepage7568]

Hopefully! I can’t believe that I did these combinations as a child and a teenager. They are fiendishly difficult! If Cecchetti were to make a comeback it would help bring boys into ballet class. Cecchetti was a man, and Cecchetti arms are strong. Vaganova, on the other hand, was a woman, and Vaganova arms are feminine and often soft. In my opinion, the feminine arms of the Vaganova method are one reason it is so hard to get American boys to study ballet. What do you think? @@juliecronshaw7013

[@juliecronshaw7013]

It’s a very interesting observation! Dance classes for boys are increasingly popular here in the UK and numbers got a boost with Billy Elliot and the Mathew Bourne Swan Lake a couple of decades ago, but boys still don’t necessarily take ballet. Regardless of the technique offered they usually think it’s for girls and you cannot blame them when outnumbered in class. It’s a perennial dilemma. I’ve found they often join ballet via other dance classes where the teacher has recommended it

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Also, would Cecchetti make a difference now? Yes I bet he would!

[@dianepage7568]

Yes, all of that is true. Most ballet people I talk to say “it’s cultural,” and they let it go at that. However, it is possible to change culture. During my lifetime I have seen four major cultural revolutions: rights for minorities, rights for women, rights for LBGT individuals and rights for the handicapped. It would be easy to change the culture about ballet for boys-all you would have to do is put the message out there in public service announcements on TV and social media. These announcements would show boys dancing, perhaps with beautiful girls, and perhaps saying something like: “Ballet class is where all the beautiful girls hang out!” Ballet schools and companies would have to band together to make this happen, but it’s possible, and the goal of getting more boys in ballet could easily be achieved in a short amount of time. Quite frankly, it upsets me that ballet people do not do more to change the public perception of boys in ballet. They should be proactive and work to change the status quo, instead of just accepting the way things are.

[@seaofglass77]

The argument "Ballet is dead" perfectly echoes what I was told at University while studying music. That tonality is dead. But tonality to adheres to certain physical principles. There is still much to do to explore music while not abandoning or dismissing tonality. Noise for the sake of noise is not music just the way nudity for the sake of nudity is not art.

[@darthlaurel]

Such ideas are the proof of a decadent, depraved view of art. Hopefully the ideas will swing away soon.

[@harmoniabalanza]

The death of tonality and classicism in dance will pass on too.

[@janeyslater8272]

Took me back completely. I studied ballet by the Cecchetti method from the age of 6 to 18, from the 60s to the late 70s. It struck me that we did, in effect, unwittingly go through all six types of principals through the week as you explain. I could relate to many aspects of your analysis and it has been a welcome revelation having the whys and wherefores explained in that my love of expressive virtuoso ballet is becoming increasingly difficult to come across in todays ballet arena, you demonstrate this so thoroughly. Thank you

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much for your observations. The Method is very special for those of us who have had training in it and I’m so glad it brought back great memories and that you enjoyed the film!

[@denisehill7769]

I couldn't agree more. I also studied via the Cecchetti method in my teens and other than an occasional class (non-Cecchetti) now and then I left the ballet world a long time ago other than a spectator. In my dotage, now rather shorter and much wider than I was in my youth, those principles in particular aplomb and epaulement, are instilled in my body in a way I hadn't realised; this became apparent when trying out an online Silver Swans tutorial. Might be arthritic and stiff but still got it. I wonder if todays top athletic dancers will be in that position? I feel sad to watch classes today where stretch bands and leg-rolling devices appear to have replaced a thoroughly grounded technique.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

You raise a most interesting debate! Thank you for watching and I hope you are enjoying your classes again, even if online.

[@rhodiamann9057]

@@denisehill7769 u I⁰p

[@wilmalensink9278]

I was very fortunate in training in Cecchetti. Thank you Louise Lombard. I am 53 and have been dancing for 35 years without many injuries. Never understood why the adult women who I dance with, suffer from hip, joint and knee pain. They were Imperial or RAD trained. Now I think I know why. Thank you for a wonderful documentary.

[@joyvan0827]

Whatever is happening in ballet is also happening in other forms of art, in education, in how we choose to live our lives. It seems to us that we have all the information we need to achieve something, yet we are totally lost in this search. We want quick results, quick tips and hacks that can fix things that take sometimes years to master. As a result, we get mediocrity and a whole lot of other problems. Thank you for your film. In my opinion, whether it is French school, Russian school or Italian school, the basic principles for ballet should remain the same, and we need to demand a change in the direction it is going, which is to follow a fast food method that for sure will lead our dancers into injuries.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Dear Joy, Thank you for your astute perceptions and I agree totally with your comments! There are indeed, many problems in so many areas of our culture. As artists are the mirrors of our society they will reflect its aspects, both bad and good.

[@sensualcharmm]

@@juliecronshaw7013 love this thank you so much !!

[@kimcooper87]

@@juliecronshaw7013 I think part of the problem is that in our society in general, we have started to emphasize competition over cooperation, which leads to the competition to extend further rather than express better.

[@harmoniabalanza]

You are absolutely right.

[@harmoniabalanza]

Yup.

[@nalatthawongsawad6234]

This is a masterpiece of Ballet documentary so inspirational. I truly appreciate it . Thank you so much for sharing this.🩰💖

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much!

[@sidilicious11]

Cecchetti’s ballet movements are organic and so compelling to watch! This was a treat to watch and learn about.

[@woodlandacorn2465]

Such an incredible film. As a young dancer, in a world of trying to go beyond the human limit, this was very helpful. Thank you 😊

[@sidilicious11]

I can imagine the relief of trying to be something unnatural, and instead building natural strength and artistry.

[@mq342]

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I heard and saw demonstrated in my Cecchetti classes/exams many years ago. Whatever the training system, the first principle must remain clear: ballet is art.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you for your comment! Yes indeed, never forget, ballet is an art (and not a sport...)

[@d12kiem7]

I like how you paired he term "anatomically safe" to ballet!

[@annbrixey9651]

Finally I hear a professional saying something I have been saying for many years. Thank you, I wish more teachers and artistic directors would take this on board and get away from the acrobatics we see in dancers today,

[@margareth1504]

While the acrobatics included in dance today is very popular and I dont discount acrobatics as it has positive features, I always felt that acrobatics in dance was a seperate interuption rather and definately not a real part of the dance.

[@susanpaul4752]

I am reliving my ballet classes of MANY decades ago...in a Checchetti oriented NYC ballet school, Thalia Mara and Arthur Mahoney teachers, + others.

[@TheMama166]

I studied with in NYC with Vincenzo Celli and Richard Thomas MANY decades ago! ;)

[@mishatv4785]

to me the exercises look like a real ballet stage performing; so beautiful and mesmerizing , at the same time powerful and functional

[@emitch9213]

In my training, I was very fortunate to have a training of Checchetti & Vaganova...a very well planned syllabus that our mistress brought out into each level class that reached into the very best of each dancer. Many went onto professional company careers. 🌹

[@lukeseewhy]

For this entire film to be edited by George Massey alone, that's a phenomenal amount of work. I know how hard editing is. He's done an incredible job

[@juliecronshaw7013]

George is unique and has the patience of Job. Thank you, he appreciates you noticed it!

[@capecod50s]

This is just wonderful. I hope it impacts ballet for years to come.

[@annettethermos4965]

The dancers here are a pleasure to watch!

[@balletmaster002]

It was interesting to watch this film ! Dear author, thank you for the effort to save the art of ballet.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you for your lovely comment!

[@daivagestautas4024]

Thank you, Miss Cronshaw, for this wonderful video. I agree that current ballet has become vulgar and ridiculous in appearance. In my youth, I studied with Richard Ellis and Christine DuBoulay in Chicago, IL. They taught the Cecchetti method. Whenever professional dancers were in town, they always came to their studio for class. I was lucky to have danced with the Boston Ballet during the 1970's and my training held me in good stead. Even then, though, one could see gymnastic dancing beginning to creep in. Dancers stopped moving and began linking poses together calling it dance.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you for your comment, that is a really good observation. Karsavina always talked about the flow of movement, what the Russians call 'plastique' . At the end of the day we would all rather watch a dancer with that quality, no?

[@destinycharles2237]

Oh My GOSH am I glad that I found this!!! I thought it was just me that was annoyed with all the contemporary dance fusions into classical ballet. I love this so much!!! Thank you for posting this!!! It's the beauty of the dance that drew me in for years, not the physical prowess and bone-breaking athleticism.

[@williamwaldinger7755]

Brilliant. Every dancer needs to see this.

[@toforgetisagem8797]

I am not a dancer, I am an enthusiastic audience member. To me this technique makes sense. It takes advantage of the ergonomics of the body and by doing so it makes the body move as it should and that is beautiful. Ballet for me as an audience member is to see the body at its best. Why strain the feet and back when it is possible to use the core? All structure has to take into account stress. I now see why a lot of modern dancers do not have the poise or the elegant extension of the past.

[@fredvacher3998]

I enjoyed the film very much because I can see similarities with the art of singing. With a good sound technique (that involves the whole body), you can sing effortlessly and surprise yourself with what you are able to express and convey. I loved the emphasis that art is a language (not a dazzling display of strength or painful extremes). And, indeed, all (including the very lovely piano playing!) was graceful, impressive and inspiring. Thank you very much. And I wish a happy musical and artistic journey to all💐🎶😘

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you Fred! I sang a lot as a child and couldn’t agree more. A happy, artistic journey to you

[@fredvacher3998]

@@juliecronshaw7013 thank you Julie. Still singing!!!!! (not dancing I m afraid, although I did a lot in younger days : folk, ballroom.... and an intense night clubber!)

[@claireschweizer4765]

I have to remember singing and dancing are also much, much different postures lol

[@Mocareina]

It is so healing to watch ballet as a deeply rooted, strong, healthy expression of pure joy, and not the desperate dance on the edge of injury, hunger, self hatred and despair it can be in the present day.

[@raychlc5959]

This was brilliant to watch. Thank you. My 9 year old son is a brilliant dancer and we want to help him as much as we can. His teacher feels strongly that he’d do well dancing professionally as he grows up. I’m completely new to all of this and am researching as much as possible to better understand this beautiful world of ballet that I’ve been introduced to.

[@abbyjackson5288]

I just started a history of dance class at uni and this documentary is so helpful, thank you so much! Brilliantly made and such a beautiful voice to listen to!

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you very much, am glad to help!

[@CGMaat]

You are so right; ballet is a spiritual, soulful, quintessential cosmic theory . I loved your presentation. Dance is higher language .DANCELINES

[@gwenfranco8905]

Thank you very much for publishing this documentary. I applaud, you Julie.

[@gretahassock8914]

Always preserve the almost spiritual appeal of ballet which is a bit deeper than beauty

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Yes indeed.

[@Lballet]

What a beautiful document. We as Lballet are underscoring every word! Thank you so much. best regards, LBallet Paul Valk (Netherlands)

[@JoaoZamae]

This documentary got me really touched. Thanks for sharing it

[@suzannederringer1607]

This looks like what Dance should be - and once was. This reminds me of Bournonville's Ballets.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you! I’m a huge fan of Bournonville. In my opinion he was the Mozart of choreography. He found it so easy to create he couldn’t understand why those around him couldn’t put ballets together ‘just like that’. And like Cecchetti, who was a generation after him, he had a strong moral conscience and keen sense of social responsibility wanting better working conditions for his dancers.

[@pheart2381]

I always feel sad when I hear young dancers describe ballet as Sport. Oh dear,oh dear. Its ART!

[@elizabethsedai854]

I've always viewed it as both! Which is unique only to ballet... and WWE! Lol sounds silly but think about it! But more so ballet...

[@valmacclinchy]

@@elizabethsedai854 I would say figure skating is both, also.

[@elizabethsedai854]

@@valmacclinchy oh yes!! I forgot about figure skating!! You're totally right!!

[@Coucoutchicou]

@@elizabethsedai854 ...and rhythmic gymnastics ...and synchronised swimming...?

[@elizabethsedai854]

@@Coucoutchicou yes!! Those too!! Definitely!

[@deborahhigginbotham7276]

What a wonderful and important "work of love" you've given us. I am so thankful that you have documented what is almost lost in classical ballet today. The exquisite style and dancing that is shown in this video, sadly, because it's not seen in class or on stage almost look 'foreign' now but it is our classical ballet history and so important to the core of it.

[@francisanthonypeters9002]

Wonderful! It's helping me to stay in form at my age. Brings me back to my classes in my youth. I still do the bar. Thank you for the lessons. Mille grazie!

[@susanl.trumble8366]

I wish I this video would have been available during my dance carreer! So enlightening!

[@marilynsitaker4198]

Beautifully done. My gratitude to the filmaker, teacher, and dancers who put this together.

[@jenniferlehman2464]

Julie Cronshaw, I'm not a dancer. Never have been. But I grew up watching Karen Kane, Prima Ballerina of the National Ballet of Canada. I've always admired her grace and beauty on the stage whenever I saw her. Whether it was in Swan Lake, her partnership with Rudolph Nureyev, Sleeping Beauty, or of course, The Nutcracker. She always brought such a stage presence with her, and you understood the story she was telling, even if you had never seen that ballet before. (Sleeping Beauty). I think that Mr. E. Cecchetti's program would work every muscle group at some point or another, allowing you to do variations to Esmeralda or Giselle with ease. As these exercises make the Dancer tell a story again, with less risk of injury, therefore, prolonging their dance career. I thank you very much for putting this together, and I would also like to give a huge thank you to the two dancers. They were amazing!!! 💖 💖 Many Blessings to you and your family, and everyone involved in the production of this video. I'm sure Mr. Cecchetti is smiling down because what he started has not been forgotten, nor should it ever be. Anything that reduces injury and prolongs a career can't be a bad thing!! With all that is happening at this time with COVID-19, and all the variations, I pray that Everyone Stays Safe!!! From Ontario, Canada, Jenn. 💖 💖 🇨🇦

[@deborahclem4901]

Thank you for this! I studied classical ballet as a child and teenager. I now practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Arnis-Eskrima (Filipino Martial Arts) but classical ballet is the basis for my warm ups. Now, I'm thinking, I need to create a similar system of body mechanic drills and principles to help people studying these arts. We have drills in these arts, but I'd like to explore them deeper, connecting the mechanical function inside the torso to the goal of the drill in a detailed manner.

[@harmoniabalanza]

As an American, I find the interview with Massey so refreshing. There are but few young men in the US who could speak with such clarity and intelligence and thoughtfulness as he does. I wish more young Americans could be exposed to European culture. The ones I have met who have been are quite different.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you!

[@tito2678]

Fantastic. Thank you for sharing. It would be great if young generations could watch this video.

[@sarahferguson0]

I myself am not a dancer but several family members are and i have always felt that too many dancers suffer from injuries far too often by pushing the limits of the human body to extremes. Every time i watch my cousins preform i pray.

[@ilanaoliveira6816]

Wonderful! Thank you! Ballet is Art!

[@ebonydaise9403]

I truly appreciate this documentary .As a dancer I can vouch for the schedule and how each step helps to build towards connections of new transitions in a performance. Turn outs , Transfer of weight and center of gravity are a mainstay in my ballet school.

[@sarahsapp3673]

watched at the perfect time as I begin a long road of healing with PT and physical training. Made my workout COMPLETELY different (and waaay more productive!) (not a dancer, btw)

[@terriholliday8038]

There is a dancer in all of us! Good luck with your recovery.

[@carolwolf9614]

What a beautiful and compassionate film this is. Technically perfect, sound, vision and soul. Thank you Julie.

[@annaiuga]

I wish that this type of dancing would come back. Dancers acheve lots of triks very young and laking in artistry puting lor of presure on their body. Loved this video.

[@katysinnadurai1355]

Hi Julie, it's lovely to see this excellent film. I couldn't agree more, I'm teaching all my students that ballet is an artform not a sport, it's hard to convince this generation and we need more voices saying this! Lovely to see you again in this film, our paths have crossed quite a few times over the years! Katy (Lane) Sinnadurai x

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much! I hope we cross paths again soon.

[@Njoofene]

What a delight to come across this video! My favourite ballet technique without a doubt. I'm now 50 and retired from professional dance 20 years ago to pursue a business career. This brings back so many great memories of my ballet mistress Sheila Dickie, a former student of Dame Ninette de Valois.

[@judithricca6915]

I have read about the Cecchetti method but I have never seen it demonstrated. Thank you.

[@kitsirainbowfineart]

Muriel is an exquisite dancer, so beautiful to watch. This video vindicates my thoughts on ballet, for me it should show grace and beauty of movement, not painful looking acrobatics. And as Muriel shows, one does not really need to be on pointe to appear to fly x

[@ML-ky1mp]

Absolutely brilliant and will help a lot of young dancers!

[@yelenakonetchy4212]

I love the idea of aplomb and how it's explained. I think a lot of dancers miss this... if you do it right you are always floating, not sitting into your legs trying to constantly transition your weight.

[@yelenakonetchy4212]

and those exercises are very difficult.. reminds me of vaganova method as well.. but she learned from him :)

[@christianbernardsinger1216]

This is so incredible on so many levels - thank you!!!!

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you very much indeed.

[@mjt9822]

A big Thank You for everything you say in this video....This is vital to a dancer's blood. I agree 100%.

[@sarahd1706]

💖💖💖 I've been searching KZbin for ballet performances that fill my soul b/c they're danced w/ beautiful feeling & personality. This documentary explains why I feel like most performances feel cold & stiff, lacking feeling & vulnerability, though they're good at moving in challenging ways. I've noticed this w/ gymnastics too--they used to use more art in the sport. I love watching Nadia Comaneci, it fills me emotionally w/ awe & feels inspiring. Then I watch Simone & she's amazing at what she does, but my soul is not touched. I also love watching old movies b/c the women inspire similar feelings. We've lost that intriguing, inviting feminine grace, warmth & beauty (it's something that radiates that's hard to explain). We women are different now. Generally speaking, compared to the past we're cold, stiff, walled off, pushing through w/ a punch. It's about the challenge & accomplishment. I get stressed & burned out when I'm in that mode. We're in masculine energy rather than feminine energy. I feel it's non-inspiring & boring for most women to be this way, & it's interesting to see how it's affecting ballet.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

A wonderful comment, and a keeper. I read this one aloud to a friend. Thanks so much (from George, the filmmaker of ballet's secret code.) - ps, Julie loved this comment also.

[@Roxnolds]

Thanks for this video, as a spectator, it helps my understanding and appreciation of classical ballet. Sad to see the pretensions of 'Sports Science' invading the world of ballet. My daughter's ballet is a source of joy and delight to the whole family.

[@margondine]

Some of my training at the RAD was by Keith Lester, who partnered Spessivsteva and was old school. I remember being told that legs should be lower for some ballets, in order to be authentic to the era. He was very much about the dynamics, the feeling, rather than height. He and Rachel Cameron, who taught us Karsavina's Russian syllabus, taught us so much about dancing. Anyone reading this who worked them will understand.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Your teacher had given good advice and you have been fortunate to learn the Karsavina work which is a treasure and such a pity it is not more widely shared, from what I have been told by RAD teachers and examiners. There are many differences of opinion about dancing in an 'authentic style' and what feels and looks right to one observer is disputed by another. These days, when I go to watch a ballet and it is well performed with competency, artistry and sincerity of production (and without wincing too much at physical poses that cause pain) it is enough.

[@KARochitteBallet]

Such an amazing source of information! Thank you so much. Every ballet teacher should watch it. 👏🏻👏🏻

[@annecc11]

Thank you so much Ms. Cronshaw for putting this documentary together. It brought my mind back to the fundamentals and reasons in the training of classical ballet. I taught ballet for 30 years and now in retirement I teach Pilates mat classes. My ballet training and experience is always in my mind when teaching Pilates. Again, thank you and I am passing on this documentary to a ballet friend who still teaches in America. With every good wish, Anne C-C

[@suzanphipps9246]

This was wonderful and I can't wait to watch the other videos. My teacher was a Cecchetti examiner and I remember those grueling days preparing for our exams. Looking forward to sharing this link with some of my own students. Thank you

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much! Really appreciate the feedaback.

[@user-nf8jk2ho8e]

Watching this Again, so beautiful and a brilliant view into the truth of the spirit and virtue of ballet!

[@speteydog2260]

Thank you! I was inspired by reading the biography of Pavlova as a young girl. But as I Studied ballet for many many years, It just wasn’t what I thought it should be. Think you explain why.

[@thalia7104]

Can't say how much I enjoyed to watch your documentary, Julie! Truly amazing and beautiful, thank you so much!

[@Raising_RubiesXs6]

I am so thankful to have run across this documentary! I studied Cicchetti as a child and now am training to teach it! Love this resource. Thank you for putting this on KZbin!

[@alexanderhandbookforyoungm2311]

Brilliant video Julie. So inspiring to see that dancers don't have to hurt themselves to study and perform. A wonderful message of creativity being enhanced by an understanding of structure.

[@MyClarissa21]

I learnt ballet under the best Italian instructors in Milan following this method and I can say : it was a joy ! Exciting and no injuries ❤

[@maria-lorenanunez8039]

Dear Julie, what a lovely piece of research. This is a door to find those endless times and treasures of the past that are very present now. Thank you and to all those talented and wonderful dancers and teachers on those research. A great legacy.

[@stellacardozo8163]

Perfect! 👏👏👏 Thanks so much for sharing such great documentary.

[@tubaraorenata]

Thank you, Julie! ✨🙏🏻

[@2Sugarbears]

Thank you so much for this documentary. It was both eye opening and superbly explanatory. I always wondered why so many dancers were injured so frequently and now I have my answer. Cheers.

[@RS-be7iy]

Thank you for this wonderful film!

[@tout_en_douceur8603]

Absolutely fantastic video! I have noticed the trend of making dance into a gymnastics contest and this video is absolute gold! Thank you for sharing this. Bravo to those beautiful dancers who were an absolute delight to watch. xx

[@susanneschlomer871]

Thank you! I am an ex- dancer Vaganova trained, who has decided to start classes again. The tips given are so helpful and inspiring. 😊 Lastly, you have voiced the opinion that I've had for a long time that ballet should not be an athletic competition. I started realizing this terrible trend when I started looking back at famous dancers in the 70's and they were brilliant without overextended legs and acrobatics. They had more heart than most of the artists of the day. Bravo for your work.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you! It does appear that dancers from decades before the 1980s ‘had more heart’. I know what you mean without going into detail.

[@mojcagal8364]

Dear Julie, I'm thrilled to find your documentary: so wonderful, inspiring, impressive... thank you!!!

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much!

[@sarahtullamore1574]

I stumbled across your film completely by accident Julie and what a pleasure it has been to watch - well done. It strikes a special chord because even though I am now a professional singer/actress "who moves well" I did 7 years of Cecchetti ballet training as a child and this at a time when the method was less in "in favour" than others. However, I feel it has always helped me with my artistic expression on stage. As other people have said here I do hope you find a wide audience for his. Good luck with it!

[@pedinurse1]

The majority of modern works are no good. This documentary is absolutely wonderful, learned so much.We must maintain the integrity and the originality of ballet.

[@danshari5975]

What a beautiful, fascinating, eye and mind opening documentary video. Thank you very much for sharing!

[@snabeyratne]

Fabulous! This educational video is a goldmine of information on the fundamentals of Chechetti technique. The film is exquisitely crafted and left me breathless at the end.

[@MelissaRayneDance]

This is a wonderful documentary! Thank you so much for sharing, it's very inspirational.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much for your comment!

[@mariaquercia8573]

Divine! Thanks for sharing such precious knowledge!

[@rachelgregory888]

Beautiful!

[@balletforever7993]

This is outstanding,just starting to watch 💖

[@maxinerailton2933]

What a labour of love! This documentary and the fantastic website have given me much food for thought. Thanks for your wonderful contribution to dance knowledge and education - I have recommended it to three colleagues already!

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you so much! I’ve got more articles and essays on my resource website TheCecchettiConnection.com, with more to come!