What you’ve always wanted to ask ballet dancers | Ballet Reign

[@mermaidopulence8539]

I'm a lefty turner however I can do right turns but they just aren't as pretty as my left. Also when we are in class and it's time to do the combination to the left I instantly get excited because I know it will be easy for me plus it's so funny hearing everyone instantly complain about the left side.

[@balletreign]

Hahaha can def relate to that excitement 😂

[@DaveCalungsod]

I'm a lefty turner aswell, lefty turners unite. We'll rebel against the left turn prejudice and allow doing left turns on performances❤

[@bizema2003]

Same 😊

[@bizema2003]

@@DaveCalungsod Yes!

[@mermaidopulence8539]

@@DaveCalungsod yes yes and yes. It's like they absolutely refuse to choreograph anything doing lefty turns.

[@scarletbailey6086]

I got taught by multiple teachers while I was taking ballet classes, and they were all on various spectrums of the counter vs listener. The owner of the studio and the older teachers all fell into the middle ground, but the new teacher that joined was a heavy counter. She assigned every step to a count, which yielded better results in terms of synchronicity especially for the younger girls. But then, the guest teacher/choreographer that came about twice a year was more of a listener. His instructions were along the lines of "then we do the tida tida".

[@balletreign]

Ah yes, “tida tida padada OOM PAH”… very technical terms there 😂😂. It’s good to be able to adapt to any learning style ✨

[@scarletbailey6086]

@@balletreign Yes, it was a very good learning experience for us!

[@cynthiat6505]

Khachaturian has outrageous meters/ time signatures! You both are brilliant!

[@balletreign]

Khachaturian is sooo gooooddd 👍🏻. And thank you very much!! 💕☺️☺️

[@brit1583]

That was super thank you ladies. I’d have loved a demo of you learning a piece new to you. And how do you retain such enormous amounts of choreography. Or do you ‘forget’ it after finishing a production until the next time you rehearse it

[@balletreign]

Thank you so much! That is such a good question, thanks for participating 👍🏻😁

[@oxoelfoxo]

i guess they do a rewatch to refresh their memories and there's probably also muscle memory involved if they've danced it enough times

[@DaveCalungsod]

​@oxoelfoxo yeah my muscle memory sometimes activate when I play a piece that I learned 2 yrs ago it's such a helpful skill to have

[@we.genuinely.think2882]

I do ballet as a hobby and changed my studio a while back when I moved. The teacher in my old studio was a counter and so I did it that way too. The teacher in my new studio however is a listener and I had to adapt so much to learn choreography her way. As you said, I was used to do step A on 1 and step B on 2 and my old ballet teacher always counted the music for us the first few rehearsals and then I had to learn to do step A one the "didado" or something like this. Very different experience and very hard if you are not used to this 😂

[@eliskavitu5462]

This is my happy place on yt!! Love you, girls

[@balletreign]

AWWW thank u sm 🥹🥹💕💕

[@TheALLYISLAME]

same!!

[@GeeNoniGee]

Only halfway through the video, and I am SO impressed with the quality of questions and answers, here! Seriously, it has improved my ballet education, and I've been an enthusiastic patron for over 40 years! 🎉

[@bailey-booop]

I've been doing dance for a little bit. I am 14, but I have been dancing for about 8 years now. I do Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. I love dance so much, and this channel makes me fall in love with dance just a little more every day. Y'all have taught me a lot.

[@voyaristika5673]

It's so nice you have such talent. I always wished I'd been gifted that way! I hope you keep dancing for as long as you can, no matter where your life takes you, keep dancing! Good luck to you, Sweetheart.

[@nooripuss1]

I really look forward to your programs each week. Thank you! Here's a funny story I heard or read about the first performance (s) of Rite of Spring. Everyone was terribly excited, the audience was really noisy with their reactions and Nijinsky had to stand on a chair in the wings and shout the counts to the dancers

[@balletreign]

Aww so happy to hear that! And thank you for sharing that, one of our favorite facts about that first premiere 😂😂

[@TheDelivev]

When we see a video of you both dancing?

[@balletreign]

Soon! 🥸🥸

[@amwelty]

Wow. I learn so much by following your channel.

[@balletreign]

That is so wonderful to hear! Thank you ☺️☺️

[@nina-oh1fs]

hiii i love q&a vids!! watching this before i get ready for nutcracker rehearsal lol

[@balletreign]

Glad u enjoy these qna vids! And good luck in your rehearsals 🙌🏻 What roles are you performing this season? 😄😄

[@nina-oh1fs]

@@balletreign i'm doing 5 performances so i have sooo many ahah i'm clara for one show this year so i'm really excited!! for the shows i'm not clara i'm also doing mirlitons, snow, flowers for 2 shows and then chinese tea, snow & flowers for the other 2

[@micheledix2616]

Fantastic video , ladies. As an old ex ballet dancer who now trains and instructs Tai Chi I have to say that EVERYTHING you have brought up is used in learning and remembering martial arts set forms. But in the Tai Chi Style I play we DO NOT use music but instead learn to flow with the rhythm of our very deep inhalation and exhalation be it slightly faster or very much slower to perform each move. Well done. I really enjoy each of your videos. Thank you

[@balletreign]

Wow that’s so cool! Tai Chi is an amazing art form, and we dancers could learn a lesson from y’all in terms of the usage of breath 😅😅. Glad u enjoyed todays vid! 💕

[@GeeNoniGee]

I'm starting Tai Chi for physical rehabilitation. I have issues with strength, balance and posture, which I believe Tai Chi will rectify on every level. I was introduced to it when I was given a book and DVD "Beginning Tai Chi: with David Carradine". It was really good! Best part of my morning was doing my routine with DC in his comfy gold silk pajamas, lol.. Unfortunately, someone borrowed it from me and never gave it back. I found it here on KZbin, though! I remember the last time that I got into a Tai Chi routine, I felt like I was two inches taller, I could sleep better, even my digestion improved. I look forward to getting back into it again, and yes, I also see similarities with the art and discipline of Ballet!

[@micheledix2616]

@balletreign I am an old ( actually old) ex ballet dancer but I find my mojo in the Tai Chi now as I am not supple as I was in my ballet days but I will be a ballet dancer until,I die. My mind still remembes Little Swans very well , and Graduation Ball too. As performing & training wins out. Hence the TI Chi training for mobility and memory

[@bizema2003]

You two brighten my (already pretty bright) Saturdays. Thank you! 🎶🩰🥰

[@balletreign]

Y’all brighten ours ☺️☺️

[@jeffparnell5805]

Your videos are always a lot of fun to watch. ❤

[@balletreign]

Aww thanks!!! 😁😁

[@DaidairoGS]

Fantastic video! I knew about the existence of ballet notation from reading, but I had no idea it wasn't commonly taught to dancers in our current day and age. I have a question regarding music-and-dance! I've always heard (and noted, when I watch ballet variations) that ballet dancers are 'loose' with music, or that they don't keep 'perfect' time to the beat of the music. Whilst some have explained that unlike in hiphop/modern dance, ballet steps follow the overall musical phrase rather than having smaller marked emphasis points to each beat, and therefore it might appear that they are off-time to the average layman's eye. However, what about dances with clearly emphasized strong beats and obviously matching choreography? For example, the Esmeralda variation, where the tambourine hits are (unless I'm mistaken as a non-dancer haha) intended to land precisely on the beat of the music? On a related note, is sound-over-distance an issue with ballet? For example, does the music from the orchestra reach the dancers first and then the rest of the theatre, so that to the audience, the dancers look like they're just slightly ahead of the music? Thank you for the amazingly informative answers!

[@joetacoma4027]

I'm curious about the timing (as with the tambourine hits) too, and am looking forward to responses. 👍

[@balletreign]

This is a fantastic question that def requires a comprehensive answer. Thanks for contributing and for enjoying part 1!! 😁😁✨

[@autisticdancer]

I’m definitely a listener when it comes to learning choreography and musical cues since I’m bad at counting music. 😅 I think one of the advantages of being a listener (at least for me) is that if you get distracted or lose track of the counts while you’re dancing, if you still know the choreography, you can pretty easily pick back up on what the next step or part is going to be by identifying it as something like: “okay, I have to do a fouetté in Arabesque when the next phrase starts.”

[@balletreign]

That’s a really good point! #teamlistener 🙌🏻✨

[@virginia-rosemakeup9697]

I literally look forward to you guys' Saturday uploads so much!! Just sat down with a cup of piping hot tea (Just Irish Barry's tea with a teeny splash of milk) and some popcorn of course, to finally chill after a long old day. Can't Wait to watch!!! 🥰🩰🦢👑☕🍿

[@balletreign]

Aww thanks for having us as a part of ur Saturdays!! We always look forward to Ballet-Nerding with y’all 😁😁. (Delicious choices, btw ☕️🍿)

[@darysaura]

Loved this video!!! I've learned so much about Ballet with you lovely girls. Thank you so much ❤

[@balletreign]

Wow thank you!! So happy to hear that! Keep Ballet Nerding 🤓🤓💕

[@LadyBlack22]

I'm shocked that you never said the phrase, "oral tradition" during the discussion about repetiteurs and passing ballet on to the next generation.

[@nerdcat1014]

I have a video idea! Maybe you should react to the Ratmansky reconstruction production of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and La Bayadere! All 3 productions were based from old choreographic notations from the early 1800s! Ratmansky’s work is very interesting and has a huge impact on ballet history} 😊

[@user-el2nh5uo1w]

It’s like you picked the exact questions I had about ballet. Thanks.

[@balletreign]

Glad it was helpful! We are impressed with the great smart questions we’ve received from y’all 😊

[@baylieleonard5589]

Muddy buddies 😊

[@balletreign]

Ooooohhhh 😋😋

[@kathychenyinggao4519]

This is so cool! LOVE LOVE LOVE to start my weekend with your videos! I like the analogy of scores to musician vs choreography to dancer. But I think there are major differences: Take violin concertos for example, there's a cadenza part where the violinist has significant freedom to compose or even improvise this part. It is somewhat like a coda in ballet, both are typically towards the later part of the whole piece, both are putting the violinist / dancer on the stage alone under the spotlight as a moment to shine, both combines musicality with a demonstration (or show-off lol) of their amazing techniques to wow the audience. Meanwhile, for a cadenza, it is also perfectly fine to use the cadenzas from other famous violinists, since it's proven to be well-received and maybe a safer choice. I'm curious, if a dancer feels like certain part of a choreography doesn't make sense or doesn't allow her to show her amazing skills, would the dancer be able to communicate this concern and make some changes?

[@balletreign]

Omg wow! Thanks sm for sharing ur insights 😁👍🏻. We appreciate your question, we will have to answer this in depth in a future vid 🙌🏻🙌🏻. Thanks for letting us be a part of your weekend! 💕✨

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

I love this video and I would definitely like a part two! Thank you so much for answering my question! All of the questions were really good and your explanations were very clear - so I’m definitely a step further along the path to true ballet nerdiness! 🩰🤓 Have a lovely weekend! 🌧🦌🙏

[@balletreign]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed and learned something new. A fabulous weekend to u too! 🙌🏻😁💕

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

@@balletreign Thank you, dear deers!! 🙏🤩✨💝

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

I'm eating fruit, yogurt, granola. I've never even heard of Benesh notation! It looks interesting, but probably not too easy to understand.

[@balletreign]

Good choice, yummy and healthy! 😋. Benesh notation is… let’s just say we’re thankful we dancers don’t have to deal with that on the daily 😂

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

@@balletreign It was breakfast, not a snack. 😂

[@oxoelfoxo]

not snacktime for me so no snacks but i'm having cookies and coffee for breakfast so i guess it can count as a snack hope you get enough questions to do a part 2!

[@balletreign]

Cookiessss 🍪😋. We have been receiving a lot of questions hehe and if you have any pls drop them here! 😁😁

[@markbeck8384]

I enjoyed this. Thanks for answering one of my questions. I wonder if you would talk a bit about working with an orchestra, especially if the conductor changes the tempo or the highlights are different from what you expected from the rehearsal pianist. This would be more dramatic if you were doing something more original. Yeah, yeah.. I know: just be versatile and adapt..

[@balletreign]

Of course we were happy to answer it! 😁😁. Thanks for your contribution for part 2 👍🏻✨

[@cosmicchrissy]

Great video...I learned a lot! You guys rock!!

[@TheALLYISLAME]

my snack is pasta + cup of tea 😭👌

[@balletreign]

Ooohh delicious choice 😁🍝

[@DaveCalungsod]

How do you guys find motivation when you're in your lows, how do you handle the pressure of being on stage specially alone?

[@balletreign]

Fabulous questions. Thanks!! ✨☺️

[@DaveCalungsod]

❤

[@annapaulina5678]

for me, when im low the only thing i have energy for is ballet because its my place where i vent out hope it makes sense

[@DaveCalungsod]

@@annapaulina5678 yasss the joy ballet bring us is a solution as well

[@evetei]

You two are so refreshing and adorable, thank you for making these fun and informative videos. Where do you both dance, do you have a video about that? Would love to see 🤗🤙🏼🙏

[@balletreign]

Thanks so much for this! Glad u enjoy our channel 😁. You haven’t missed anything; we’ll cover that question in a future video 🥸🥸

[@traegic7219]

i have a question about turning. i get nauseous really quickly (be it in a bus, car, playing video games -_-) and it's making turns really hard because no matter how hard i spot i get dizzy and lose orientation. is that a thing that will go away with more practice or are there any tricks or am i doomed?

[@Elle-tt4kh]

This is random but it felt so cool to be able to recognise the background music that finished at 5:20 as one I have danced to (coppelia)

[@Short_Round1999]

LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha did ballet since she was 3 in The Netherlands and then became a kpop idol within a year

[@karenjones9961]

Wonderful Q&A ladies😊!

[@balletreign]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@itsmealaina]

Question: what is a variation? Is it one specific act from the ballet? Is it one characters solo? I always thought it was just any piece of a ballet that could be preformed as a solo but since you said they were the most popular part of a ballet now I am thinking there is only one per piece? Sorry, I know it's a confusing question. I love your videos, and I am starting my first dance class in about 2 weeks at 15 years old 😊❤

[@mariabondarenko6085]

absolutely unrelated to the content of the video but I was jamming out to the Coppelia music in the beginning, remembering Swanilda’s variation (just ballet student things)

[@balletreign]

Haha love it! Totally support spontaneous bopping 😝😝

[@Laffsaff]

So I’m not trying to join a company maybe in the future if things end up different maybe but my goal for learning ballet is get to pointe, learn dances from like swan lake or nutcracker, I love the music ❤️ but then just keep up I love it to just dance around the house while I’m bored

[@helloooo6653]

definitely a listener but sometimes the choreography is too complicated and you gotta stay in time with other people and the music is too repetitive so you gotta switch teams 😭😭

[@moniquechristiansen5276]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@clairethompson5549]

I have a question for next time! Do you know of any dancers that were able to dance despite a physical disability? I danced until I was 18, then did the occasional barre class until earlier this year. I suffered a spinal injury several months ago (unrelated to dance and healing well, but with permanent… whackiness 😂) and I would love to hear about (or from!) any dancers who have been able to adapt the craft to their unique situations! People are so incredibly resilient and I want to hear everyone’s stories of perseverance! For anyone else in our *exquisite* community dealing with injury or disability, know that I’m cheering you on!!

[@TheALLYISLAME]

in your opinion, how can artistry be taught?

[@balletreign]

Fabulous question! Thanks for inputting 👍🏻💕

[@me67226]

Why do people insist that Natalie Portman danced in the Black Swan movie?? Its so obvious she wouldn't have learned that part as she is just an actress not a prima

[@deborahbarrett2385]

I must say that I am fascinated by how much faster and easier dancers pick up choreo than I, a musician. (I have been told I "think too much" but although I have the desire I have no actual talent for it at all.) Secondarily I am fascinated by the inability of many dancers *and choreographers* that I know - to feel/find where a measure starts in music. They count out 12345678 with no vague attempt to start the 1 on the 1 of the music which I find highly confusing. Back in the day, my little daughter who was bred from 2 musicians, had a ballet teacher who commented that my daughter always innately knew where the phrase started. Granted one can always improve by doing just as you advised, but do you think there's a given innate talent for music? Have you seen talented dancers and choreographers with no real musicality? Or must you have a certain level of musicality to be considered talented? Thanks as always, ladies!

[@lilliedoubleyou3865]

So it sounds like a ballet repetiteur is like The Giver ...

[@vivianevans8323]

Having watched you answering all those questions - I'm sitting ehre with a smile on my face! I noticed that you had several short video clips to underline your answers which were from the Royal Opera House London, with the fantastic Steven McRae as male partner (went down like honey as far as ham concerned10. since you mentioned how important versatility is, and that ballet dancers need to know different styles and varieties, here's a video of Steven McRae, 'Czardas', which he choreographed him self - worth watching: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4LZpXVjabWpY7c

[@micheledix2616]

Oh yes, I totally agree with you on our Australia's FABULOUS Steven McRae, what a brilliant , versatile, talented Leading Dancer this man is. The Royal Ballet is so fortunate to have him amongst their Stars.

[@balletreign]

Steven’s Czardas is AMAZINGGGG ✨✨✨glad we could make you smile today! 😁😁

[@SolElarien]

Do you play an instrument? It’s been very interesting

[@oxoelfoxo]

same question, haha

[@balletreign]

We did answer this in another qna already, but yes! We both studied piano 🎹 alongside ballet when we were younger and it was one the best investments ever 😄😄

[@oxoelfoxo]

hey, i know i've watched all your videos! danged sieve-y memory@@balletreign hope you can pick up piano again if you stopped

[@balletreign]

Lol 😂 no worries! We still love to play when we find the time. What instruments do y’all play or learning at the moment?

[@oxoelfoxo]

audience gang!@@balletreign

[@savannahastings6807]

Currently eating shepherd’s pie right now

[@balletreign]

That sounds fabulous!! 😋😋

[@Ava_ballet8]

please not the coppelia music. I just finished doing coppelia 😭

[@Ava_ballet8]

I was %100 doing friends the WHOLE time the song played lol.

[@balletreign]

LOLL flashback! 😅😅 congrats on your performance 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@Ava_ballet8]

@@balletreign Haha thanks! I love watching your content, thanks for making it!

[@kralicek7920]

Hi, I don't know if you've already answered this question, but I want to ask what it's like when a dancer gets pregnant?

[@balletreign]

A great question! We will see if we can cover this in a future video ✨✨

[@Emily-mu6xk]

was today years old when i found out i had perfect feet for ballet (yes i am a dancer)