Frappé Tutorial for beginners

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?

[@esstown]

Dear Salty Sugar Plum - your technique video's are the best on you-tube by a long shot. Your explanations are clear, rational and demystifying. You explain exactly what one needs to do. Your correctness is also at an unusually high level. You know exactly what you are doing, and this is rare. You obviously understand ballet. You understand anatomy, physiology, angles, physics (including centre of gravity and vectors) artistry, ballet systems and the works. Also, you are able to communicate/demonstrate it clearly! This is genuine balletic intelligence - please keep posting.....forever. The ballet world needs you.

[@SaltySugarPlum]

my heart is all a-flutter from this comment! thank you so much! these kinds of messages mean so much to me

[@celticeyesmorriganrising929]

esstown what an amazing comment!

[@vanav.jackson4521]

OMG I love the way you explain every move and how to do it properly. It's so easy to understand. Thank you!

[@ioanagrancea6091]

Yes, the explanation I was looking for. May God bless you.

[@mitzvahgirl613]

I am loving your videos so much!

[@rossi7056]

So thorough. Wonderful.

[@2102olma]

Thanks much for your explanation! Clear enough for me 😘

[@deca2k]

Thank you so much for this reminder. You are so awesome!

[@LeuchTheFirst]

you are an amazing teacher!! I finally got it!! thanks :D

[@rosenthalballett7248]

Your tutorials are absolutely amazing! I love how thoroughly and detailed you describe all the techniques!

[@MissRain-xt2vj]

Thanks! Every time I watch you I am just so in awe of how brilliant you are at teaching and what a skilled artist you really are 🧚‍♀️ As an older adult beginner your style of explaning things is invaluable

[@saravanderhoek4024]

Great!

[@emiliaadamo1261]

Thank you! I finally understand frappes!

[@melindahuntley9873]

u are so so good at breaking it down

[@Karoyep]

Thank you so much!

[@elizabethhsu1247]

"lift the knee"! All of the sudden, it makes sense now! Thank you so much!

[@vampoftrance]

Thank you

[@shichenzhang5494]

That's why! I learnt frappe in Russian way and got very confused after coming to the US. Thank you for clarifying all these differences!

[@bompy84]

Hello Salty! Hope you're doing well. A professional ballet dancer speaking over here. Great explanation, pretty accurate, thanks for sharing. I have also read FRAPPÉS will help develop that muscular tone for quick responses and reflects, given that it requires precision and moving quickly but with extreme control of the core so that just the lower part of your legs move with speed and strenght. Smooches!

[@Tdll88]

Ur turnout is amazing

[@albadeffa5398]

Brava Spieghi bene!

[@alisonbramham7797]

You have some of the best tutorials! I have a teacher who teaches the pointed foot without the wrap in each position. I am not sure which curriculum this comes from, but I have seen it.

[@fermacedo4062]

Maybe cuban, I practice that one

[@lindypierce3766]

@@fermacedo4062 Is Cuban Vaganova?

[@RymVri108]

I love your explanations. Your arabesque “it starts at the butt” tip instantly changed my arabesque! Can you do a tutorial on brisee?

[@SaltySugarPlum]

Blythe Vrindavana yes I'm editing a tutorial about beats, brisee is mentioned, but not in great detail. I'll get to it!

[@cendiacocri]

Love you and your tutorials! My toes are so short I barely strike the floor😂 When I point my short toes they seem to dissapere 😂 As you said: you can't change your anatomy!

[@wentithewindsongbird2939]

These are definitely the best tutorials I've ever watched on KZbin. Thank you so much for sharing your precious knowledge and experience ^.^

[@TansyBlue]

In Italian frappé means "milkshake" (frappucino is milkshake + cappucino I think), and as I speak a tad of Italian I can get VERY CONFUSED by the frappé terminology. XD I also find the concept of a "milk frappé" really bizarre. I used to get praised for my petit battement because I can do them with nearly 100% knee torsion and practically zero knee extension, but then I realised that that's only because I'm hypermobile and I was destroying my body. Now I need to relearn how to do them from scratch. -sigh- I really wish that ballet culture valued the integrity of dancers' bodies more, especially when it's adults who are clearly just dancing for fun and never going to be professional.

[@Dances_in_the_kitchen]

Hi Salty, this might be a stupid question but is it possible to do multiple double frappes to the front (or back) in a row? Actually I don’t think it’s correct but one of my ballet teachers made me do this by going straight front and then from there go “back front and straight front”, and I’m really confused because I don’t think this is correct. I always thought, I can only do multiple double frappes to the side (front back side, back front side,…) but when I go to the front or back I can only double the very first frappe. What do you think of this?

[@SaltySugarPlum]

I have done this although you're right: It's not very common! Usually a 'triple' would be given in those cases. But i don't think it's technically incorrect do do multiple doubles to the front or back. (We know it's easier to do multiple doubles to the side). There are scenarios where the front foot can be brought directly to cou de pied back and vice versa (think of emboîtés for example). I think the purpose for this kind of frappé combination is to build speed, precision, and challenge your coordination to prepare you for more complex petite allegro combinations with battu in the center.