Beginner Ballet Series - Tendu -

[@flightydancer]

You're a really good teacher. You know how to help us understand these exercises.

[@subtedy]

Thanks for this one! I love videos like this one; great for home study and practice!! :-)

[@TheWholePointe]

Yay, I love to hear that, I think home practice is an important part of improving technique!

[@sunlp3654]

Great lesson.

[@TheWholePointe]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to comment, means a lot!

[@jkim9134]

What brand/model of ballet slippers are you wearing?

[@TheWholePointe]

They are Body Wrappers Angelo Luzio Wendy Ballet Slipper, the last time I ordered them off amazon -amzn.to/2DS1hVQ. I am usually a 7.5-8 in regular shoes, most often an 8 but in this shoe I do better in a 7.5, the 8 is too big if that helps at all with sizing.

[@parmidaz4877]

Thank you!!

[@TheWholePointe]

You're welcome! I love teachingn❤

[@sarahw3768]

When you are doing a tendu should all your weight be on your supporting leg? Or should some of your weight be distributed to your other leg. I'm a bit confused about that part

[@TheWholePointe]

I'd say about 90-95% on the supporting leg, the working leg is still attached and you press weight through it on the way out and the way back but when it is fully stretched to the pointed position I am thinking of length through the floor - hope that helps!

[@donnamarie6840]

My teacher says I am very slightly bending my knee when I bring my leg back in from Tendu. I honestly don't feel it. I don't know what would cause it or how to correct it. Some friends have suggested I pull up higher in the hip on the standing leg. Do any of your students have this problem? If so, what general advice would you give without seeing the student execute the move. Thanks so much !

[@TheWholePointe]

Yes this is a common problem! The knee tends to want to relax just a little on the way out or in. I have been working with some of my beginners on this and my biggest advice is to work on tendus very slowly while watching yourself in the mirror. You want to feel straight behind the back of the knee. While being high and pulled up on the supporting leg is important I would also say to think about the tendu starting by the energy going out of your working foot into the floor. You want to feel the friction of the floor and the loop of energy going down your leg - through the floor to full point- and then pulling around back through your body as the leg is closing. I hope that makes sense, I'm finding it difficult to type. But on my next live I will make sure to demonstrate what I am saying!

[@donnamarie6840]

@@TheWholePointe Thank you ! I will try your advice.

[@DrGoertzDO]

I didn't see any difference between accent out and accent in...

[@TheWholePointe]

When the tempo is the same it is a slight difference but it is more of either momentarily holding the tendu in or holding the tendu out. I suggest trying it and seeing if you can feel the difference!