I found myself saying over and over "full foot working into the floor" followed by "full extension of your ankle" and then "stretch to the tips of your toenails" and still the lazy feet slid back and forth from less than rotated first positions, knees slightly buckling on the way out or on the way in, oblivious to my constant chanting of "straight leg out, straight leg in."
And the we moved to the degages -- "Is it about lifting the leg up or arching the foot?' and they reply with their voices in tired unison, "arching the foot" and so I beg them -- then show me with your feet.
I shouldn't really blame them. I was in college before it honestly dawned on me that working the foot against the floor would create strength and shape in my feet. Still I wonder, shouldn't being told this day after day appeal to them to work it if for no other reason other than to hear me say something else?
You know I get lots better releves from them when I conjure up images for them to use of themselves in really fine high heel shoes...
I just don't think the careless flip-flopping walk they do is going to create a really fine degage --
The value of tendues and degages must be something we learn to savor and treasure as we get older...if youth is wasted on the young...then "foot action" must be too.
Now you'd really have to be a hard core dancer teacher to appreciate that one.
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