Pirouette Rap Lyrics

How many variations on the same chant have we teachers said over the years?

"Tendu Second, plie Fourth and.." blah blah blah and so on.

Over the years I've tried "right foot, right arm AND (as the prep arm opens), right foot lifts and lands"

Also been known to chant "open and plie and gather and balance" or "gather and snap" --Not the "bend and snap" of Legally Blonde fame...but the releve, use your center, control your arms and use your spot til you hair comes out of its binding "Snap" of the neck that would make a chiropractor proud.

Why don't these kiddos realize that their necks will move independent of the shoulders? I've seen my share of chicken neck moves accompanying the Attitude before. Can't believe that those some muscles don't respond when called upon to help someone learn to turn.

A "career first" today, had to explain not once but twice (two different classes and sadly both DANCE 2) what I meant by "right pirouette" --- and this was after ten minute intro and review. Seems that whole "working leg/supporting leg" is a mystery. It occurs in today's politically charged climate of "who's doing the working to be supporting someone else" this could be an unforeseen symptom. This wasn't a question of outside turns or inside turns ( I do have a excellent explanation for that if anyone requests it) and this wasn't about turning to the right or turning to the left over one shoulder or the other.

This was "why is this called 'right'?" Which for one brief moment I mulled over saying "the way you are doing that would more accurately called 'wrong' but then I realized (1) that would be mean and (2) they still might not get it."

So foolishly I tried to reason with honest proclamation, "I am standing on my right foot when I go around" which was the truth.

Student One prepped with the right, opened her right arm and then threw her Frankstein torso with shoulders up to her ears onto her back leg as she flung her left arm around to meet the other, spinning off balance and nearly squatting sumo style to land.

Student Two created a pique move out of it (The Russian judge wanted to give her extra credit for her inventiveness). Nice prep, looks square, opens the arm and then steps around to look at the back wall and bring the left leg up and swiftly around to land.

Okay-- Let's get this straight in this "right pirouette" whether we did an outward turn or and inward turn the "right leg" is the working leg...like when I say the "outside leg is the working leg at the barre." Blank stare.. no transfer. Okay, your right leg does all the work -- your left leg is there for support. Blank stare...no transfer. How 'bout the right leg is decoration and the left leg is flag pole. okay,maybe that works.

Two 16 years don't know what I mean by "supporting leg" -- I resisted the urge to say that they don't exactly know what "working" means either. That would just be generation bashing.

I think this just goes to prove one more time...everything you learn in dance class can be applied the greater world beyond the barre and mirrors. Unfortunately, it takes a long time for message to get through.

I guess I'll present this bargain to them...You start showing me the work...and hopefully then you'll recognize I'm supporting you!

Tendu second, plie fourth, and Spot and Land....and now try LEFT.

Lord Help Us!