Partnering is a unique skill, both to learn and to teach. As a teacher, you’re in the position to help students adjust to moving with another dancer in close proximity, providing them with the skills necessary to form a successful partnership. “Teaching partnering is tough,” says Patric Palkens, a dancer with Atlanta Ballet. “You’re teaching […]
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I find myself thinking about the dynamics of partnering. We know that teaching partnering protocol can be complicated because you must teach what it’s like to partner and do the partnering, as well. So in our Technique & Artistry column this month, we’re offering you tips on preparing […]
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Jacqueline Burnett was 22 when she met her future husband, David Schultz. It was her first season in the company; Schultz had just joined Hubbard Street 2. “I swept her off her feet,” Schultz says. “That’s not true,” says Burnett, laughing. Over time, the two young dancers became friends and eventually […]
No matter how well-trained your students are, when they’re suddenly faced with dancing with another human, panic can ensue. Whether they’re learning to partner in ballet, taking their first contact improvisation class or delving into a ballroom style, the foundation of almost all partnering is weight-sharing, the basics of which extend across genres. Introduce your […]
The pressure for female dancers to be slim and feather-light is often at odds with their need to be strong. This contradiction is especially misleading in partnering. “Sometimes, a woman who has more muscle mass may weigh more but is actually easier to lift because she’s stronger,” says Matt Kent, associate artistic director of Pilobolus. […]
We’re counting down to January 1st with great ideas for your studio and teaching practice in the new year. The side hip suspension is a basic lift, common in contemporary dance, that requires both partners to use their weight efficiently—the key to effortless and dynamic partnering. Let Talli Jackson, a member of the Bill T. […]
Now in her fourth season with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ashley Mayeux values co-artistic director Desmond Richardson’s hands-on help with tricky partnering. “I can always count on Des to come in and try movement with me. Then, I can go back and tell my partner, ‘OK he’s doing this, and it really works for me.’ Desmond […]
Walsh in Manon with Amy Fote Before entering the ranks of Houston Ballet, principal Connor Walsh trained for three years with Houston Ballet academy instructor Claudio Muñoz. In his partnering class, Walsh learned to prioritize emotional connection. “His combinations in partnering class were like choreographic workshops. We were challenged to express and interact with our partners right […]
Your browser does not support the video tag. A former American Ballet Theatre soloist and New York City Ballet principal, Charles Askegard co-founded Ballet Next with former ABT principal Michele Wiles upon his retirement in 2011. He has been a guest faculty member at the School of American Ballet and has taught company class for […]
How I teach pas de deux Charles Askegard coaching Ballet Academy East students Marisa Trapani and Alexandros Pappajohn The hall cutting through Ballet Academy East on a late Thursday afternoon is hectic. Students sprawl out in straddles, hovering over math homework, and parents peek through the windows to get a good look at their tots. […]