Available to Stream Instantly Online.Description
MUSIC: New Ballet Music 9, Track 16, 4/4
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LENGTH: 12 minutes, 54 seconds
PURPOSE OF THIS EXERCISE: This exercise teaches you how to plié and relevé on one foot for optimal strength and balance.
DEFINITIONS: Fondu (fawn-DEW). Sinking down – lowering the body with a plié on one leg. Relevé (ruhl-VAY). Raised. A raising of the body on the toes or half-toes.
DESCRIPTION:
Part One: Instructions from Finis Jhung
Part Two: Technical breakdown of the exercise with Finis and demonstrator Vernard Gilmore
Part Three: Demonstration with music by Vernard with Finis standing by and coaching
If you want to do the dance combinations in center floor, you should be able to correctly perform the fondu-developpé-relevé.
First, you make a plié on one leg (fondu).
Then, from the plié, you rise on half-toe, (relevé).
As you relevé, you extend the other leg to the front (developpé).
With both hands on the barre, you will perform the fondu-developpé-relevé to the front three times.
Then, in the arabesque position, you will fondu-relevé twice.
AUDIENCE: The adult ballet beginner
TRAINING REQUIRED: You know how to make an active demi-plié and can balance on one foot with the other foot extended either to the front, back, or side.
EQUIPMENT: A barre or two high-backed sturdy chairs, a full-length mirror
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—Leslie Miller, Adult Student
“Here’s what I learned from watching the Foot Strength 2 video:
“As a no-experience adult beginner, my biggest challenge in learning ballet has been how to execute correctly what Finis is telling us in his class every day. Even though I could comprehend Finis’s logical explanation of the importance of dancing with your feet, it has been difficult for me to let my body understand and move accordingly.
“The best thing about Finis and Vernard’s video is that you can watch a perfect demonstration from front and center on your screen, unlike watching the demonstrators/better students in the class from behind or different angle in the classroom. Vernard shows you, with Finis elaborating in detail, how and exactly where, to place your body, hip, shoulder, head, and most importantly, your feet, correctly at the bar. Now you know what you should expect to see in the mirror. Finis and Vernard’s demonstration in this video is like Leonardo da Vinci’s L’Uomo Vitruviano, the perfect blend of science and art on your screen.
“I’ll continue to listen to my feet.
— Mariko Fukuyama, Adult Student,
The Ailey Extension,
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— Wendy Williams McDonnell.
“As an adult learner with no previous ballet experience, I was looking to gain more control and strength in my feet to improve my dancing and avoid injuries. I ordered the foot strength videos and immediately liked the format of a short video divided into separate sections. Through Finis’ explanations and the technical breakdowns, I was able to visualize and better understand what I was aiming to do. I have only just started to do the exercises, but already I am more aware of working through my feet and using the floor, both of which will help me to progress and improve.”
—Hazel Alexander