Ballet for Beginners; First Period [04/12].

[died8yearsago]

It was the end of a long week, with a class that required a great deal of attention to bodies in tight clothes, and there was a big stupid school dance that night. Surely, if there was any time for Rosa to go easy on her class, it would be on a week like this, right?

Spoiler alert: your teacher was actually a villain.

"Go ahead and get stretching," Rosa started right away, "I'll talk as you do and then we'll get to the barre work. Today, we're covering pas de deux, which means dance for two. Which in other kinds of dance might mean a tango or a waltz or something, but, in ballet, it usually means there a female ballerina dancing around a male who's pretty much there as a prop or as support. And a lot of more modern production are working to subvert some of that, but, since we're focusing on traditional ballet in the class, that's pretty much what we're doing today. The numbers are a little disproportionate so you'll be taking turns. Guys, you might want to make sure you strech your arms and shoulders a little extra today."

Comments

Pas de Deux - Ballet, 04/12.

[died8yearsago]

The steps and movements were actually pretty simple and it didn't take much for Rosa to explain and show the girls what they'd be doing while the boys were basically just there to hold the girls awkwardly to make sure they didn't fall, with the addition of some sissonne lifts, because having someone like Fish Boy in a class on pas de deux and not doing lifts just seemed like a criminal waste.

Don't worry; she checked the ceilings. They should be plenty high enough.

"So we'll take turns; guys, try to get a chance to work with each girl, and vice versa. Who's going first?"

Re: Pas de Deux - Ballet, 04/12.

[justice_undone]

"Is it very inappropriate for girls to do lifts?"

Breq was stronger than she looked after all, but since she was categorised as a girl here, she should probably ask.

Re: Pas de Deux - Ballet, 04/12.

[died8yearsago]

"It's not inappropriate," Rosa allowed, "but it's not common. Or traditional. Especially since the ideal ballerina is sort of...small and lithe, most of her strength is going to be in her legs and torso, making it more difficult for her to do lifts than a male dancer. But, hey, if any of you girls want to try lifting each other, go for it."

But just, please, no one try to lift Fish Boy.

....actually, no, someone please do that. That would be hilarious.

Re: Pas de Deux - Ballet, 04/12.

[justice_undone]

"I'm happy to do either," Breq said.

Although lifting Sidon might be a problem.