written by balletboy  on 20.10. at 01:25:50

I understand your position...">Several versions of grand jete and sissonne require a perfect split.  The audience can see the split, as it is prominently displayed at the top of the movement.  The combination is either done correctly, with the split, or it should not be done at all.  There is no substitute, no second-best, no faking it."

I don't disagree, but I'd like you to tell me honestly how often you've seen a perfect split in a grande jete and/or a sissonne.  Unless you only go to the NYCB or ABT perfromances exclusively, I would doubt that you've seen text-book grande jetes and sissonnes.  Perfection is nice, and that's what makes the great male dancers great.  But, in my humble opinion, this board is not frequented by the likes of Baryshnikov.

Many of us see college performances and small companies where aspiring dancers try their best.  Where's the point where you criticize technical faults over the pure drive of the heart to dance?  Maybe if I pay $200 to see the Bolshoi I feel I can criticize technique, but then again I realize dancers are also human.

Then there are the guys here because they love ballet but maybe started too late, or started as adults, or just love ballet so much that they want to participate. I think that's the audience that frequents this board.  Do you really think it's clever to tell a guy who started in college and dances because he loves it that his grand jetes and/or sissonnes are not acceptable because he cannot do perfect splits?  Do you want him to over-stretch until he develops scar tissue?  I hope not.

Do you love ballet, or do you love perfect ballet technique?

balletboy

PS: I really am not being hostile; it's just that I think we on this board should be encouraging to those who post.