 the male dancer
written by balletboy             on 22.10. at 02:03:34 - as answer to: A Question To ALL The Balletboy's by Todd atHi Todd! The problem with an answer to the question of holding the ballerina above your head is complex. The ballerina needs to want to be lifted, for one. When I was partnering, some of the gals had the strength to hold their body mass in perfect position for lifting, but some did not have that control. As an analogy, it's much more difficult to hold a half-filled sack of potatoes (What was that VP's name...Quail?) than it is to hold a solid log of equal weight. If the ballerina's center is moving around, it's more difficult. The second aspect to address is that, unlike most weight-lifters, you need to be able to move while holding the ballerina. So the factor that's important is not arm strength, but the ability of the male dancer to center his weight and the ballerina's weight on the whole supporting structure, the male frame of bones and muscle. Essentially, the experience ballerina jumps into the position while the male dancer positions the supporting structure under her. The very first time I ever did the "fish" lift, I was scared to death. On top of it, the ballerina was a buxom lass (mostly from well placed muscle and just the right amount of, forgive me, fat, to make her very shapely). She pulled me aside and told me to just position my weight on the proper leg and how to hold my arms. She then stood back, took a few steps, and jumped right into position. You probably have noticed that there are some famous couple in ballet, like Nureyev and Dame Margot. This is because the synergy is so important to achieve the look the choreographer wants. A male dancer can partner perfectly with one ballerina but look like a klutz with another. The training takes years of work. Often young males take partnering classes for "free," not only because they need guys but also to encourage the guys to continue despite some of the difficulties learning to partner. Why aren't male dancers built like Olympic gymnasts? Some of them are, but in my humble opinion the greatest lifts you will see come more from the two partners balancing their centered weight on that supporting structure, not a need for muscle. I think it's like some bridges and buildings. Some bridges are masses of solid rock, while some are graceful suspension bridges that you often wonder how they remain standing. Or like New York City Citibank Headquarters, where the building seems to stand on two stilts. Teaching males in ballet is an art, and in my humble opinion, you don't need to be a male to teach males (I've had my best advice from female teachers). Partnering takes years of practice and a synergy between the two partners. balletboy PS: I'd like to hear from other guys who have learned partnering in their classes and see if they would explain this the way I have above. It's a tough question. Answers to this message:
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