21. Ballet Methods

The Cecchetti method is developed by the Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti (1850-1928), for this technique you have to follow a strict training regime, this method teach the dancer to think in the arm, the legs and the head as a single thing and not each one a part, Cecchetti emphasised this method around the classic ballet but still he made his students practice new steps composed by their teacher sou they could have quick study.
 

The Balanchine method was created by the choreographer George Balanchine who was graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy, for this method its necessary extreme speed, emphasis in lines and different movements of arms and hands. In this method is really notable the arabesque which is an example of how quick and flexible a dancer who practice the Balanchine method have to be.

20.Ballet Methods

Now days people have created many methods for ballet, but if we go back in time there were four basics and I´m going to explain them.

The Vaganova method was established by Agrippina Vaganova who was a student at the Imperial Ballet School in Saint Petersburg, she retired from dancing to become a teacher in 1916. This method is considered to have precise movements and to be very clean, it also shows the strong movements whit a touch of softness that makes it almost perfect.

The Bournonville method use basic arm techniques and and primary keeps them in preparatoire position, while doing this method the dancer should be doing it with natural grace and in harmony with the music and the body. This method was developed by August Bournonville the Danish ballet master, he was influenced by the early french ballet and during his teaching years he preserved this. For this method is required quick footwork.

19. Classical Ballet

Classical ballet is a traditional, formal style of ballet which follows the classical ballet technique, it is know by its rigorous  technique and the exact and precise movements. A distinctive feature from ballet is the typical continuos outward rotation of the tights from the hips, this is usually referred as "turnout". In classical ballet there are five foundational leg positions which are used during the turnout, also when presenting jumps they do the ballon which shows the appearance of briefly floating in the air.

18. Contemporary ballet

Contemporary ballet its a style that includes classical ballet and modern ballet. It uses techniques and "pointework" (when the ballet dancer supports all the body weight on the tips of fully extended feet) but the difference is that it allows a great amounts of movement that are not necessarily adhere to the strict body line set by the schools from ballet techniques which are based in classic ballet.
Some of the movements of modern ballet includes floor work, turn-in off the leg and balletic movements.

George Balanchine is considered the first pioneer of contemporary ballet, he used flexed hands, turn in legs, off centered positions and non-classical costumes.

Here is a little fragment of one of Balanchine's choreographies.

Ballet in Life

Ballet its such an influence in the world that there are even movies about it, like the black swan which its the most recognized. I liked this movie not only because its about ballet but also because it let us see what its behind the show, how ballet gets to a point in their lifes that its everything they think about and that they do not care what they have to do to be the best of all. It also show us how it can affect their lifes to the point of completely change just to be the character they have to be. How dancers give their life just to be the best just to know they accomplished what they most wanted in the world its something really touching for me because its not just to ballerinas but to everyone that you can realize you can do whatever you want as long as you work for it.

Ballet in Colombia

"Ballet, tierra colombiana", this academy was created august 1, 1979 by Fernando Urbina, rigth now "Tierra Colombiana" its one of the most representatives ballet at the profesional level that Colombia has. They make combinations between colombian and ballet sounds making it elegant but at the same time showing some cultural information from Colombia. They also change the traditional cloth of ballet to something that represents more the history they are telling.

Ballet Hairstyle

In my case I have always wondered why the ballet dancers put their hair in a big bun and now I know it. If they let their hair down when their doing all the moves it would just disturb them because it would get in all their faces which can make them do an incorrect movement or take away their concentration. Besides I think its a beautiful hairstyle and it makes it look more elegant which its pretty good for a dance like ballet that its all about elegance and feelings.

Now I am leaving you a video in case you want to learn how to do it.