The REAL difference between coupé vs. sur le cou de pied!
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- I am hoping to clear up some confusion. Even professionals and teachers can conflate these two terms and confuse anybody trying to learn!
About Me:
Hi, my name is Victoria! I’m a ballet dancer and teacher trained in the Vaganova method. I make instructional videos without sugar-coating the gritty details. I danced professionally as a freelancer, and in a contemporary company for several years in NYC. Due to the pandemic, I now reside in rural Pennsylvania. I'm a little salty because I struggle with chronic illnesses & invisible disabilities, but I try to keep it real and raise awareness...
FAQs:
Are you actually Russian?:
Yes, I’m technically a tiny bit Russian.
We always thought my mother was 100% Italian. But when she took the ancestry test, we learned she’s actually a bit Middle Eastern and Circassian (Southern Russia) as well!
Did you train in Russia?:
No, I did not attend ballet school in Russia.
But all of my instructors have direct lineage to the Vaganova Academy. I received a majority of my training from Ballerina Irina Lebedeva, as well as other former principal dancers from the Mariinsky Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet.
What ballet academy did you attend?:
I never attended a formal ballet academy. All of my training is a culmination of public dance studios and open adult ballet classes that would run 2-3 days a week- with the occasional summer intensive. This is why I’m only about 85% competent in my execution and lessons. I just do the best with what i've got- The average American dancer might not notice this, but the Russian dancers definitely do!
Growing up near NYC, I took advantage of the most prestigious schools and teachers in the area, including; Gelsey Kirkland, Simon Kazantsev, Yaroslav Fadeyev, Katherine Healy, Leslie Browne, Lupe Serrano, and collegiate programs at American Ballet Theatre.
I did visit St. Petersburg and Moscow after I graduated college in 2012. I had the absolute honor of visiting the Vaganova Academy and observing some classes. I also took company class with Yacobson Ballet.
Where do you work as a professional?:
Since I got such a late start in my training, (and went to college right after high school) I didn’t join a company until I was in my late 20s. Until then, I was mostly teaching and freelancing. I did Nutcracker gigs, occasional guest appearances for studio productions, and entertainment gigs for high end parties. In 2019 I joined a contemporary ballet company in NYC. I left in 2021 when I moved to Pennsylvania. Now I teach in multiple studios in PA, but I'm trying to start my own ballet company.
What’s the story with your company?:
I’m the founder of Indigo Ballet, a collaborative, dancer-run company with no hierarchy. Currently, I’m working on building a repertoire of virtual performances (music videos) to show people what we have to offer. We will be performing for a live audience in Spring/Summer of 2024!
If you wish to donate towards this endeavor, funds will go directly to the dancers of Indigo Ballet. You can do so at- gofund.me/fe17...
Why do you talk about your chronic illnesses?:
Firstly, this is just the platform where I have the most outreach. I am passionate about raising awareness about hidden illnesses, also called “invisible diseases.” I feel these illnesses are especially relevant to the average ballet dancer since; The field is dominated by AFABs that frequently gravitate towards dance because of natural flexibility. This correlates to hyper mobility spectrum disorders and connective tissue disorders which are rarely diagnosed, and can lead to serious problems later. AFABs also have higher rates of autoimmune disorders and are most likely to have our pain dismissed, if we are not already hiding it for fear of being seen as unreliable or weak.
The ‘teacher’ in me wants to educate any chance I get. If my shared experiences can help a dancer get a diagnosis, early treatment and a longer, healthier career; why wouldn’t I talk about it?
I owe such a big thank you! I am teaching remotely right now to high school beginners. Your voice and content help tremendously! I would totally LOVE to take your classes! I would not care that I was 70 years older than everyone else! lol!
Mind blown. And agreed that there are so many professionals out there who would have the same reaction😅
I love your channel. I used to dance and lost allot of my technique. Your channel is bringing it all back to me. Could you maybe consider doing a video on ballet warmups/stretches gain flexibility?
hi thanks so much!!! i do actually have a few videos floating around that feature warming up, stretching and flexibility. you just might have to scroll back a ways, cuz they're older
Hi, I just discovered your channel and really like your information, instruction and sarcasm! Thanks for inspiring me to get back into ballet! Keep it coming, especially the floor routines!
It is so true, how things two things are so often confused by pro's and teachers - many of whom actually know this but continue to misname the cou de pieds just so others will know what they mean, since it is so commonly known by the incorrect name. My Russian teacher does this with Russian 3rd position of the arms - she has given up and just calls it "5th" to avoid confusion.
I always enjoy watching you.
Thank you for clarifying
Thanks for posting this. I came here from skimming through Dance and Music by Harriet Cavalli and she wrote about how coupe was often referred to incorrectly. This was the only video I found so far about coupes that talked about this!
Thank you. You are so easy to understand and you know your stuff...Big hugs to Bennie🐾All the best to hou and Steve too 🎶🌻
OMG! This explanation is complete!
You were very clear in your explanation. Thanks
I always enjoy your explanation
Just want to say I love your channel because you are so informative, 2 years ago you explained in fine detail on how to stretch and I or we would love an advanced center split routine, the longer the better thanks,
Hooray! glad to help :)
I love it
I think.. this is kind similar with the terms "retiré" and "passé".
yes, even my teacher will refer to retiré as passé. I did it too in this video! I called it "passé position" because I know passé is really the 'movement' not the position. but i have seen people actually TEACHING coupè as a cou de pied position and not even addressing the nature of the movement / replacement action.
your channel is amazing
omg, thank you.
Thank You! Admittedly I get a little rankled when I see an instructor refer to sur le cou de pied as a coupe', but I've heard/seen it so much in the past years I've become used to it. Recently I watched a video of a highly trained and esteemed professional instructor out of Australia and in one of her video's she used the word, sur le cou de pied but then added, "Some of you know this as coupe." But she made no distinction between the two which to me tells me it may become a new "norm" in ballet vocabulary
That was so helpful!! Thank you!!
❤️
I enjoyed you demonstration of both! Thank you. Also your talk about the differentiation about style versus technique was interesting and important. I'm still trying to figure out why teachers with Balanchine style were telling you to turnout less and backbend less,? Your backbends are gorgeous!❤ Is it because legs can go higher in parallel? I enjoy your insights on Vaganova, and your clarity and approach to sharing it. I am learning Cechetti technique and we work with natural turnout, side is where your hip bone is for safety,I think. Love ya, stay salty 🍟!
Please can you give an advanced beginner intermediate class with typical corrections
Thank you I learn so much from you
Thank You SSP xo
Hey Salty ,
Do you think you can do a saute de basque tutorial in the future?