I knew Shelby when she was a student at Houstom Ballet. I'm always so impressed with the ability and success of my fellow ballet dancers. Look up Eduardo Zuniga! As another short Male dancer he was my role model at the academy.
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“A weekly highlight is #FallingFriday. Throughout the week, dancers submit videos of themselves falling, and on Fridays, Ms. Williams posts a selection. “
What a fine idea. It might well lead to new, safer ways to fall.
The legendary ballerina and choreographer Ruthanna Boris once slipped in some ones urine during rehearsal and fell so beautifully that a watching Balanchine choreographed it into Serenade(?). Many a later dancer hated her for that!
And so she taught us students in beginning ballet how to learn to fall safely and even magnificently, forward, sideward, and backward.
To a slow count of 8 melt like wax or float down like a leaf to the ground without using your hands and end up on your back. Then arise just as slowly and flowing again without touch your hands.
Now again but in a different way. And again, each time flowing to the ground and arising differently. Any jerkiness and start over. Flow. Melt, Flow as you arise again.
And then, a bit faster 8 count. And as success arrived faster and fast until as fast as you can count! But always smoothly and flowing and different.
If teaching, after your class or child has got it down, only then tell them they have learned the art of falling.
It has twice saved a child in my arms or snuggly and me from serious harm. Once as the first step on a decrepit stairway broke. As I fought for balance I automatically was flowing down and twisting so that when I tumbled it was from close to the lower steps and melted.
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Falling! What a wonderful idea and resource to study.
Balanchine was choreographing Serenade (?) when the legendary Ruthanna Boris slipped in a puddle and fell so gracefully that he put that into the ballet. (Not a few dancers never quite forgave her.)
She taught us beginning ballet students at the U oWashington how. (Her technique has twice saved me and a baby from serious injury.)
Do not tell students you are teaching falling. That is less effective.
“To a slow 8 count, smoothly like melting wax or a falling leaf, without any jerking, melt and flow kinto the ground and on your back without using your hands. And then arise without using your hands, to a stand.
Repeat, but this time in a different way. Each time you flow into the ground a different way from the previous time, and also different arising. No hands to be used. Explore how many ways you can descend and arise.”
And then, as they get it, pick up the pace. Maybe 5 minutes. Maybe 30. But from “1 . . . 2 . . . . . . 8” to “1 . . 2 . . 3 . . . 8” and then to “12345678” as fast as you can speak!
Only then do you tell them “Now you know how to fall!”
And then as they walk and as they skip and as they whirl!
I also teach elderly and amputees this way. It has twice saved one of my babies from serious injury. Once when a stair broke. Once when running and a truck ran a red light.
The secret is to flow/melt down as you fight for balance so that your center of gravity is near to the ground when you tumble.
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Thank you for this, especially Biscuit Ballerina. I laughed so hard that I cried at each of the Falling Fridays. Sending it to my fellow dancers!
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