This is the 5th in my podcast series on the seven basic movements of ballet, so if you missed them, you may also wish to go back and listen to Episodes #014 “Powerful Plies” #016 “Tendus & What it Means to Stretch” #018 “Relever & Rising,” and #019 “Tourner - turning, rotation, and creative U-turns.” Stay tuned for “Glisser - to glide” and “Élancer - to dart,” still to come!

This week, I have been exploring the theme of stable and strong legs, jumping, and leaping into the unknown. Right now the birds are migrating, and I’ve seen the Canada Geese organizing themselves by the ponds and riverfront. As humans, the closest we can get to flight, without the help of equipment and additional propulsion,  is jumping and leaping. Ballet is known for this near-flight quality, especially portraying supernatural creatures that float like fairies, willis, and so forth, as well as actual birds- the bluebird, “The Fire Bird,” and that classic human-and-bird ballet, “Swan Lake.”

Of course, unaided, our flight is more like a controlled fall, and a lot of technique and coordination is required to pull it off. We must thoughtfully build a strong foundation of support, developing coordination and power. We launch ourselves heavenward in the hope that we will be caught again. If you’re interested in working on the physical skills of jumping, I recommend starting with the “Saucy Prances & Sautés” video on my YouTube Channel, as well as the “Legs, Legs, Legs,” “Foot & Ankle Conditioning,”  and “Ballet Barre” playlists.

In yoga, we foster a balance between stability and mobility that prepares the body and mind for whatever it may face. Recently, we’ve been practicing stability through the bottoms of the feet for balancing, visualizing planting them into the floor across a “golden triangle” of big toe-little toe-heel, pouring the weight evenly across that surface. Then we build a strong scaffolding of supporting musculature through mindful movement through balancing poses. This week’s 40-minute practice video, “Happy Knees Stability Yoga”  was focused on developing stability for balancing, everyday activities, and athletic feats.

Whether we physically jump or leap, all of us face leaps of faith in life. We can’t always clearly see the road ahead, and must do our best to build a strong foundation and then move forward in the hope that we will be met with a soft landing. For more information about all of these themes and the work I do, and for more free resources, visit me at ablythecoach.com