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pas de basque coupe - CORRECTION
L. Friedman-Shedlov
Feb. 8, 2006, 7:17 p.m. (Message 44193)
I got RF and LF mixed up when I first sent this out. Here is a corrected description of the movement. Sorry for any confusion. I can perhaps be of more help with your second question. I don't know where you can find an "official" description, but pad de basque coupe is as follows: Bar 1: Starting with the RF, dance a regular pas de basque step, finishing (as usual) with a LF jete to 4th intermediate aerial position Bar 2: Execute a balance movement, i.e. Beats 1-2: the LF comes back to briefly meet the RF in 3rd position, weight is transferred onto the LF and the RF is extended back to 4th rear intermediate aerial position Beats 3-4: the RF comes back to briefly meet the LF in 3rd position, weight is transferred onto the RF as the LF is extended to 4th intermediate aerial position (i.e., back where you started at the end of bar 1) (The knee of the supporting leg is slightly bent, but the leg that is extending should be straight -- no bent knee! The balance movement should look smooth, like one leg is displacing the other while the upper body remains still and upright.) You are now ready to do a pas de basque LF and then the coupe/balance movement starting with the RF. Hope this helps. Lara Friedman-Shedlov Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ******************************** Lara Friedman~Shedlov "Librarians -- Like Google, but xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx warm-blooded" ********************************
On 2/8/06, L. Friedman~Shedlov <xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>
> (The knee of the supporting leg is slightly bent, but the leg that is
> extending
> should be straight -- no bent knee! The balance movement should look
> smooth,
> like one leg is displacing the other while the upper body remains still
> and
> upright.)
And for what it's worth, in Highland and many step dances, the arms are held
up during the coupe ("balance") portion of the figure, and are on the hips
during the pas-de-basque.
I'm not sure how this looks with the arms down in usual SCD position.
Keith Graham
Atlanta, GA
Jim responded to Keith Graham on pdb coupé: > >I'm not sure how this looks with the arms down in usual SCD position. > > IMO, much better than asking people who are not used/trained to hold > their arms up to do so and then watch the the arms slowly sag. Or looking as if they're hanging out the washing (up, down, up, down, ...) Ian Brockbank Edinburgh, Scotland xxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx http://www.scottishdance.net/
POSTURE IS EVERYTHING - puff that chest out - hold that head high - imagine that and look as if you are a dangerous highlander/Mel Gibson/George Cluney rolled into one - then you will have achieved the arms as well. Oh and if you are short sighted don't go for the advice about being able to see your elbows - they are not supposed to be in front of your nose :>) Pia
Actually, if the men are raising their arms to 3rd position during the coupe, puffing out the chest or raising the sternum are likely to contribute to one of the most common problems (probably the most common after the "hanging out the washing" syndrome, i.e. elbows too bent), that is: When the arms are raised in 3rd position, there is a tendency for people to raise their shoulders so they are up around their ears, which looks terrible. You need to keep your arms up, but your shoulders *down*. / Lara in Minneapolis, MN, USA ******************************** Lara Friedman~Shedlov "Librarians -- Like Google, but xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx warm-blooded" ********************************
I did NOT say puff out the chest :>) I said chest out. I also mentioned POSTURE - the stuff that comes if you tighten up your tummy muscles (inwards and upwards), pull in your bum, adjust your pelvis, straighten your spine, hold your head up, by which time it is difficult to have shoulders round the ears - because of course they should be down. Pia
Attention! You did not think you came into RSCDS and Scottish Country Dancing to actually enjoy yourself? Did You? It is a VERY serious pastime - you must have posture, good manners, knowledge, be able to fit in and be dressed accurately BEFORE venturing onto the dance floor. And of course if you are not scottish, forget it - you can never be able to dance properly anyway - any intelligent person knows that SCD is genetic and therefore us foreigners will never be able to dance the way SCD was meant to be danced. So there! Pia :>)
Only for men - ladies look soft and nice and have their hands at the sides either loosely hanging or in some cases holding their dresses - really difficult in a miniskirt :>) And with regards to men - if their posture is to pot and their fingers touching their pate - then they should keep their hands to their sides at all times too :>) and do remember the rear extension too - it is not pas de basque - coupee - flick. :>) pia