Ballet face

[Colman]

Does anyone have any suggestions for finding a suitable expression for dancing/exams? 

 

My current default expression veers - it turns out that decades of on-and-off martial arts aren’t a great preparation for dancing in this case - from perplexed and possibly constipated to grumpy old man to homicidal.

 

My wife was concerned I was likely to scare my examiner before the summer! However, any fake smile I plaster on makes me look utterly demented in a movie serial killer sort of way, which seems unlikely to help.

 

Any ideas?

[Bluebird22]

My boys call it the snoot face, comes across quite well for performances at least. Hard to describe, sort of like you've just caught a whiff of an exotic smell maybe ?

[Ellie]

Slightly raised eyebrows and corners of the -closed -mouth (emphasis on slightly !) Don't know if this will help, but you can try  

[taxi4ballet]

Slightly raised eyebrows and corners of the -closed -mouth (emphasis on slightly !) Don't know if this will help, but you can try

Sounds a bit like Roger Moore...

[godots_arrived]

I would go for the "Stalin" myself. It has a long history of influencing top ballet examiners :-)

[trog]

The face and hands are amongst the most difficult things to get right. For some strange reason, when I'm dancing sequences, I cross the fingers on my right hand. I know that I need all the help that I can get, but I wish I could stop doing it.

[TYR]

I know I tend to pull my lips over my teeth during turns. not a good look, but then I'm a grumpy bastard anyway.

[Anna C]

The face and hands are amongst the most difficult things to get right. For some strange reason, when I'm dancing sequences, I cross the fingers on my right hand. I know that I need all the help that I can get, but I wish I could stop doing it.

Have you tried taping those two fingers together trog, to get out of the habit of crossing them?

[Tulip]

My daughter said a gentle relaxed smile is the best ballet face, just listen to the music, breath and release tension.

[Wigglybunny]

I love this thread, as DS really struggles to 'do' faces, as he says he feels stupid, to the point where the more he is asked to smile, the less likely he is to do so! Any ideas gratefully received.

[LinMM]

I do hate it when teachers say come on smile! Especially after a quite intense fondu combined ronde de Jambe en l'air exercise.

[TYR]

I love this thread, as DS really struggles to 'do' faces, as he says he feels stupid, to the point where the more he is asked to smile, the less likely he is to do so! Any ideas gratefully received.

 

I absolutely hate being told to smile. Also, "relax!" Look, I'm concentrating.

[alison]

Wigglybunny, I love your username!  (And a belated welcome to the forum)