w445403 Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 What age do boys generally start to prepare for partnering work? Is it a long steady process that you work slowly up to? Do boys generally do upper body work, conditioning etc to prepare for it? Thanks Jill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 I don't know the starting age but I would imagine it most be a long steady process as it has to go hand in hand with his physical development. I know in 6th form gym work is standard for boys but why I posted really was to ask if you were aware of the pas de deux workshop on 7th April as a joint venture between the RAD and Ballet Cymru. I haven't got a link I can post but I know if you go on the RAD website, news and events section for South West and Wales it is called Dancing Together. Alternatively if you are on facebook visit the RAD South West and Wales page for further details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjuli_Bai Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Partnering for both boys and girls can actually begin at a young age - early teens - as the girls become more proficient on pointe. Partnering does not necessarily mean lifting the girls - there is a great deal to learn before that happens. Just holding hands as she balances in arabesque. Promenading that arabesque is a difficult element to learn. Even dancing together without touching - he has to learn to match her tempo and stride. The tendency is, of course, for the male to cover ground more widely - and he has to learn to ameliorate this to match her lesser ability to cover ground in big strides. Since he is standing behind her - generally speaking - he has to learn to match her pattern and line: head, hands, feet. Learning to support her in pirouettes and she has to learn how to respond to a supported pirouette. These are a few of the many skills to be undertaken before there is any lifting. Most of the boys/men do take extra strength building training. It all has to be done carefully because his neck, back, shoulders are at risk. She has to learn how to help him help her. Learning to dance with another person is one of the most difficult elements of dance training - but oh so much fun! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeliB Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 My DS has been doing partnering since he joined his vocational school at 14; lifting started a little later when he had been at the school about 6 months and by this I mean more like assisted jumps (e.g. so the girl was about 2ft above his head height briefly) plus he did 'fish dive' after one year. This year he has been doing bigger lifts (e.g. he learnt one of the sleeping beauty pas de deux) including carrying his partner at shoulder height for a distance. As well as normal class he does gym weight training to strengthen arms and upper back about 3-5 times a week (I'm not sure exactly what but could easily find out if you want to know). He is currently 15 1/2 and 5 foot 10 1/2 inches. He says he has never had (so far touch wood) any back pain associated with doing lifts... Prior to vocational school he hadn't done any pas de deux at all (and not much ballet either really!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spax Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 My ds who is 11 has done pas de deux. Looked so cute! Year 6/7 did pas de deux at their Christmas Show, really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 Just reviving this topic because I didn't want to start a new one, but more advanced students could, I think, gain a lot of benefit from watching this video, at least the second half. It'll be available for a few weeks yet. https://stream.roh.org.uk/free-titles/videos/insights-meet-the-young-dancers-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowblythe Posted May 17, 2021 Share Posted May 17, 2021 Just to say it is, according to DS, more about technique than sheer muscle. Strong core and willing to communicate means happy partnership. Both apply for both genders! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 On 17/05/2021 at 08:54, meadowblythe said: Just to say it is, according to DS, more about technique than sheer muscle. Strong core and willing to communicate means happy partnership. Both apply for both genders! certainly from contact improv Contemporary stuff i;ve done which did involve dancers taking the full weight of others it;s not just pure strength I also think the distiction between partnering and the full lifts is important 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanprincess Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Does anyone happen to know of pas de deux classes in London (even if not currently running due to Covid)? It seems to be difficult to find pas de deux classes outside of vocational training.... thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 It's not just all on the boys either - the girls have to coordinate their moves to help the boys. There's a lot of timing and coordination to be developed. And trust! I wish there were more pas de deux courses for those who don't normally have the opportunity. Most pre vocational students hardly get to see a boy let alone start partnering! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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