The First Suggestion I Give When Teaching Ballet Class (usually)

I love getting to guest teach! I always leave inspired by the wonderful dancing I witness. Over the years I've noticed that I almost always give the same first suggestion - and the results are consistently remarkable.

This one cue addresses multiple alignment issues simultaneously. It helps correct posterior pelvic tilting, releases clenched muscles that limit turnout, and uses low-stress language so students adjust without increasing tension. The beauty is in how it accomplishes multiple goals through one simple image.

This approach came from my research into movement science that ballet has somehow ignored for decades. When I started experimenting with these research-based ideas, I could think about technique on a much deeper level and offer corrections that actually "clicked" for students.

I was trained in the "no pain, no gain" model where every muscle gripped to approximate ballet aesthetic. The correction list was overwhelming: force turnout + pinch the penny + close ribs + shoulder blade contradictions + control breathing + relax shoulders. My systematic alignment approach gently guides students toward these goals through efficient, science-based cueing.

The transformation this creates is remarkable. Instead of students fighting their bodies, they work with natural alignment patterns. Instead of increasing tension, they find efficient postural control. Instead of forcing positions, they discover sustainable technical development.

This represents the systematic integration of movement science with practical teaching applications. When you understand the biomechanical "why" behind effective imagery, you can give corrections that actually work instead of repeating traditional phrases that may or may not serve students.

What's the cue? Imagine your hip bones as balloons, floating up towards your ribcage.

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This anatomically-informed approach to alignment cuing is woven throughout my complete curriculum collection. Each level integrates movement science, efficient alignment strategies, and research-based imagery that makes corrections effective rather than just traditional.

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