French For Dancers Newsletter: Adagio & Allegro, Part 1
French For Dancers
Demystifying dance terminology and steps for dancers and dance-lovers!
Issue 11: Adagio & Allegro, Part 1: Adagio
Bonjour! Welcome to French For Dancers!
This week, a little Italian for Dancers!
Parlez-Vous Ballet?
(Do you speak Ballet?)
ADAGIO AND ALLEGRO
(A-dah-jio and a-leh-grow)
It’s time for a two-issue detour to Italy! Andiamo! (Let’s go!)
Just as most ballet terms are French, most music terms are Italian. The simplest reason for this is, the Italians wrote them down first! Of course, it’s a bit more complex than that…
History refresh:
During the Renaissance (approx. 1300-1600), Italian was one of the most fashionable languages as cities like Florence, Venice, Milan, and Rome became powerful city-states, while important patrons of the arts such as the Medici Family and the Pope ensured that the arts flourished there. Across Europe, the educated classes sought out all things Italian, which included art, literature, and music. As the Italian Renaissance waned, many 16th Century artists, composers, and creators took their skills and ideas to northern countries like France, England, and Germany. As music was an integral part of education, understanding the Italian markings and terms became a normal part of learning to read music.
Since dance is inextricably entwined with music, and ballet was first formed in the Italian and French courts, it makes sense that this new artform, ballet, would adopt some of music’s terminology.
Musical terms give a description of the tempo of the music. In dance, they describe the kind of movement or variation you can expect. Two such commonly used terms for dance are Adagio and Allegro.
Adagio means slow. In music, this can mean slow and stately - not the slowest of the slow, like Lento or Grave, but a little bit slower than their more impatient-but-still-slowish cousin, Andante.
In ballet, these are the steps and combinations that build up and show off strength and control, while appearing effortless. Steps like developpé, promenade, rond de jambe, sustained balances, cambré, and some pirouettes form the core of adagio movements and lend themselves to the emotional expression that adagio often requires.
Some adagio variations are done with a partner (pas de deux), but there are also many solo or ensemble adagio variations and pieces.
Savoir-Faire
(Know-How)
Student Tip:
Adagio is hard! But it’s also very rewarding, as you can feel and see steady progress and improvements. Some tips to remember:
· Breathe! Not only will it keep you alive, but if you breathe as part of the movement, it will help you release tension.
· Listen to your music – it will tell you when to move, let go, or pull up.
· Feeling a stretch is good, but pain is not. Pain is a sign to step back for a moment, or longer.
· Practice! Strength and fluidity don’t arrive in a day but build up with repetition.
Teacher Tip:
Other than pliés, the first adagio at the barre is usually rond de jambe. This is often the first combination that challenges the dancer to work with one leg off the ground for a length of time. For intermediate dancers, rond de jambe or fondu combinations lend themselves to including adagio elements like developpé, promenade, penché, and working on relevé, as well as slow pirouettes and balances.
Throughout, the emphasis should first be on developing strength and stability, correct positioning and control. Extension and flexibility are also important but should not be the only goal of adagio. Far more beautiful is the dancer who can control their extension, rather than throwing the leg into a high position!
À La Carte
(From the Menu)
Recommendations, reflections, and/or useful links
The Rose Adagio from The Sleeping Beauty is an iconic variation – part solo, part partnered - that tests the mettle of every ballerina. The sequential balances in attitude as Aurora gets handed off between her various funny-hatted suitors are challenging for even the most experienced dancer. And Aurora does it twice during the variation (0:37ish and 4:48ish), with the second set en promenade (turning)!
Enjoy the Royal Ballet’s lovely Marianela Nuñez in the Rose Adagio!
Merci!
(Thank you!)
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- Peggy