Chapter 1
Technique
George Balanchine, upon a basis of classical foundations, created his own technique by challenging small elements of the basic ballet technique to give his style its own individuality. He focussed on; emphasising the hips, ‘broken’ wrists, big displaced arabesque extensions, fast footwork and working in parallel. These values are some of those that the School of American Ballet were founded upon. This was so that there could be a direct feed of dancers in to Balanchine’s company that were familiar in his style. Sanjoy Roy commented on how he believed that “ he (Balanchine) changed the image of the ballerina from a graceful fairy into a sleek greyhound.” By founding his own technique, Balanchine redefined what a dancer should/could
Technique
George Balanchine, upon a basis of classical foundations, created his own technique by challenging small elements of the basic ballet technique to give his style its own individuality. He focussed on; emphasising the hips, ‘broken’ wrists, big displaced arabesque extensions, fast footwork and working in parallel. These values are some of those that the School of American Ballet were founded upon. This was so that there could be a direct feed of dancers in to Balanchine’s company that were familiar in his style. Sanjoy Roy commented on how he believed that “ he (Balanchine) changed the image of the ballerina from a graceful fairy into a sleek greyhound.” By founding his own technique, Balanchine redefined what a dancer should/could