Comments on: Open Reply to Loren Ludwig by Rob Bettmann http://bourgeononline.com/2006/12/open-reply-to-loren-ludwig-by-rob-bettmann/ Arts and Events in D.C. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:13:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Harriet Campbell http://bourgeononline.com/2006/12/open-reply-to-loren-ludwig-by-rob-bettmann/comment-page-1/#comment-12872 Harriet Campbell Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:53:17 +0000 http://bourgeononline.com/?p=77#comment-12872 As a ballet teacher I tell my students, ballet is not a style, it's a technique. It teaches a particular torso placement, it teaches straight knees, turn out, pointed feet, etc. If you want to learn something about isolation, go to a jazz class. While there is a classical style often associated with the ballet technique in todays world choreography is simply whatever the choreographer sets. If it's in pointe shoes it is likely to be labeled ballet regardless of what else is going on, simply because it is in ballet schools that pointe technique is taught. Classes are about technique - choregoraphy is about creating art. Two different things. As a ballet teacher I tell my students, ballet is not a style, it’s a technique. It teaches a particular torso placement, it teaches straight knees, turn out, pointed feet, etc. If you want to learn something about isolation, go to a jazz class.

While there is a classical style often associated with the ballet technique in todays world choreography is simply whatever the choreographer sets. If it’s in pointe shoes it is likely to be labeled ballet regardless of what else is going on, simply because it is in ballet schools that pointe technique is taught.

Classes are about technique – choregoraphy is about creating art. Two different things.

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