Throughout my training and core technique classes I feel that elevation is one of my strengths as a dancer, focusing mainly in jazz technique. I am able to get enough lift from pushing into the ground allowing me to extend fully. I feel this skill has developed through practicing in my technical lessons. This skill also benefits me when auditioning for jobs and this can be seen as a trick and help me stand out. I also feel within the technique of ballet this helps me when performing ‘battu’. “Battu is a classical ballet term that means “beaten.” Any step in classical ballet that is made more technically difficult by adding a beating of the legs in the middle of the jump or step is considered battu.” (Ballethub 2017]. As battu is such a difficult step within ballet, being able to get enough elevation helps you perform these steps better. I will keep practicing my jumps in jazz and ballet so that they are a greater strength for third year. I feel my previous training in Ballet and Jazz before Shockout has given me a head start in making my elevation higher. Improving my flexibility will help my jumps more as this will allow me to 'whack' my legs higher, giving the illusion that I am jumping higher.  

On the left hand side there are two videos of me performing a 'turning jete' which is well known in both jazz and ballet worlds. One of them is on my right side which is my strongest side. As you can see my jete has a larger split when performing my right side. As a dancer, I am expected to be able to perform steps just as good on both sides as choreographers may want you to perform both sides in shows/auditions etc. Perhaps if I used more force into my turn before the leap, bending my knees more, this would allow me to lift higher so that I can perform a better split in the air. 

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Another area that I feel less secure about is how far my foot extends when pointing. Dancers are well known to have beautiful extended feet to finish extended lines. As dancers our feet are pointed all the time. As you can see in the photo on the right hand side this is a weak pointe. Some dancers also suffer from a sickle pointe which is where the ankle of the foot is facing inwards. The correct positioning of the heel is outwards with the heel facing forward. To prevent students from sickling in, in our core technique ballet classes our teacher has taught us to wrap the foot around the ankle so that you can feel the heel pressing forward. To help me from this weak pointe, I will start to use a rolling pin every night to try stretch the arch of my foot. I have also found that a rubber band helps, as the resistance from pointing and flexing the foot is useful. This is an area of training that takes a lot of time and patience. 

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In third year, I will be starting a fitness program which will conclude of a diet plan, extra classes timetable and lastly a weight training program to build muscle and tone up. As dancers our bodies are temples which need to look toned throughout our career. I will also be starting this in my summer holidays as I would hate to put on what I have lost the past two years of training. My goal is to be fit and toned when going back into my third year. 

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