Talk:Balanchine method

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[edit] Method, Style, or Technique?

I'm not sure "Balanchine Method" is an appropriate way to refer to this sort of ballet. The other 'methods' (Chechetti, etc) have set syllabi, with a progression through levels/grades, and are standardised by some organisation or another. Balanchine is more the style that he taught and choreographed in, but nobody yet has managed to codify it into a unified programme or method. Therefore I think it is more appropriate to consider the Balanchine classroom training a technique or a style, and I think a page move is due. But, I'm not sure which of the two is better. 'Style' seems to me the essence of how he choreographed, and the most common name for this, and 'technique' what is taught in the classroom. I guess I would slightly lean towards "Balanchine technique" for this article, to correspond with the classroom training of the articles for the methods. Any support or opposition for a move to either name? Just for reference, I have been training in Balanchine ballet including with SAB so I hopefully have some idea what I'm talking about. puppies_fly

I took out the anorexic comment because that is a personal opinion of the writer, it's not correct/valid and it's very insulting to any dancer who is naturally small and works hard to stay healthy and strong. I also removed the comment about forced turnout. For starters, all turnout is "forced" because it is unnatural body movement. Secondly, that is covered in the page about general ballet technique and in this way, Balanchine style does not differ from any other kind of ballet, so I am not sure why it even needs to be specified. You have to turn out in all forms of classical ballet. I also agree that it should be changed to style, rather than method.

I agree with the change to "Balanchine technique". I recently went to see the Don Quixote and on the program, it clearly states that: "The performance [...] has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine style R and Balanchine technique R service standards [...]. Besides, I had a substitute teacher (for a couple of classes) once who studied at the SAB and she tought us some of the differences between Balanchine technique and Vaganova (like the dancers never put all their weight on their heels), but I doubt that the Balanchine foundation has come with guidelines to teach the technique (which would make a "method" out of it). I believe that it would be more fitting to mention the style in a page dedicated to Balanchine as a choreographer. Gioland71 21:52, 2 July 2007 (UTC)