Barre 3 - Tendu

Description of elements of a typical combination:

  • “The working leg (moving leg) is stretched away from the supporting leg (stationary leg) and is then brought back to the original position, creating the beat" (Lishka 1979, p. 20).

  • This combination, compared to the previous two, tends to need a crisper articulation. The dancers need subtle cues about when to point the foot (usually on “and”) and return the foot to the position (usually on the count) (Cavalli 2001, p. 104).

  • Common steps used in this combination:

  • Tendu (sometimes called battement tendu)

  • Plié

  • Pas de Cheval

  • Relevé

  • Sous-Sous (balance in fifth on relevé)

Meter

duple (2/4 or 4/4)

Tempo

moderate - 76 bpm

Accentuations

  • Crisp Articulation

  • Clear “and” for tendus that happen in one count

  • Ability to add tenutos where there is a plié added or pas de cheval

Example of Teacher Demonstrating a Tendu Combination:

Cues from teacher's demonstration:

  • There are differences between tendus that occur on two counts (1-2) and those that occur in one count (&-1). There needs to be a clear accent on the “&” for the one count tendus.

  • I need to add a tenuto to sections where there is a plié or “weight transfer”.

Music Selected: Gilbert & Sullivan, Overture from Pirates of Penzance,

2nd theme

PDF of Original

03_Original_GandS Pirates Overture_2nd theme.pdf

PDF of Arranged Score

Barre03_Tendus at the Barre_Overture Pirates_GS10.22.22.pdf

Changes made in arranged score:

  • Added four count introduction

  • Used mm. 17-32 from the original score

  • Changed left hand to be the more familiar “oom-pah” that give dancers a better aural cue of the “and”

Videos of Dancers performing combination with selected music:

Reactions while playing the combination:

  • Even though it was not demonstrated in the combination, a balance was needed at the end of the combination; I improvised using the chord structure of the piece.