Watching from London. Thank you.

He improvises brilliantly.

Yes, the pianist improvising using the structure of each combination. The boots keep the feet warm to keep it active.

Abdominal contraction can sometimes lead to a lift underneath the ribcage that is not ideal ballet posture. 'Softening the ribs' is about checking that you are using the abdominal structures correctly and the ribcage is not splayed out/up. To understand this feeling- take a deep breath in, expanding the ribcage and chest as much as possible. As you breathe out, allow the ribcage to relax back to neutral. This relaxation on top of an engaged abdominal wall is 'softening the ribs'. It will also slightly lengthen the curve in the thoracic spine. Hope that helps. :)

It's a warm up so it isn't needed right here until later in class. These dancers will be dancing (during performance season) until 11pm some days so it's also about conserving stamina and strength. It also depends on their specific needs with upcoming shows (if there's a show that needs lots of pointe work they might take class fully in pointe shoes). Sometimes (which i think the girl in the long skirt may be doing) it's done to work the pointe shoes ready for a show/rehearsal.

I agree - Brian P. is AWESOME! I think he is improvising lot in this class.

I think it's just 4th with feet parallel - looks a little strange first time you see it.

I-Sayaw Dance Studio His name is Oliver Rydout - www.scottishballet.co.uk/profile/oliver-rydout

@@Sofia-he1ej I'm sorry. I misspelled it. It should be Tan Tien, and I'm glad you asked that question. I know of it slightly, but since you asked, I searched for some knowledge (peacefuldragonschool.com/2016/01/16/putting-your-mind-in-your-tan-tien-coming-to-your-senses-1/). In simple terms, it is the physical center of gravity in the mass that is your body. If someone were to balance you on a long pole as you lay on a small circle. Lay on you belly and put the circle 2 inches below your belly button. If you were lying flat like that, straight, you would balance. The idea comes from yoga, tai chi, Qi Gong, Aikido . . . Asian "martial" arts. I've been taught to climb a hill as if a rope were around my Tan Tien to be most energy efficient. If you tune in to your center like this (meditation helps), your dance will be effortless. I am living evidence. At 67 I never tire of telling dancers that tuning into one's center makes trance possible . . . this has happened to me onstage at Kennedy Center in Firebird with the Harkness Ballet. As I wrote above, the Tan Tien is the steering wheel of the whole body . . . what follows is natural ease as you express your greatest potential . . . just for those precious few moments.

@@Sofia-he1ej I just wrote a long response. It disappeared. Is it being approved? Well, here, this helps. (Always lead with your Tan Tien. Put your mind into your Tan Tien peacefuldragonschool.com/2016/01/16/putting-your-mind-in-your-tan-tien-coming-to-your-senses-1/

@@Sofia-he1ej If you know how to work from your Tan Tien AND your Psoas (see teacher Bill Evans), you are dancing intelligently and efficiently. Without this awareness, one grips the barre because one is off balance.

I agree! Those forward backbends in plié ??