Slow Motion For Me

April 18, 2014


When audiences watched Washington Ballet’s premiere performance of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Sueño de Marmol, they could’ve missed “wow” moments like this with just the blink of an eye. (Photo by Brianne Bland)

We’re all about power moves here at DS—you know, those characteristic tricks that add a spark to your routine…that make your audience go “WOW!”

Whether it’s an impressive jump, a daring lift or a dizzying pirouette combo, part of what makes these moments wow-worthy is how fleeting they are. Blink your eyes and you risk missing the pinnacle of Kitri’s grand jeté in Don Quixote. And even if you keep your eyes open, you probably won’t see the complicated hand shifting that goes on during the jaw-dropping Cheshire Cat lift in ALICE.

If it seems like we’ve got ballet on the brain, it’s because this week, The Washington Post’s PostTV did a special on “Ballet’s hardest dance moves” with Washington Ballet. In the clip, seven dancers show off their power moves…but they’re in slow motion so you can really see what’s going on. Check it out!

Bonus round: Care to polish some power moves of your own? Find out how to do Alexia Meyer’s Super Cabriole, Ashi Ross’ Tilt Drop, Kamille Upshaw’s Ring Jump, Jakob Karr’s Layout or Zoey Anderson’s Leg Hold Turn.