#cecchetti

Funnily enough, I spiritually agree with you and your vibes.

Your question actually reminds me of something interesting I read recently regarding Foundations of Classical Ballet by Agrippina Vaganova. In the English translations of the text, the translated Vaganova manual was diluted of its original intent, including its specific focus on female training. In the translation, the generic term "dancer" replaced gendered references, erasing distinctions that might have influenced how training methods are perceived or applied to male versus female dancers. The American edition resulted in the loss of the original focus of the book as a resource intended for a female course of study.

But going back to your question, I think you're saying this because you're looking at Vaganova academy girls versus boys. To me, the main difference seems to be that eight years of training is enough for the girls, but boys seem to take longer to reach the relative level which girls manage to reach in eight years. At the same time, and I'm guilty of this too, we shouldn't confuse vaganava acedemy with the vaganova method!

But in general, I think Vaganova and Cecchetti both have strengths and weaknesses. Specifically for boys, I’m sure Cecchetti might be more practical, with its heavy focus on stamina and strength, ideal for jumps, and the focus on coordination and balance, key in partnering work. But Vaganova would build that "virtuosismo," which is fundamental to male dancers as well, because it’s not like all they do is jump—they also need to be expressive. But this reflection is superficial, and almost stereotypical because both methods will build on strength and artistry, so honestly, it's a generalisation not worthy of much merit.

Hi hi fellow balletomane - Enrico in the house! It's a great method to build a base, yeah? Oh hey let's stare at Baby Jimin in high school doing his thing:

Most modern ballet descends from Cecchetti, RAD, Vaganova and/or Bournonville, or in the case of Balanchine from both Cecchetti and Vaganova. Or in RAD's case from Marie Rambert - and she trained with Cecchetti. For my money Vaganova is my favorite but you can see the differences and blends in technique in most professional dancers. We all got trained somewhere by somebody. Cecchetti method is so excellent because it is standardized, it is absolutely methodical, and it incorporates all the anatomy you need to get it right. And in higher levels it grades mostly on artistry because by Grade Four you better have your technique in line, amirite? I apologize, kids. I get super nerdy and academic about ballet but I think if you read me at all you knew this. Oh look more pretty Jiminie doing some modern-y stuff that is pretty on his arms and OMG that lovely bit at the end, and none of this is Cecchetti like at all:

Regardless of school of technique, we all do get trained, right? We learn to hold isolations. Muscles go in specific spots and you hold them up or down or in or out or elongated or twisted like a dishrag (port de bras) or tight in a specific way. Angles are never in question if your technique is a solid one.

Just looking at Jiminie he looks a bit like a Russian. He does. The man is probably a Vaganova-method trained ballet dancer in my opinion, with Bolshoi big moves thrown in like English on a billiard ball. His hands are sooooo Kirov I just... gah. He's beautiful. I mean LOOK AT HIM: (He also has a bit of the Travis Wall going on in his contemporary but I suspect that's because Travis Wall is literally EVERYWHERE)

Which MAKES SENSE. The Korean National Ballet uses Vaganova in their academy but also has an exchange program with the Bolshoi. And Jiminie is a bit Bolshoi when he jumps and we know that the Bolshoi's training method is bigger and louder. So I'm gonna guess that Jimin's ballet teachers are probably Russian trained by way of Korea and looking at his technique that makes total sense. And his contemporary teachers are Travis Wall fans. Interestingly (as we know), Jimin didn't start out training as a dancer. He started out training as a martial artist. And that lends itself to a couple of specific things we see in his technique. One is his lower legs specifically from the knees down, including his feet. Guys don't train their arches the way girls do because largely they are not en pointe. They need their metatarsals for stability and their Achilles tendons for jumps and lifts. But Jiminie can have quite nice feet, we've seen him point them, we know it can be done ;)

I am hoping to find/create a community of dancers and dance teachers online to share activities/teaching tools/music etc, and help each other grow as dancers and dance teachers. 

Currently I teach at a school that does not follow a syllabus as such, like ATOD RAD, Cecchetti. I am hoping to share worksheets, activities to help improve technique etc. 

Message or send me an ask if you’re interested or have suggestions.