SEVEN WOMEN OF DIFFERENT AGES
Thursday
Come on girls, eyes up, and we bow...
We curl up like flowers.
And we try to touch the floor with our foreheads.
But not the easy way.
Do it as if something's stopping you...
And here's the centre, right here.
It's as though someone put a stick right through it.
It goes right through your body.
And one, go back.
One, two, three, one, two, three.
And again... We curl up on four.
Keep sitting, one, two, three and everything disappears.
The flowers are sleeping. Let me see.
Now the flowers are rising. One, two, three.
Straight backs, the flowers have woken up.
Sit up, that's right.
Don't stiffen you groin. The leg goes up freely.
You see how nicely it went?
And now bring your arm forward. And stretch.
Toes out, further, pull hard.
Keep that leg straight and sharp as a pencil.
Keep your head straight, and now lift it up and stretch it out.
That's right.
You may start. Everybody, look ahead and reflect.
Girls, you won't accomplish anything if you don't think.
I can hear you talking.
You won't be able to think if you keep on waffling.
Now, imagine that you're on stage and that you're walking beautifully around
it and saying good-bye to the audience.
Quiet, that's it, clever girl.
Pull your toes slightly, elbows at your sides, no waggling.
Friday
Keep your ribs and stomach above your legs, that's right.
Jola, that's not your heel. In front of you.
The jump's not until the end. And now the jump.
Go forward more.
Keep it low, and now, jump.
More forward!
My dear ladies, dancers cover twenty metres
with four pas de basques, and you can't do measly two.
You're standing like a kettle again.
Soon you'll look like a heavy-weight lifter.
Walk on, walk on.
Arm up, clear moves, girls, lighter leg, emphasis on lightness.
Edyta, what did I say?
Transfer body weight, move your head.
Pli, and go.
To the music. Need your ears syringed, child?
Listen. Thick as bricks.
For the tenth time.
We don't walk like this, and change after,
but bring our arms together in the first and go out in the third.
What did I tell you?
But once you get something into your head, there's no way back, is there?
That's it. And go.
Shoulder blades down.
And look at your hand, cast your eyes down, eyes down.
And now up. Stop. Stop, stop.
Keep that bulky thumb in. Open, keep your elbows in check.
Plie. Elbows! Elbows! That's it.
And bring that leg up.
Edyta, bring your hands together in the first position,
and now, the third.
Saturday
One, two, tempo, tempo.
One, two, and now the other leg, please.
One...
One more time. Go back. Stretch.
- So, are you having a rehearsal? - I don't know.
Sunday
Monday
Two deep breaths.
I can't...
That's it.
- Enough? - I can't.
Tuesday
So, Stravinski's "Kiss of the Prophetess" is an unfortunate title,
but nobody has come up with a better one for this piece.
Perhaps, we'll start with the soloists.
- Prophetess Gypsy Kowalska... - Miss Kowalska...
Step forward, please. Miss Niesowska...
- Greetings, my dear soloists. - Now the six dolls.
Kulik, Korniluk, Garkowska,
Lewczuk, Dobrowska,
Makiewicz, Bula, Pawluc
and a guest appearance by Zalewska.
- Mother. - Mother...
Niesowska, in second role.
Come, my dear, our gem.
Now, the ice ghosts.
- Yes, yes, go ahead. - Miss Korniluk.
With those witches.
Kulik, Bogdanska, Brogowska,
Sobkowiak and Baranowska.
And now, arrange the girls as you please.
By the way Ala Baranowska is our substitute.
Ala, you are in this group.
You are covering for Krysia.
Go ahead, my poppets.
Come, my dear.
Let me read it again. Baranowska, Bogdanska, Szkopowna,
Sobieraj and Makiewicz.
The substitute is Baranowska.
There are four participants.
- As they stand? - Yes.
And, rhythm.
And the legs, and bring your hands together.
One..., and out, out.
One, down and up, down and up, and down.
And the waltz, waltz.
Wednesday
And one, and two. Hands and feet.
And... don't sit down. Don't sit down.
Feet! Together. Together.
There's no first position here. That's it, accord, eyes, this way.
Spine up. Show me a good strong spine.
Strong shoulders. Don't let your ankles wobble.
You're supposed to rest on the entire foot,
shift the weight on your little toes.
On your little toes, shift your weight.
On to the little toes, the outer ankles.
One, two, three, for...
and up, up, up.
One and two, heads up.
Not the hip, Ewa...
Shoulders, bring your hands together.
And one. The preparatory position.
First position, no shoulders, all together, at navel's level.
Back to preparatory position...
And hands down.
Attention, preparatory, just the "gateway",
control, elbows.
First position, thumbs in, girls.
Let your arms down to preparatory position.