The economists at Freakonomics pose an interesting question this week:

Over the past half-century, ballet dancers who perform Sleeping Beauty at London’s Royal Opera House have been raising their legs higher and higher. So why, over the same time period, have professional basketball players not improved their free-throw shooting?

The question* supposes that a raised leg [...]

I have always found second position arms and legs difficult.  Without looking down, it’s so hard to get the heels spaced and aligned.  But look up, and in to the mirror, and I remember that my shoulders are raised and my elbows are falling (”wet chicken wings,” says Bob).  All the while, my standing leg [...]

This month, instead of two ballet classes per week, I’m taking three.  The additional class has already made a difference.
The most obvious effect is that the improvement of technique accelerates dramatically.  With only a day or two between each class, there is simply no time to forget.  This got me thinking about the marginal benefits [...]