Who's Mark?

Whether you're new to dance or a seasoned veteran, it's sometimes a little bewildering to have a teacher turn on the music and yell "Mark!"  It's probably especially odd if your name is Mark or you know someone named Mark.  I've witnessed a student ask, "Who's Mark?" more than once, and in advanced ballet, no less.

When a teacher says "mark," (and yes, it really should be lowercase) he or she is inviting the class to listen to the music and casually move through the combination to ensure understanding of the steps and musicality.  Students often mark combinations before performing them in class, and dancers sometimes mark through choreography at the beginning of rehearsal to ensure everyone remembers the steps.

Dancers have individual methods for marking steps.  Some perform all the steps, but with a lower energy level than is required to perform them full out.  Others shorten or simplify steps, like holding a flat passe to represent a pirouette.  Another method is performing the arm movements while standing in place.  Yet another is moving the hands to represent the legs and feet.  Marking does NOT mean do it sloppy or stand still and just listen.

Some teachers have preferences for how students mark combinations, but it largely doesn't matter as long as dancers use the opportunity to ensure they understand the steps, tempo, and musicality for the combination.