Well-wishers should always replace the phrase “good luck” with its or from understudies (jokingly) wishing actors would “break a leg” so that.
Everice Monique Lindesay
Dance Enthusiast/Dancer
“I once was told that back in the early days of ballet, companies used animals on stage. And, every time an animal **** on stage, someone from the audience would yell,"Merde!" to warn the dancers. It was used so often, that the term stuck to wish you good luck. Unless you're a rockette in the Christmas Spectacular, you probably don't have to worry about that anymore. Lol”
Jeffrey E. Salzberg
Jeffrey Salzeberg is a lighting designer for theatre, dance, opera, and puppetry
www.jeffsalzberg.com
“More or less the same as telling actors to "break a leg". If wishing people good fortune is tempting fate, then, logically, wishing them ill is likely to also bring about the contrarian result. Since telling dancers to "break a leg" is, well, kind of creepy, we say, "Merde".
Note: as with most other backstage traditions ("Why is the lounge called the 'green room'?," for example) there are many, often contradictory, explanations and many people will ardently insist that theirs is the correct one...based, usually, on the scientific fact that it happens to be the first one they ever heard.”
Annmaria Mazzini
Performer/Teacher
Paul Taylor Dance Company
www.ptdc.org
“I thought that it came from Paris when the dancers were crossing the street to the theater, they'd tell each other to be careful not to step in the merde from the horses.”
Jennifer Mabus
Dancer/Teacher/Dance Enthusiast
“I was recently told something similar about how it started in Paris. If the performance had a good audience, there would be much merde outside from all the carriages... Hence the wish....”
Eva Dean Dance
www.evadeandance.org
“Ditto to Annmaria and Jennifer's comment about ‘merde’!
John Stone
Composer/Music Director, The Paper Bag Players
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http://www.amazon.com/Daybreak-Alabama-Langston-Hughes-Cycle/dp/B002WKYTL2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1263884156&sr=8-4
“I also read that since there were animals on stage in many opera ballets, the dancers would say "merde" to help avoid their droppings. I find that dubious.
Here's another one I heard: the phrase was first uttered by a constipated prima ballerina in Paris. When she would yell "merde!" to the house manager, it meant she had finished her business and was finally ready to start the show.”
(editors note: John is a highly imaginative creator of myth...he acknowledges his last answer to the question of why we say 'merde' is made up)
Dawn Marie Stoppiello
Troika Ranch Dance Theater
www.troikaranch.org
“Well, shit. I just don’t know.”
Ruping Wang
WC Dance –Artistic Director/Performer
www.WCdance.org
“ In Taiwan, we usually say: Jia-Yo. Literally, it means add oil. It is an encouragement in hope of getting extra energy or inspirations for a performance. Sometimes we say: Yan-Chu-Chen-Gong. It means having a successful performance.”
Anabella Lenzu
www.anabellalenzu.com
“EN BOCA AL LUPPO and you reply to them CREPI IL LUPPO: in Italian it means call the wolf and you reply died the wolf! This is the good luck expression in the opera and ballet world in Argentina.”
Nichelle Strzepek
Writer/Editor
www.DanceAdvantage.net
“I had a dance instructor in college that used toi toi toi all the time before performances. Was never really sure where it came from but I was under the impression it had more to do with repelling bad luck than wishing good luck.”
Coco Loupe
www.cocoloupdance.com
I stopped saying "Merde" years ago. i don't exactly remember when or why but it just lost its relevancy at some point. so......i've been using the following for years now and it always takes folks a moment to get it....then they either laugh, gasp or walk towards the stage looking rather confused.....
Other Dancers to me:
Merde, CoCo! Merde! Good show, CoCo! Merde!
Me to other dancers:
Thanks so much! and remember.....Don't suck!”
Robert L. Friedman
Dance Enthusiast/Fencer
“According to my French teacher (who was a ballet dancer), in days gone by, when members of high society went to see an event in their horse drawn carriages, the horse crap would pile up in front of the theater. The more successful the show, the bigger the pile -- hence the expression ‘merde’as an expression of ‘good luck’”
Published on January 31, 2010
These musicians from all around the world play various instruments, and Leave a comment below to wish all these musicians good luck for.
You can say:
Read more:
10 New Year Wishes and Useful Expressions
How to Express Good Wishes Using MAY?
How to use the verb WISH?
112 Phrases for Saying Thank You in Any Situation
Before actors and musicians go on stage to perform, well-wishers typically wish them “Break a leg”. Of course, this is purely based on the theatrical superstition in which wishing a person “good luck” is actually considered bad luck.
It is against this background that we provide you this wonderful collection of original good luck wishes for singers and musicians. These wishes of luck can help inspire any performing artist you know to believe in themselves and make their way to the top.
Good Luck | Shout Aloud
Good Luck | Have a beautiful night
Good Luck, Man!
Music Revolution | Famous and Other Quotes About Music
Good Luck Wishes for a Friend
Birthday Wishes for Icons and Role Models
If you liked what you read, please share it. It really helps us a lot.
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Knowing best wishes quotes and phrases is very useful when you want to Your good luck will come in waves, and so does your bad, so you have to take the.
We all love a bit of luck in our lives, don’t we? Well, as it turns out in English, there are many different ways of wishing someone “good luck” so let’s take a look at a few different expressions!
Break a leg
Although this expression may sound very strange it is commonly used to wish someone good luck before they do something.
I’m performing at the globe theatre tomorrow evening.
Break a leg, I’m sure you’ll do great!
Knock them dead
Another strange expression, possibly even stranger than the previous is the expression “knock them dead”. It can be used in the same way as “break a leg” although it can mean “to really impress someone” or “good luck.”
We are playing against Barcelona junior football club tomorrow, I’m nervous!
Don’t worry Kevin, knock them dead!
Keep your fingers crossed
This expression is used to express both luck and hope, depending on the situation or context
we may say:
My father is in hospital and he is not doing well.
Just keep your fingers crossed that he will be OK.
Or
I have a big maths exam tomorrow, I hope I pass!
Fingers crossed!
May the force be with you
An informal and humorous way of saying “good luck” in English. “May the force be with you” was used in the Star Wars films to wish a person or group good luck when they were about to embark on a challenging journey or take part in a challenging situation. It became famous in the English language after that.
I have an 18 hour flight to Australia tomorrow.
May the force be with you, I hope you make it there safely!
Blow them away
Used in much the same way as “knock them dead”, this phrase is often used to wish someone good luck before taking part in a performance or act of some sort.
I’m singing in the talent competition this weekend.
Blow them away Kim, you have a great voice!
We are sure you’ll knock everyone dead with your level of English…
Well everyone, there we have it! Another action packed post, full of new and exciting ways for you to express yourself in English. We hope that you incorporate these into your English to increase your level of vocabulary and expressions! Remember that in addition to the ABA Journal, you can also register as an ABA student for free which will give you free access to many more materials including 144 video classes from beginner to advanced level.
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Hello, a friend of mine is a musician and he is having his first show this weekend. I would like to send a short note and wish him well for that. Could I "Best of luck with your show / Good luck with your show" would be better.