5-Minute Ballet Relevé Passé Balancing Drills at the Barre

Building a stable foundation is essential for every dancer, and it all starts with mastering your alignment at the barre. In this focused 5-minute practice session from Broche Ballet, we dive deep into relevé passé drills designed to improve your stability, strength, and turn-out. Whether you are preparing for pirouettes or simply looking to refine your center work, these exercises provide the technical building blocks you need to stay centered and strong.

The session begins in a sous-sus position, where we emphasize the importance of correct hip placement. You will learn how to press the hip forward, up, and in, ensuring your weight is centered and your torso is properly aligned. A common mistake in a relevé is letting the hips shift or the alignment to break; these drills help you internalize the feeling of a lifted core and a stable base.

Throughout the drills, we focus on the transition from a plié to a relevé. It is crucial to keep the knee over the toe during the plié to maintain proper tracking and prevent injury. As you rise to the retiré or passé position, we focus on opening the hips and keeping the knee back while maintaining a square shoulder line.

This coordination of the upper and lower body is what creates the stable shape necessary for successful turns. We also cover essential corrections like avoiding a sickled foot and ensuring the shoulder stays down while the elbow remains lifted in first position. By repeating these series on both sides, you will develop the muscle memory needed to find your balance instantly.

Join us at the barre and take your technique to the next level with these expert-led balancing drills.