What You'll Learn
- The correct mechanics of the fouetté leg movement from front to side
- How to utilize a deep plié and strong relevé to power your rotation
- Strategies for maintaining hip alignment and core stability during turns
- Progressions for adding a turn at the barre while maintaining control
- Muscle memory drills for the coordination of the working leg and passé
About This Video
Welcome to this focused 6-minute practice session designed to demystify one of the most iconic and challenging steps in the ballet repertoire: the fouetté. At Broche Ballet, we believe that mastering complex turns starts with a rock-solid foundation at the barre. This short but intensive drill is the perfect "finisher" to add to the end of your regular ballet class, allowing you to isolate the mechanics of the fouetté without the added challenge of center work.
The session begins by breaking down the specific pathway of the working leg. You will focus on the "front and close" action, ensuring that your hip remains pressed down through the floor to create the necessary upward force for a successful relevé. Proper alignment is paramount; we emphasize the importance of keeping the working leg steady as it moves through the air, preventing it from pulling you off your axis.
You will practice various combinations of plié and relevé, with options to keep the supporting foot flat or rise onto the ball of the foot depending on your current level of stability and what you are using as a barre. Once the mechanical leg path is established, we introduce the turn itself. Adding a rotation while holding the barre provides a unique opportunity to feel the physics of the turn in a highly controlled environment.
You will learn to manage the momentum of the working leg as it whips from the front to the side and then into the passé position. A common pitfall for many dancers is letting the working leg "take them for a ride," leading to a loss of balance. We focus on core engagement and precise footwork to ensure you stay in control of the movement rather than the movement controlling you.
To finish the sequence, we work through a series of presses and controlled descents. By the end of this 6-minute practice, you will have a significantly better understanding of the coordination between the deep plié, the whip of the leg, and the rise to relevé. Whether you choose to execute a full turn at the barre or stay grounded to perfect the leg action, this drill will build the essential muscle memory needed for effortless fouetté rond de jambe en tournant in the center.
Grab your barre and let’s refine your technique together!
