What You'll Learn
- How to use visualization to fix a backward-leaning default posture
- Techniques for lengthening the spine while maintaining a neutral head position
- The importance of keeping the front of the body together for core stability
- How to shift your center of gravity forward for better balance in first position
About This Video
In the world of ballet, alignment is the foundation of every movement. One of the most common challenges dancers face—from beginners to advanced students—is maintaining a true "forward" posture. At Broche Ballet, we believe that technical corrections are most effective when they are memorable.
This guide explores a quick and rather goofy visual to help you maintain an upright position and keep your weight centered over your feet. Most dancers have a default posture that tends to drift backward. When we stand in first position, it is easy to let the weight sink into the heels, which disrupts balance and makes transitions like a relevé or tendu much more difficult.
To combat this, we use the "Queen on a Balcony" visualization. Imagine you are royalty looking out over your kingdom from a high balcony. To see the people below, you cannot lean back; you must stay lifted, lengthened, and slightly forward.
By visualizing yourself looking "up and over" a railing, you naturally keep the front of your body engaged and your spine long. This mental shift prevents the ribcage from flaring and ensures your head remains in a neutral, regal position. This approach to posture is about functional alignment as much as aesthetics.
When you actively work on staying forward, you engage your core more effectively and prepare your body for the physical demands of center work. Whether you are at the barre or practicing at home, "thinking of the peasants" is a fun way to ensure your alignment remains precise and your movements stay fluid. At Broche Ballet, we are dedicated to providing these kinds of accessible, high-quality tips to help adult dancers of all levels reach their full potential.
