What You'll Learn
- Proper technique for the grand battement in all three directions
- How to maintain a level hip and forward heel during high kicks
- Coordination of arms through foundational first port de bras
- The brush and strike method for powerful and controlled leg extensions
- Integrating the plié to support stability and strength in leg work
About This Video
Welcome to the seventh class in our Absolute Beginner series at Broche Ballet. In this session, we shift our focus toward one of the most exciting and dynamic movements in the classical vocabulary: the grand battement. Often referred to as a big kick, the grand battement requires a unique blend of explosive power and disciplined control.
Throughout this 36-minute barre practice, you will learn how to throw the leg into the air while maintaining the elegance and stability required of a dancer. We begin by breaking down the mechanics of the brush and strike, a concept that ensures your foot maintains contact with the floor for as long as possible before taking flight. This technique is vital for building the necessary strength in your feet and legs.
You will practice grand battement in all three directions—front, side, and back. A common challenge for beginners is maintaining turnout and alignment during these high kicks. Your instructor provides specific cues to help you keep your heel forward and your hip down, preventing the torso from collapsing or the pelvis from tilting.
It is particularly important to keep the foot pointed until the very moment it touches the floor on its way down. In addition to leg work, this class emphasizes the importance of port de bras, or the carriage of the arms. Learning how to move your arms through first and second positions while your legs are in motion is a key step in developing coordination.
We also incorporate the plié into our battement exercises, which helps in absorbing the weight of the leg and preparing for jumps in future lessons. As we approach the end of this 8-part series, this class serves as a bridge to more complex movements like the grand plié, which we will tackle in our final session. By the end of this class, you will have a better understanding of how to balance your weight on the supporting leg while the working leg performs these large-scale movements.
This practice is essential for anyone looking to build a strong foundation in ballet technique with Broche Ballet.
