What You'll Learn
- How to use the upper arm as the primary driver in allongé for softer, more expressive hands.
- The technique of reaching away with the foot in adagio to maximize length and line.
- Advanced coordination of the arms during transitions, ensuring they follow the leg's movement path.
- Maintaining equal extension and energy in both the supporting and working legs during arabesque.
- Refining the 'quad pull-up' to ensure a fully straightened leg and improved stability in center work.
About This Video
Welcome to a rigorous advanced ballet session at Broche Ballet, designed to challenge experienced dancers through refined technical focus and artistic expression. This class, led by Julie, features a comprehensive 55-minute barre followed by 20 minutes of intricate center work, totaling 75 minutes of professional-level instruction. Our focus today centers on the concept of length and the coordination between the limbs and the core.
During the 55-minute barre, we progress through foundational exercises like plié, tendu, and dégagé, but with the added complexity expected at the advanced level. One of the primary technical takeaways is the importance of reaching away with the foot during adagio. By focusing on the trajectory of the foot, you create a longer, more elegant line. Julie emphasizes pulling the quadriceps up to fully straighten the leg, ensuring that the energy flows through the toes. This attention to detail extends to positions like arabesque and allongé, where dancers are encouraged to stretch the supporting leg just as much as the working leg to maintain a balanced and stable center of gravity.
Coordination of the arms, or port de bras, is another major theme. You will learn how the upper arm acts as the driver in movements like allongé, allowing the hands to remain soft and expressive. We also dive into the timing of transitions, practicing how to leave the arms aside until the leg passes before circling them through positions like bras bas and up to fifth. This fluidity is essential for mastering advanced choreography in the center.
The final 20 minutes of the class moves to the center, applying the strength and alignment built at the barre to movement through space. We explore combinations involving écarté and croisé, focusing on the harmony of the body and musicality. The session concludes with a traditional révérence, leaving you feeling lengthened, strengthened, and technically refreshed.
