What You'll Learn
- Precise head placement and neck alignment during cambré and barre extensions.
- Techniques for coordinating épaulement with advanced fondu and développé combinations.
- Turning drills designed to improve spotting, control, and pirouette en dedans technique.
- The rule of 'head vs. foot' positioning and when to apply specific gaze variations.
- Upper spine extension techniques to create a smooth arc during back bends.
About This Video
Elevate your classical technique with this comprehensive 46-minute advanced ballet barre class from Broche Ballet. While many dancers focus solely on the legs, this session prioritizes the sophisticated coordination of the upper body, specifically targeting head inclination and épaulement. Through a series of rigorous exercises, you will learn how to integrate the head and neck into every movement, transforming your barre work into a performance.
The class begins with foundational pliés and tendus, where we immediately introduce specific head motions to lengthen the line of the neck. Our instructor provides deep technical insights into the mechanics of the upper spine, emphasizing that a cambré back should be a smooth, continuous arc rather than a hinge. You will learn to keep the forehead slightly higher than the chin during specific transitions to extend the line of the body and maintain a professional aesthetic. We also break down the common misconception that the head must always follow the foot, exploring those nuanced moments where the gaze remains independent to facilitate fluid transitions.
As the barre progresses into more demanding sequences like fondu, développé, and pirouette preparation, we focus on the coordination required for advanced stability. The video includes detailed demonstrations of turning drills to improve your pirouette en dedans and en dehors, ensuring that your spotting and head positioning are synchronized with your core. With multiple camera angles showing front, back, and side views, you can clearly see the subtle shifts in posture and alignment that make a difference in advanced work. Whether you are refining your pas de bourrée or perfecting your dev-lipé, this class offers the professional feedback and corrections needed to find more grace and control in your dancing.
