What You'll Learn
- Mastering the mechanics of slow, controlled développé and enveloppé movements
- Improving foot articulation through heel-toe connection in tendu and dégagé
- Implementing energy direction to maintain length and avoid heaviness in extensions
- Strengthening the core and legs through deliberate, slow grand battement exercises
- Refining transitions through proper passé and retiré alignment
About This Video
Welcome to a specialized session of our "All-Level Ballet Barre," originally recorded on August 13, 2022. This class is a cornerstone of the Broche Ballet curriculum, designed to help dancers of every experience level cultivate a deeper connection to their technique through intentional, mindful movement. Over the course of nearly 45 minutes, our expert instructor guides you through a traditional barre sequence with a modern focus on functional strength and postural length.
The lesson begins by establishing a strong foundation with plié and movement fundamentals, ensuring your alignment is correct before moving into more complex sequences. As we transition into tendu and dégagé exercises, the focus shifts to the heel-toe connection. This focus on footwork ensures that every brush of the foot against the floor is crisp, articulate, and energized.
The heart of this workout lies in the mastery of controlled développé and enveloppé. These movements are often rushed, but in this class, we use raw strength to execute them slowly. You will learn the importance of energy direction: thinking "up" with the torso and "down" with the leg to avoid a sense of heaviness in your extensions.
Finding height and tallness at the peak of a développé is not just about flexibility; it is about the technical coordination of the entire body. We also incorporate grand battement exercises, emphasizing that power must always be balanced with control. By working on slow grand battement, you improve your ability to hold your turnout and maintain your squareness even during high-velocity movements.
Throughout the class, we utilize the passé and retiré positions to transition smoothly, reinforcing the idea that every moment in ballet is a deliberate choice. Whether you are practicing in a home studio or a professional space, this Broche Ballet session provides the corrections and encouragement you need to refine your form and build the stamina required for center work.
