What You'll Learn
- How to maintain a 'stacked' posture to improve balance and prevent leaning during grand plié.
- Techniques for better foot articulation and turnout by focusing on 'heel forward' placement.
- Development of glute and core engagement through sharp, precise frappé and fondu movements.
- Strategies for maintaining a stable standing hip during grand rond de jambe and développé.
- Building lower body strength and endurance with a sustained five-minute relevé challenge.
About This Video
Refine your technique and find your center with this 40-minute All-Level Ballet Barre class at Broche Ballet. Designed for dancers who want to slow down and focus on the mechanics of movement, this session emphasizes stability, control, and the often-overlooked details that make a performance truly graceful. Led by Julie, this practice provides a comprehensive workout that transitions from foundational plié and tendu exercises to more demanding combinations.
One of the primary focuses of this class is maintaining a 'stacked' posture. By keeping your ears, hips, and feet aligned in one vertical line, you will learn to avoid the common mistake of leaning during grand plié or moving through transitions. This verticality is essential for finding balance and preparing for more advanced center work.
Throughout the barre, we pay close attention to the standing hip, ensuring it remains stable and strong, especially during challenging movements like fondu and grand rond de jambe. To improve your articulation, we explore the 'heel forward' position during pas de cheval and tendu movements. This focus encourages proper turnout and helps you engage the correct muscles from the start of the exercise.
As the tempo increases for movements like frappé and petite battement, you will work on developing core stability and sharp glute engagement. The 'down' energy and quick release off the floor during these exercises are key to building the speed and precision required for jumps and petit allegro. The class concludes with a rigorous five-minute relevé challenge.
This sustained exercise is designed to enhance lower body endurance and test your balance in positions like passé and arabesque. By finding stillness in the body's center during the slower portions of the barre, you will be better equipped to handle the physical demands of this endurance-building finale. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced dancer, this barre offers the opportunity to return to the basics and strengthen your technical foundation.
