What You'll Learn
- Strategic weight placement for better balance in arabesque and adagio.
- How to generate power and momentum in traveling steps like chassé and waltz.
- The relationship between the hips and head for stable center pirouettes.
- Techniques for fluid transitions using tombé, pas de bourrée, and plié.
About This Video
Building confidence in the center is one of the most rewarding parts of a dancer’s journey. This all-level ballet center class from Broche Ballet focuses on the foundational elements of movement without the support of the barre. Throughout this session, we dive deep into the mechanics of balance and weight placement, ensuring that every movement—from a simple tendu to a complex waltz combination—is executed with precision and grace.
One of the primary focuses of this class is understanding how your center of gravity shifts during movement. Our instructor emphasizes that balance is active work; it requires a constant adjustment of the head over the hips. When moving through adagio or holding an arabesque, it should feel like you are pushing forward even as you maintain your alignment.
By keeping the hips tucked underneath the body, you create a stable base that makes pushing off for more dynamic steps much more efficient. We also explore the power and energy required for traveling steps. Learning how to stay forward during a chassé is essential for maintaining momentum.
The class provides specific drills for tombé and pas de bourrée, teaching you how to use a deep plié to transition into a pirouette. Proper alignment and core engagement are the keys here—if your weight is too far back, the turn will lose its stability. By reaching forward with the arms in port de bras and extending the legs fully, you generate the necessary power for subsequent movements.
Whether you are practicing your sous-sus or refining your waltz pirouettes, this class offers corrections that apply to dancers of all levels. We focus on the tiny details, such as the placement of the head behind the hips during a reach, which can transform a shaky movement into a smooth, professional-looking sequence. Join us at Broche Ballet as we explore the artistry and athleticism of center work.
