What You'll Learn
- Strategies for maintaining proper hip alignment and weight distribution during pirouette preparations.
- Techniques for executing controlled grand battement with an emphasis on using the back to hold leg height.
- Mastering fluid weight transfers and rhythmic coordination within waltz steps like the balancé and chassé.
- Improving core stability and turnout during complex center combinations including pas de bourrée and relevé.
About This Video
Welcome to a comprehensive 20-minute center practice designed for ballet dancers of all levels. In this session with Broche Ballet, we transition away from the barre to focus on balance, coordination, and the fluid movements that define center work. Whether you are a beginner looking to build a strong foundation or an intermediate student refining your artistry, this class offers valuable insights into essential ballet technique.
The class begins with fundamental exercises to find your center of gravity, including plié and relevé sequences. We emphasize the importance of maintaining a deep bend in the knees during your plié and achieving a quick, strong transfer of weight in every relevé. As we move into faster work, we tackle dégagé and grand battement combinations.
You will learn how to "catch" the leg with your back muscles, holding the extension at its peak before controlling the descent into a stable position. A major highlight of this session is our focus on pirouette technique. The instructor provides specific corrections regarding hip alignment, reminding dancers to keep the hips forward and centered between the feet after a chassé.
This prevents the weight from falling backward, ensuring a clean, successful rotation. We also explore the rhythmic grace of the waltz, incorporating the balancé and pas de bourrée into lyrical combinations. Throughout the practice, we prioritize proper turnout and core engagement.
By keeping the body long and the turnout active even during transitions, you develop the stability required for more advanced movements. We conclude the session with a traditional reverence, emphasizing proper arm placement and a sense of performance quality. Consistency is key to ballet progress; join us in this center practice to build the strength and grace needed for your dance journey.
