What You'll Learn
- How to maintain balance and stillness when letting go of the barre during combinations.
- Techniques for generating power from the core and standing leg for future pointe work.
- Correct alignment for arabesque, ensuring hips stay forward and the standing leg remains supportive.
- Methods for relaxing the neck and shoulders to create a long, graceful line in port de bras.
- Strategies for using the tendu to build precision and control in more advanced movements like piqué.
About This Video
Welcome to an empowering ballet barre session designed to help dancers of all levels transition from the stability of the barre to the freedom of center work. In this comprehensive one-hour class at Broche Ballet, instructor Julie guides you through a sequence that emphasizes the physical and mental aspects of 'letting go.' While the barre is a vital tool for learning technique, true mastery comes from finding the internal strength to maintain your alignment without relying on external support. Throughout this class, we focus on generating power from your center and using it to execute movements with confidence and grace.
The class begins with foundational exercises including plié and tendu, where we emphasize the connection between the feet and the floor. You will learn how the power to rise to pointe or execute a piqué actually originates from pushing through the standing leg during a tendu. As we progress into more complex movements like fondu and battement, the focus shifts toward maintaining a quiet upper body. We explore the relationship between the ribcage and the legs, ensuring your core remains engaged to support the fluidity of your port de bras. One of the key technical focuses is the arabesque; you will learn how to keep your hips forward and use the back leg for expression while the standing leg provides a solid, unwavering foundation.
Beyond just physical strength, this class challenges you to find stillness. By lifting through the ears and relaxing the neck and shoulders, you create the elegant silhouette essential to ballet. We also practice cambré and développé, focusing on the precision of the movement path. Whether you are a beginner looking to build a strong foundation or an experienced dancer wanting to refine your balance, this session provides the tools to build a more powerful, controlled, and confident dance practice. Join us to find your center and elevate your technique.
