What You'll Learn
- Master the art of the fondu by maintaining balance and control during the melting phase.
- Develop powerful grand battements while keeping the standing side stable and the shoulders relaxed.
- Refine arm placement and port de bras to ensure the upper body stays in line with the midline.
- Improve footwork by learning to brush through the heel during extensions and closures.
- Enhance coordination through traditional sequences including pas de basque and movements en croix.
About This Video
Join Julie for a comprehensive 40-minute all-level Ballet barre class designed to refine your technique and build foundational strength. This session at Broche Ballet focuses on the essential elements of a classical barre, guiding you through a series of exercises that emphasize control, precision, and artistic expression. Whether you are a beginner looking to establish good habits or an experienced dancer seeking to polish your form, this class offers valuable insights for every level.
The practice begins with careful pliés and stretches, where Julie emphasizes maintaining long legs and a high kneecap to avoid dropping into the joints. As the class progresses into more complex sequences like fondu and grand battement, the focus shifts to stability and alignment. You will learn to brush through the heel when extending and closing the leg, ensuring a smooth transition and proper engagement of the turnout muscles.
Julie provides specific corrections for upper body carriage, such as keeping the chest wide during side movements and ensuring the arm remains in line with the body rather than overcrossing the midline. A key highlight of this class is the focus on the grand battement. You will practice keeping the heel down as long as possible and pulling the standing shoulder down the moment the leg ascends.
These technical nuances are what differentiate a standard workout from true ballet training. By the end of this barre practice, you will have worked through sequences in en croix patterns, improved your balance on relevé, and explored the graceful coordination of pas de basque. This class is not just about physical movement; it is about developing the poise and flair that characterize a professional dancer.
