What You'll Learn
- Effective techniques for maintaining consistent turnout while moving in the center
- How to engage deep core muscles to improve stability on demi-pointe
- Specific drills for transitioning smoothly through pas de bourrée and su-su
- Alignment corrections for arabesque and coupé to prevent body twisting
- Mental focus strategies to maintain control during complex center movements
About This Video
Center work is often the most challenging part of a ballet class. Without the support of the barre, dancers must rely entirely on their internal strength and alignment to maintain stability. In this Broche Ballet practice session, we dive deep into balancing drills designed specifically to help you hold your turnout in the center.
Maintaining rotation in the hips while executing a plié or rising to demi-pointe requires constant vigilance. Many dancers find that their turnout leaks as they focus on the complexity of a combination. This class provides the tools to prevent that loss of form.
By focusing on the engagement of the deep rotators and the core, you will learn how to stay square and turned out through every movement. We will explore several key exercises including pas de bourrée and su-su, focusing on the transition from movement to a held position. You will practice finding your center in an arabesque and maintaining a clean coupé without letting the standing leg rotate inward.
The instructor guides you through dynamic sequences, including bourrée and preparations for fouetté, emphasizing that balance is not a static state but an active process of self-regulation. For those dancing en pointe or preparing for it, these drills are essential. The strength required to hold a balance on one leg is the same strength that prevents injury and improves the overall aesthetic of your dance.
Throughout the lesson, we focus on proper posture—ensuring the ribcage is closed and the spine is lengthened—to create a solid pillar of support. In addition to these focused drills, we will discuss the importance of eye focus and spotting, which are crucial when moving from a stable su-su into more expansive movements. Understanding where your weight sits over your metatarsals can make the difference between a shaky finish and a secure landing.
We also touch upon the mental aspect of balancing, teaching you how to stay calm and grounded even when a combination feels fast or unfamiliar. By the end of this 15-minute drill, you will have a better understanding of your body's mechanics. You will learn to listen to the subtle shifts in your weight and make the necessary corrections in real-time.
Whether you are working on your passé or simply trying to stay upright during a center adagio, these balancing techniques will transform your ballet practice.
