What You'll Learn
- How to 'lock' the ankle joint when the foot is off the floor to increase stability.
- Specific floor contact points for the toes and foot during rond de jambe.
- Techniques to use the hip flexors for higher knee placement in passé.
- Coordination of port de bras to arrive at the peak of a relevé simultaneously with the arms.
- The technical difference in floor pressure between a tendu and a dégagé.
About This Video
Welcome to this comprehensive 40-minute ballet barre class at Broche Ballet, specifically designed to refine your technical precision from the ground up. In this session, we dive deep into the mechanics of the lower body, prioritizing footwork, ankle stability, and hip flexor engagement. Whether you are an adult beginner looking for a solid foundation or a more experienced dancer revisiting basics, these exercises are essential for building the strength required for advanced center work and balances.
We begin with a thorough sequence of demi-plié and grand plié to warm up the joints and establish alignment, followed by focused work on tendu and dégagé. A key technical highlight of this class is the concept of "locking" the ankle. You will learn how to maintain a consistent ankle shape the moment your foot leaves the floor, ensuring that your lines remain clean and your stability remains unshakable during transitions. The instructor emphasizes that the ankle should only change shape upon regaining contact with the floor, a habit that prevents sickling and instability.
The class provides detailed guidance on rond de jambe, emphasizing specific contact points with the floor—from the tips of the toenails in the front to the big toe at the side and the top of the foot in the back. This level of detail helps dancers achieve the professional aesthetic lines desired in classical ballet. As we move into fondu and développé, we shift our focus to the hip flexors. You will discover how to use these muscles to lift the knee "up and over" during a passé, a crucial skill for achieving higher extensions and more controlled movements to the back.
Finally, we work on coordination, timing your port de bras to match your relevé and heels. By the end of this class, you will have a better understanding of how to apply pressure into the floor during a tendu versus a dégagé, and how to use your core and alignment to find a secure balance in susu. Join Broche Ballet to elevate your technique through mindful, detailed practice.
