What You'll Learn
- Articulating the foot inside the pointe shoe to maximize arch visibility
- Mastering control during développé and enveloppé sequences
- Using the barre to improve ankle stability and alignment
- Engaging the core and full body to maintain balance en pointe
- Proper execution of fondu and tendu movements in pointe shoes
About This Video
Transitioning your daily ballet practice from flat shoes to pointe shoes is a significant milestone that requires a shift in focus toward foot articulation and ankle stability. This 34-minute practice session from Broche Ballet is designed to help intermediate and advanced dancers master the barre while wearing pointe shoes. Rather than just going through the motions, this class emphasizes the "how" behind the movement—ensuring that your shoes become an extension of your feet rather than a hindrance.
Throughout this session, we explore a full range of classical exercises, including plié, tendu, chassé, and fondu. A core theme of this class is the concept that pointing the foot is about more than just leg height. Many dancers find that their feet tend to relax or "lose" the point as the leg moves higher, particularly during movements like développé or enveloppé.
Our instructor guides you through the technical nuances of pushing your arch up and out of the shoe using your toes, creating a seamless, elegant line from hip to toe. Beyond footwork, this class highlights the necessity of full-body engagement. Controlling pointe shoes requires strength not just in the ankles, but in the core and supporting leg.
By focusing on alignment and pushing forward through the ankles, you will develop the control needed for balance and precision. Whether you are working on your battement tendu or a complex développé sequence, the goal is to achieve a foot that looks like a foot with satin around it, rather than just a shoe at the end of the leg. Join Broche Ballet for this rigorous yet encouraging session.
We use the barre as a tool for support, allowing you to focus entirely on the mechanics of your feet and the engagement of your muscles. By the end of this class, you will have a deeper understanding of how to manipulate your pointe shoes to enhance your classical ballet technique.
