What You'll Learn
- Techniques to achieve a fully straightened back leg in arabesque through visual alignment checks.
- The importance of hip placement and keeping the standing hip forward to maximize extension height.
- How to maintain core engagement with a 'belly button up' focus to support the lower back.
- Methods for executing lifts off the barre while maintaining proper posture and shoulder placement.
- Recovery stretches, including twisting and hanging, to release the spine after extension work.
About This Video
Unlock a more graceful and technically sound line with our Broche Ballet guide to arabesque development. One of the most iconic yet challenging positions in ballet, the arabesque requires a delicate balance of strength, flexibility, and precise alignment. In this focused 6-minute class, we dive deep into the essential barre stretches and extensions necessary to achieve a stunning, straight-legged line.
We begin by addressing the common struggle of the bent knee during back extensions. You will learn how to utilize the barre for support while ensuring your working leg remains fully lengthened and engaged. Proper hip placement is the foundation of this movement; our instructor emphasizes keeping the standing hip pulled up and forward, preventing the 'sinking' that often hinders range of motion.
By focusing on keeping your belly button lifted and your shoulders down, you create the necessary abdominal support to lift the leg higher without sacrificing your posture. Throughout the session, we explore the mechanics of the demi-plié in relation to back extensions. You will practice coming through a deep, controlled bend while keeping your hips coming underneath you, transitioning smoothly into a lifted position.
We also introduce 'lifts off the barre,' a specific technique designed to build the independent muscular strength needed for center work and grand allegro. By looking over your shoulder to check your alignment, you gain the self-awareness required to correct your own form in real-time. Finally, we address the importance of recovery and spinal health.
Extending the back into an arabesque puts unique demands on the vertebrae. We conclude the session with a gentle twist and a hanging stretch over the legs to shake out the spine and release muscular tension. Whether you are a dedicated adult learner or a student looking to refine your technique, these exercises provide the foundation for a more powerful and elegant arabesque line.
