What You'll Learn
- How to use upper back engagement to increase leg height in arabesque
- Core control techniques to protect the lower back during extensions
- Counter-stretching methods like spinal twists to release tension after back work
- Mobilization exercises for the tailbone, vertebrae, and hamstrings
About This Video
Welcome to this specialized session with Julie at Broche Ballet, where we dive deep into the mechanics of the arabesque through targeted barre stretches and strength work. Achieving a beautiful, high extension requires more than just leg strength; it demands a sophisticated coordination of the upper back, core, and hips. In this video, we explore how to mobilize the spine and engage the right muscles to find more freedom in your movement.
We begin by focusing on the upper back. Many dancers struggle with leg height because they hold too much tension in the thoracic spine. By practicing specific cambré movements and learning to lift the chest before the leg, you create the necessary space for a higher arabesque.
Julie guides you through exercises that emphasize bending from the top of the spine rather than collapsing into the lower back, ensuring a safe and aesthetically pleasing line. A crucial component of this practice is core control. Without a strong center, the lower back often takes on too much strain during extensions.
We cover how to maintain stability through the vertebrae by tucking the tailbone slightly and engaging the deep abdominals. This support allows you to focus on lengthening the hamstrings and reaching through the toes without compromising your spinal health. After working on back extensions, it is essential to incorporate counter-stretching.
Julie demonstrates how to release the spine through gentle twists and forward folds. These movements help to neutralize the back and regain flexibility after the intense engagement required for arabesque work. We also discuss the importance of incremental progress—building strength and flexibility over time rather than forcing the body into positions it is not ready for yet.
Whether you are looking to improve your extensions or find more height in your back work, these barre stretches provide the technical foundation needed for graceful, powerful dancing. Join us at Broche Ballet to refine your technique.
