What You'll Learn
- Correct mechanics of a piqué turn including leading with the spine
- How to maintain turnout by keeping the knee back during rotations
- Fluid waltz and piqué turn combinations for center work
- Improving posture and grace through port de bras and promenade
- Using momentum to create smooth transitions between ballet movements
About This Video
Welcome to the center! In this Beginner Ballet session at Broche Ballet, we transition away from the support of the barre to find our independent balance and coordination. This lesson is specifically designed to demystify one of the most exciting and rewarding movements in the ballet vocabulary: the piqué turn.
Our focus begins with the foundational mechanics of the piqué turn. You will learn how to lead the movement with your back and spine, ensuring your upper body provides the necessary stability for a successful rotation. A common challenge for beginners is maintaining turnout while turning; our instructor provides detailed feedback on how to keep the working knee pulled back to preserve the integrity of your position throughout the movement.
This turned-out awareness is crucial for preventing the knee from dropping forward, which can disrupt your center of gravity. Beyond the turn itself, we explore the artistry of center work through waltz combinations. You will practice a specific sequence involving a waltz step, opening into an arabesque plié, and transitioning into a sous-sus.
This specific combination helps dancers understand how to use momentum to create fluid, continuous motion rather than static, disjointed steps. You will learn how to coordinate the arms and legs simultaneously, a core skill for any developing dancer. The class also emphasizes the importance of port de bras and promenade.
By focusing on the carriage of the arms, you will improve your overall posture and the qualitative sweep of your movements. We will also touch upon the allongé line and the traditional curtsy to round out your center practice. These movements aren't just decorative; they are essential for building the core strength and spatial awareness needed for more advanced choreography.
At Broche Ballet, we believe every student deserves professional-level technical insights, regardless of where they are in their journey. Join us as we work on alignment, the correct sequence of steps, and the joy of moving across the floor with poise.
