What You'll Learn
- Technique for executing controlled promenades with steady momentum.
- How to coordinate pas de bourrée and quick footwork sequences.
- Proper alignment for relevé and passé away from the barre.
- Tips for maintaining balance and core engagement during turns and transitions.
About This Video
Transitioning from the barre to the center is a significant milestone in any dancer's journey. This 20-minute Beginner Ballet class from Broche Ballet focuses exclusively on "Just the Center," providing a dedicated space to find your balance and refine your technique away from the support of the barre. Led by Julie, this session is meticulously designed to build confidence in fundamental movements that form the backbone of classical ballet.
The class begins with essential footwork, incorporating tendus and fondus to warm up the feet and engage the deep stabilizer muscles of the core. You will work through a series of relevés and pliés, focusing on proper alignment and even weight distribution across the floor. A key highlight of this session is the focus on promenades.
Learning to execute a smooth promenade requires precision; you will discover the importance of keeping a small step size to maintain steady momentum and control while rotating on one leg. As we progress through the combinations, we dive into more dynamic sequences. We practice the pas de bourrée—a foundational step that connects different movements—and work on maintaining a level head and stable core during quick changes of weight.
The class also introduces the mechanics of chaînés turns and the passé position, emphasizing the "up and over" feeling that creates elegance and height in your dancing. You will learn to execute a proper développé, focusing on stretching and extending the arms to match the energy of the legs. Throughout the video, Julie provides detailed corrections on posture, arm placement, and the necessary engagement to keep your movements fluid yet controlled.
We conclude the session with a series of bows and a traditional curtsy, honoring the discipline, grace, and history of the art form. Whether you are practicing in a small home space or a large studio, this focused center-work class will help you develop the stability and poise needed for more advanced choreography. Join us at Broche Ballet to strengthen your foundation and find your center today.
