What You'll Learn
- Techniques to achieve and maintain stability while standing on a single leg en pointe.
- How to engage the toes and intrinsic foot muscles to create shape from inside the shoe.
- Mastering a controlled, smooth roll-down from pointe to protect the joints and improve flow.
- Essential pas de bourrée set-ups and sous-sus holds for improved balance and core engagement.
- Post-class stretching routines for the Achilles, ankles, and calves to ensure proper recovery.
About This Video
Welcome to Week 5 of the Broche Ballet Beginner Pointe Cohort. This session marks a significant milestone in your development as we move beyond basic positions to focus on the intricate mechanics of rolling down on a single leg. Mastering the transition from two feet to one is a fundamental skill that requires deep concentration, muscular engagement, and a refined sense of balance.
This class is specifically designed to help dancers find their center and build the confidence necessary for more advanced pointe work. " Many beginner dancers mistakenly rely on the rigid structure of the pointe shoe to support them. In this class, you will learn how to actively work inside the shoe, training your feet to maintain a beautiful line through intentional muscle engagement rather than passive reliance on the shoe's box.
We take a detailed look at how the big toe and pinky toe work in tandem to stabilize the tip of the shoe, ensuring you remain perfectly aligned over your platform. By visualizing this internal work, you can create a strong, aesthetic shape that remains consistent even as you move through different positions. Our exercises include specialized pas de bourrée set-ups and sous-sus holds.
By sustaining these positions for several counts, you will develop the isometric strength needed for stability. We also focus on the coup-de-pied position, learning how to lift the foot while maintaining its shape against the pull of gravity. A key highlight of the class is the technique for a controlled roll-down.
Instead of dropping quickly to the floor, you will learn how to use your plié and ankle strength to descend smoothly, which is vital for long-term joint health and artistic expression. To conclude the session, we perform a series of plié relevé exercises and restorative stretches. We emphasize the importance of stretching the Achilles tendon, calves, and ankles to alleviate the pressure built up during the class.
Whether you are troubleshooting specific shoe fit issues or refining your posture, this Broche Ballet session provides the technical foundation you need to excel en pointe.
