What You'll Learn
- Techniques to isolate leg movement from the torso to eliminate body wiggling in center work.
- How to use coup de pied exercises to simulate à la seconde placement for better balance and pivots.
- Specific drills for strengthening the upper thighs to maintain stability during tendu and dégagé.
- The mechanics of the plié and push-off required for stable entrechat quatre jumps.
About This Video
Developing a rock-solid center balance is a hallmark of an advanced dancer, and it begins with mastering the relationship between your core and your extremities. In this Broche Ballet class, the first of a two-part series, we dive deep into à la seconde stability. This session is specifically designed to help dancers find their center while moving the legs through side-oriented positions, a critical skill for maintaining alignment during complex center work and dynamic jumps.
We focus on isolating the movement of the legs to ensure that no 'body wiggling' occurs in the torso, allowing for a clean and professional silhouette. The lesson utilizes targeted exercises including tendu to the side, flexion, and quick dégagé movements to build the necessary strength in the upper thighs. By squeezing the inner thighs and maintaining a stable pelvic floor, you will learn how to support the weight of the leg without compromising your vertical axis.
A unique highlight of this class is the exploration of coup de pied as a training tool for à la seconde placement. By simulating the side movement with a folded leg, you can master the hip alignment and knee-back placement required for stability in pivots and transitions without the full weight of the extended leg. Finally, we translate these stability concepts into jumping mechanics.
You will practice the specific coordination of the plié and the push-off needed for jumps like entrechat quatre. Learning how to send the leg to the side with precision during the ascent is key to executing crisp, professional battery. Whether you are struggling with wobbles in your pivots or looking to sharpen your jumps, this class provides the technical breakdown necessary to level up your center performance.
