What You'll Learn
- Techniques to improve proprioception using head shifts and gaze changes during balances.
- Maintaining active turnout and inner thigh connection during center weight shifts.
- Stability drills for single-leg hinges and arabesque alignment preparation.
- Advanced balance maintenance in passé and sur le cou-de-pied positions.
About This Video
Achieving a rock-solid balance in the center is one of the most rewarding milestones for any dancer. In this 12-minute intensive class with Broche Ballet, we transition away from the support of the barre to focus on advanced proprioception and stability drills. Designed for intermediate to advanced students, this session pushes your boundaries by combining technical alignment with sensory challenges.
The class begins with essential parallel drills. By removing turnout initially, we can focus entirely on the vertical axis and the distribution of weight through the foot. You will practice picking up one foot and moving the arms through first position, all while maintaining a steady gaze.
To further challenge your proprioception, we introduce head movements—looking right, left, and back to center—which forces your inner ear and core to work harder to maintain equilibrium. As we progress, the exercises incorporate classical ballet positions. We move into plié and tendu sequences, emphasizing the inner thigh connection as you transition into quarter turns.
You will explore sur le cou-de-pied and retiré positions, focusing on pressing the knee open to maintain active turnout. The drills also include single-leg hinges, a vital preparation for movements like penché, where you must find stability while the torso moves through space. A unique segment of this video focuses on spins on a flat standing leg.
By keeping the foot planted and rotating the body, you develop a deeper awareness of how the standing leg interacts with the floor. We conclude with a focused balance in passé front, integrating everything learned about core engagement and alignment. Whether you are looking to improve your arabesque or find more security in your pirouettes, these drills provide the foundational strength and sensory awareness needed for professional-level execution.
Join us at Broche Ballet and find your center today.
