What You'll Learn
- Master the mechanics of the balancé en tournant (turning balance) including the pivot.
- Improve cardiovascular endurance through rhythmic character dance skips and pas de basque.
- Refine weight transfer and alignment to ensure the correct leg finishes in front during turns.
- Coordinate upper body fluidity with high-impact, energetic footwork.
About This Video
Welcome to a high-energy session at Broche Ballet that blends the stylistic flair of character dance with a heart-pumping cardio workout. Led by Julie, this 25-minute class is specifically designed for adult dancers who want to challenge their cardiovascular endurance while mastering complex turning sequences and traditional character steps. This isn't just a standard fitness workout; it's a technical deep dive into the coordination and rhythm required for stage-ready performance.
The centerpiece of this lesson is the balancé en tournant. We break down this challenging step into manageable pieces, focusing on the essential sauté and balance mechanics that allow for a smooth rotation. You will learn how to use a deep plié to initiate power, trust your pivot moment to execute the turn correctly, and maintain a lifted, loose upper body to stay balanced.
Julie provides expert guidance on body alignment and weight transfer, helping you understand how to fall into the step and push off with the necessary force to complete the rotation. A key focus is ensuring the left leg finishes clearly in front of the right after pivoting, a detail that brings professional polish to your movement. In addition to the turning work, we incorporate longer cardio combinations featuring the pas de basque and rhythmic skips.
These movements are characteristic of the vibrant theatrical folk dances often featured in classical ballets like Swan Lake or Don Quixote. Because these exercises are a bit high-impact, you are encouraged to wear sneakers or practice on a rug to protect your joints if you are not working on a professional dance floor. Throughout the class, we emphasize the importance of musicality and strict adherence to counts.
Mastering the 1-2-3 rhythm of the balancé is key to staying in sync with the music. By the end of this session, you will not only have improved your physical stamina but also gained significant confidence in executing complex, traveling steps. Join the Broche Ballet community and bring some character into your home practice today!
