What You'll Learn
- Foundational ballet pantomime gestures like 'love', 'beauty', and 'seeing'.
- How to coordinate gestures with footwork like chassé and tombé to change intent.
- Techniques for using spatial orientation and facings to convey emotional depth.
- Methods for shifting musical accents to prioritize narrative subtext in a phrase.
- Classical conventions for right-hand gesturing to ensure audience clarity.
About This Video
Welcome to Broche Ballet’s Choreography Class #4, where we explore the expressive and narrative world of ballet pantomime. In this specialized session, we go far beyond the standard port de bras to discover how to tell a compelling story through physical movement. Whether you are preparing to perform a classic variation from Swan Lake or Giselle, or you are simply looking to create your own expressive work, understanding the codified language of gesture is essential for any dancer looking to deepen their artistry and stage presence.
We begin the lesson by breaking down foundational gestures used throughout classical ballet history, such as the signs for 'me', 'you', 'love', 'thinking', 'beauty', and 'seeing'. However, true ballet artistry is about more than just specific hand placements; it is about the integration of the whole body. We examine how the coordination of your upper body with specific footwork—like a soft chassé or a grounded tombé—can fundamentally change the emotional subtext of a scene.
For example, a gesture performed while retreating into a lunge conveys a sense of hesitation or distance, whereas the same gesture performed while advancing in a temps lié feels like a generous invitation. Throughout the class, we practice combinations that seamlessly integrate these gestures with familiar steps such as pas de bourrée and tendu in first position. You will learn the technical convention of using the right hand as the primary storytelling tool to ensure clarity and visibility for the audience from the stage.
We also delve into the nuances of spatial awareness and épaulement, discussing how facing away can signal longing, while facing the audience directly creates an intimate connection. Finally, we focus on the critical element of musicality. By shifting the phrasing and accents of your movements, you can emphasize different parts of your narrative.
Learn how to prioritize the 'thought' and 'breath' behind the gesture to make your performance feel authentic. Join us at Broche Ballet to transform your technique into a powerful tool for storytelling.
