What You'll Learn
- Executing a silent and controlled pas de bourrée en pointe
- Techniques for lifting and placing the foot to avoid 'stabbing' the floor
- The relationship between plié, relevé, and weight transfer during transitions
- Maintaining proper alignment in su-su to improve balance and stability
- Strategies for building muscle memory for smoother footwork execution
About This Video
Welcome back to the Broche Ballet Summer 2021 Cohort! In Class #4 of our 16-part series, we transition from foundational footwork into one of the most essential linking steps in the ballet vocabulary: the pas de bourrée. For dancers new to pointe work, the pas de bourrée presents a unique challenge—how to maintain the delicate lift and grace of the movement while managing the physics of the pointe shoe.
This session focuses on the mechanics behind the movement. Our instructor emphasizes that a successful pas de bourrée is about the articulation of the ankles and the precision of the toes. One of the most common pitfalls for beginners is 'stabbing' or 'climbing' onto the shoe with a bent knee.
In this lesson, you will learn the correct technique of lifting the foot and placing it precisely into su-su, ensuring that your movements are not only aesthetically pleasing but also structurally sound. A key theme in this class is silence and control. Dancing en pointe should look effortless, and a loud or clunky pas de bourrée is often a sign of weight being dropped rather than supported.
We will break down the mechanics of the plié and relevé within the combination to help you find your center and minimize noise. By focusing on keeping the movement quiet, you naturally engage your core and find the necessary lift to execute the step smoothly in both directions. Throughout the practice, the instructor provides continuous feedback on posture and alignment.
You will practice preparing the weight on the supporting leg so the working foot is free to move with agility. Whether you are practicing at home or in the studio, this class provides the technical building blocks needed to transition your pas de bourrée into a fluid dance step. Join the Broche Ballet community as we refine our technique one step at a time.
