What You'll Learn
- How to coordinate hip flexors and hamstrings for a higher retiré position
- Strengthening techniques for the core and inner thighs to improve balance
- Methods to avoid sickling the foot during transitions through le cou-de-pied
- Anatomical focus on leg alignment during grand pliés and relevés
About This Video
Welcome to a specialized session at Broche Ballet designed for the dedicated dancer. This 23-minute Deep Dive follow-along barre focuses on one of the most essential yet challenging positions in the ballet vocabulary: the retiré. Achieving a high, stable, and aesthetically pleasing retiré requires more than just flexibility; it demands a sophisticated understanding of anatomy and muscle engagement.
In this class, we move beyond simple repetition to explore the why behind the movement. We begin with foundational pliés and tendus to warm up the joints, ensuring that every movement is grounded in proper alignment. As we progress, the focus shifts to the intricate relationship between the hip flexors and the hamstrings.
You will learn how the hip flexor pulls the knee joint upward while the hamstring actively closes the calf toward the thigh, creating that sought-after high line. To help you feel these connections, we introduce strengthening drills that can be enhanced with a resistance ball, providing the tactile feedback necessary for muscle memory. We also address the common pitfall of sickling the foot, providing cues to keep the foot properly shaped through le cou-de-pied.
Stability is another core focus of this session. By emphasizing core engagement and the squeezing action of the inner thighs—even when the legs are apart in a position like à la seconde—you will develop the internal strength needed for secure relevés and balances. This class is perfect for dancers who appreciate a meditative, slow-paced environment where they can focus on the details of their grand plié, dégagé, and overall posture.
Whether you are practicing at home or in the studio, the insights gained from this Broche Ballet deep dive will help you achieve a more professional and technically sound performance. Through temps lié and controlled transitions on demi-pointes, you will find a new level of grace and strength.
