Deep Dive Ballet Barre: Mastering Devant, À la Seconde, and Arabesque Precision

Welcome to a specialized Broche Ballet follow-along designed for dancers who crave technical depth and meditative focus. In this 21-minute session, we move beyond the superficial to examine the mechanics of leg extensions in the three primary directions: devant (front), à la seconde (side), and derrière (back/arabesque). This class is perfect for those who want to slow down their practice to ensure every movement is executed with maximum precision and correct alignment.

We begin with foundational exercises at the barre, emphasizing the tendu as the building block for all larger movements. You will learn how to maintain a long, unbroken line from your head to your toes, ensuring that your hip placement remains stable even as the leg moves through its full range of motion. A significant portion of the class is dedicated to the nuances of temps lié, where we focus on shifting weight with grace and control while keeping the heels properly positioned to maintain turnout.

Special attention is given to pelvic tilt and hip control. Many dancers struggle with hiking the hip or losing core engagement during lifts and circling of the legs. Our instructor provides detailed cues on how to press the hips down and engage the deep core muscles to support the lower back.

This not only improves the aesthetic of your lines in positions like à la seconde but also protects your body from common injuries. Throughout the practice, you will work on leg circles and controlled lifts, focusing on keeping the heel visible and forward to ensure proper rotation. By the end of this session, you will have a deeper understanding of how to use your breath and internal awareness to achieve a more professional, refined ballet silhouette.

Join us at Broche Ballet for this detailed exploration of classical technique.