What You'll Learn
- How to align femur bones within the pelvis for maximum stability
- Techniques for 'plugging' the femur head into the hip socket during extensions
- Visualizing the 'two fists' rule to maintain a narrow, strong pelvic base
- Methods for wrapping muscles around the hip joint to control leg height
- Proper knee and heel placement to maintain turnout in arabesque
About This Video
In this specialized Broche Ballet class, we dive deep into the biomechanics and refined technique required to master the arabesque. Achieving a high, stable, and beautiful extension behind the body is a hallmark of ballet, yet it remains one of the most challenging positions to execute with precision. Many dancers struggle with 'losing their hip' or feeling a lack of control as the leg rises. This session focuses on the internal anatomical secrets that facilitate a stronger, more effortless arabesque.
The lesson begins by addressing the skeletal alignment of the pelvis. Our instructor explains the vital importance of keeping the femur bones close together. By visualizing the distance between your feet as roughly two fists wide, you can better understand how to maintain a narrow, strong base. This proximity is crucial for stability; when the femur bones are 'stitched together' within the pelvis, the body creates a more efficient lever for lifting the leg without compromising the alignment of the spine or the standing hip.
You will learn how to keep the femur head securely plugged into the hip socket throughout the movement. Avoiding the common mistake of pulling the hip out of alignment is key to maintaining balance and preventing injury. We explore the sensation of wrapping the muscles—specifically the glutes and deep rotators—around the femur head. This muscular engagement provides the necessary support for your extensions, ensuring that your arabesque is powered by functional strength rather than momentum.
Throughout the class, we emphasize proper form, such as lifting the knee while keeping the heel forward to maintain turnout. By focusing on these specific micro-adjustments at the barre, you will find more space in your hip joint and more height in your leg. Whether you are an intermediate dancer or an advanced student, these principles of internal alignment and muscle engagement will transform your approach to extensions. Join us at Broche Ballet to refine your technique and build the strength required for breathtaking, controlled arabesques.
