What You'll Learn
- Strategies for achieving stability in an échappé en pointe without barre support.
- How to coordinate port de bras and allongé with complex center footwork.
- Technical breakdowns of bourrée, pas de bourrée, and sous-sus variations.
- Developing foot articulation and strength through tendu and rond de jambe.
- Improving weight distribution and finding your center during relevé and turns.
About This Video
Moving your practice away from the barre is a pivotal moment in any dancer’s journey, especially when working en pointe. In this Broche Ballet instructional video, "Venturing Off the Barre," we provide the technical tools and confidence-building exercises needed to master the échappé and other essential center movements. By focusing on core stability and precise weight placement, students can transition from the safety of the barre to the freedom of the center.
The lesson begins with a thorough warm-up designed to prepare the ankles and toes. We delve into plié movements and variations that establish the necessary push for relevé. Throughout the class, we emphasize the importance of articulating through the feet in tendu and rond de jambe exercises, ensuring that every transition is clean and controlled.
You will learn how to perform a plié into a sous-sus with correct port de bras, followed by a smooth soutenu turn. One of the highlights of this session is the focus on bourrée and pas de bourrée steps. We explore different options for initiating a bourrée, whether starting from a relevé in the center or a pas de bourrée from the back.
The instructor demonstrates how to execute a tendu through an allongé line, crossing the wrists gracefully before transitioning into a rond de jambe and subsequent bourrée. These combinations are designed to improve coordination and fluidity, making your pointe work look effortless. In addition to the physical steps, we discuss the feeling of the movement—how to make your pointe shoes feel beautiful and responsive.
Proper footwork and posture are reinforced throughout, helping you find your center of gravity during pas de cheval and complex combinations. Whether you are working on your balance or your artistic expression, this class offers valuable insights for dancers looking to elevate their pointe technique.
