What You'll Learn
- Effective weight transfer techniques from two feet to one foot while maintaining center.
- How to maintain turnout using glute engagement during tendu and dégagé exercises.
- Stability drills for improving demi-pointe strength and ankle control.
- Proper hip and shoulder alignment during tombé piqué movements.
About This Video
Finding your center is one of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of classical dance. In this follow-along class from Broche Ballet, we dive deep into specific balancing drills designed to improve your turnout and stability away from the barre. Whether you are preparing for complex pirouettes or simply want to feel more grounded in your adagio, these exercises provide the technical foundation necessary for confident, fluid center work.
The session begins with essential drills for weight transfer, focusing on picking up the foot to sur le cou-de-pied and finding a secure balance on demi-pointe. You will learn how to maintain your turnout actively by engaging the glutes and keeping the shoulders back, ensuring a long, supported spine that remains vertical even as you move. We then progress to foundational center movements like plié, tendu, and dégagé.
These exercises are not merely transitions; they are opportunities to find and test your balance. By holding a tendu to the front or side and practicing a controlled flex-and-point motion, you challenge your standing leg to maintain its external rotation without allowing the hips to twist. As the class advances, we explore the dynamic mechanics of the tombé piqué.
You will learn how to push away from the floor effectively, brushing the leg to create momentum while keeping the core tightly engaged. The instructor provides real-time tips and corrections to help you avoid common pitfalls, such as letting the working hip drop or losing the energetic connection to the floor. By the end of this 11-minute practice, you will have a better understanding of how to move from two legs to one with grace and precision.
This class is perfect for adult dancers who want to bridge the gap between barre exercises and complex center combinations. By focusing on the technical why behind each movement—such as the importance of the brush during a dégagé—you will develop a more intuitive sense of balance that carries over into every part of your ballet journey. Join us at Broche Ballet to master your stability.
