What You'll Learn
- Techniques for maintaining a square torso during devant and à la seconde stretches
- How to manually rotate the femur and muscle tissue for deeper hip socket flexibility
- Transitions between flexed and pointed feet to target different muscle groups
- The foot-in-hand stretch to pivot and open the deep rotators and hamstrings
About This Video
Elevate your flexibility and refine your technical placement with this intensive Broche Ballet barre stretch session. In this 11-minute instructional video, we dive deep into the mechanics of leg extensions and hip rotation, focusing specifically on positions devant (front) and à la seconde (to the side). Unlike standard passive stretching routines, this class introduces active manual manipulation to help you find the correct alignment of the femur within the hip socket.
A key component of this practice is learning how to physically guide your muscle tissue—specifically the quadriceps and hamstrings—to facilitate a more honest and deep turnout. By using your hands to rotate the leg during the stretch, you gain a tactile understanding of how your body should feel in a professional ballet setting. This hands-on approach is a hallmark of the Broche Ballet method, bridging the gap between anatomical theory and physical execution.
We also emphasize the importance of a square torso. You will learn why positioning your barre hand slightly forward is essential for maintaining a level pelvis and avoiding the common mistake of dropping the hip or twisting the spine to achieve height. Throughout the session, we explore the dynamic relationship between the foot and the leg.
By transitioning between flexed and pointed positions while the leg is elevated on the barre, you can target different facets of the calves and hamstrings, increasing the overall intensity and effectiveness of the work. This variation ensures that both the superficial and deep muscle groups are engaged and lengthened. The class reaches its peak with a specialized foot-in-hand stretch.
This involves holding the heel and pivoting the body to face the front, a movement that provides an unparalleled stretch for the deep rotators and hamstrings. Whether you are working toward higher extensions in adagio or simply want to feel more open in your daily barre work, these techniques provide the anatomical foundations necessary for real progress.
