What You'll Learn
- Techniques to achieve a fully stretched knee and a longer ballet line.
- How to articulate through demi-pointe and tendu to build foot strength.
- Methods for maintaining turnout while lifting and extending the leg.
- The sensory difference between bent and straight legs in motion.
About This Video
Welcome to Broche Ballet's specialized pre-pointe flow, a class designed to build the foundational strength and articulation required for classical ballet. Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced dancer looking to refine your technique, this session focuses on the critical elements of footwork and leg alignment that serve as the bedrock for dancing en pointe. In this class, we dive deep into the mechanics of the foot and ankle.
You will begin with a comprehensive warm-up series that wakes up the small muscles of the feet, preparing them for more demanding movements. A primary focus of this practice is the concept of stretching through the floor. Through repeated tendu and demi-pointe exercises, you will learn how to articulate through every part of the foot, ensuring that you aren't just moving your legs, but truly engaging your metatarsals and toes.
One of the most challenging aspects for many dancers is maintaining a perfectly straight leg. Our instructor guides you through the subtle difference between a leg that is simply extended and one that is fully stretched with an engaged knee. We explore the transition from a plié to a fully lengthened position, emphasizing that the stretch comes from an internal lift.
You will learn how to feel the engagement of the quadriceps and rotators to keep the knee super strong and supported. Furthermore, this class addresses the integration of turnout. We practice turning out (en dehors) and turning in (en dedans) while keeping the leg bone stable in the hip socket.
You will learn how to lift the leg without letting the knee buckle or the alignment collapse. By the end of this session, you will have a better understanding of how to maintain proper posture and alignment throughout various ballet movements, giving you the control and balance needed for advanced practice. Join us at Broche Ballet to start your journey toward stronger, more expressive feet today.
