What You'll Learn
- How to execute a graceful balancé with correct coupé placement and timing.
- Fluid port de bras techniques to coordinate your arms, hands, and gaze.
- Stability strategies for transitioning from a fondu to a straight supporting leg.
- The traditional etiquette of a ballet révérence, including formal curtsies and bows.
About This Video
In this 20-minute center practice, Broche Ballet invites you to transition from the barre to the floor with a focus on grace, fluidity, and musicality. This session is designed specifically for beginner dancers who want to master the art of the waltz and develop beautiful port de bras. We begin by exploring expressive arm movements, ensuring your hands and eyes work in harmony to create a polished, professional look.
The core of the lesson focuses on the balancé—the classic waltz step. You will learn the technical nuances that make this movement look effortless, such as maintaining a low coupé position and ensuring your weight transfer is smooth and light. We emphasize the transition from a fondu (a melting bend on one leg) to stepping onto a straight leg, a fundamental skill for stability in center work.
Throughout the exercise, your instructor provides detailed guidance on trading heels, a visualization tool to help you navigate footwork with precision. As we progress, we integrate tombé and glissade movements, focusing on brushing the floor and keeping the knees straight during extensions. The class isn't just about footwork; it’s about the ballet feel.
We discuss how to keep the arms together in fifth position before opening to à la seconde, creating a sense of breath in your dancing. To conclude this elegant practice, we perform a traditional révérence. You will learn the correct way to execute curtsies and bows, including how to acknowledge the audience and the orchestra.
This final ritual is an essential part of ballet culture, teaching you how to end every performance—or practice session—with poise and gratitude. Whether you are practicing in a studio or your home, this class provides the foundational tools to dance with confidence and beauty.
