Grande Allegro Fundamentals: Mastering Sauté de Chat and Tombé Pas de Bourrée

Step into the world of expansive movement with our "Grande Allegro Fundamentals" class at Broche Ballet. This 14-minute intensive practice is specifically designed to deconstruct the complex mechanics of large traveling jumps, focusing on the sauté de chat and the essential lead-up sequences involving tombé, pas de bourrée, and glissade. The key to a powerful and graceful grande allegro lies in the preparation, and this lesson provides the technical breakdown needed to move with both power and control.

Our instructor guides you through the intricate details of the tombé, emphasizing the importance of driving through the heel to create forward momentum. You will learn how to transition seamlessly into a pas de bourrée and a glissade, focusing on the specific technique of "pulling yourself down" out of the air to maintain control and prepare for the subsequent jump. One of the most valuable technical secrets shared in this lesson is the concept of bypassing the traditional fifth position during the glissade to close directly into an open fourth, allowing for significantly greater travel across the floor.

When it comes to the sauté de chat itself, the focus shifts to the power of the back leg. By concentrating on the push and extension of the trailing leg, you naturally dictate the height and trajectory of the leading leg. This approach prevents common pitfalls such as trailing legs and helps maintain a beautiful aesthetic line in the air. Furthermore, the lesson dives deep into landing mechanics. You will practice engaging your core to stay lifted even as you descend into a deep plié. This sense of "lifting into the plié" is crucial for protecting your joints and ensuring you are ready for the next movement in the combination. Whether you are practicing dégagé à la seconde or a full grand battement into your jump, these technical insights will help you find more height and polish in your dancing.