What You'll Learn
- Engage the abdominals using a 'Pilates crunch' technique to recover from cambré and penché.
- Refine foot articulation and winging to ensure clean lines during rond de jambe.
- Utilize downward pressure on the barre to activate the side body and improve one-legged stability.
- Coordinate the transition from barre to center with tombe, coupé, and pas de bourrée en tournant.
- Maintain a strong, held back during pique and grand battement to support leg momentum.
About This Video
Welcome to this 46-minute Intermediate Ballet Barre class at Broche Ballet, specifically designed to bridge the gap between technical barre exercises and the fluidity of center turns. This session moves beyond basic positions to focus on the intricate mechanics of balance, coordination, and the preparatory movements required for successful pirouettes. We begin with a thorough warm-up, moving through grand plié and complex cambré patterns that challenge your flexibility while demanding core control.
Throughout the class, you will be encouraged to find a 'Pilates crunch' sensation in your abdominals. This specific engagement is vital for recovering with grace from back extensions and penché, ensuring your spine remains supported and your alignment remains vertical. The lesson progresses into technical work including tendu with envelopé and flexed fondu variations, designed to build strength and proprioception.
You will also practice quick dégagé movements with relevé accents to sharpen your reflexes and improve weight placement. A key takeaway from this session is learning how to use the barre as a dynamic tool—not just a support. By pushing downward on the barre, you will learn to engage the side body and back muscles, providing the necessary stability for one-legged balances.
Special attention is given to foot articulation during rond de jambe. By focusing on drawing a complete circle and maintaining a slight 'wing' in the back foot, you will develop the clean lines and strength needed for more advanced allegro and adagio work. The class concludes by integrating complex footwork, such as the tombe, coupé, and pas de bourrée en tournant.
These combinations are essential for transitioning from stationary barre work to the dynamic energy required for turns in the center. Whether you are looking to improve your su-su or master the momentum of a grand battement, this class provides the technical cues and professional guidance needed to elevate your ballet practice. Join us at Broche Ballet and refine your technique through precision and mindful movement.
