What You'll Learn
- Refining the tombé pas de bourrée by feeling the tip of the shoe before rolling through the foot
- How to use momentum and gravity to find height and lightness in your transitions
- Utilizing shoulder engagement to assist the legs when pushing into a piqué sous-sus
- Developing coordination and speed for pas de bourrée over and under sequences
- Building core confidence and balance when moving away from the barre en pointe
About This Video
Transitioning from the barre to the center is a pivotal moment for any dancer en pointe. This Broche Ballet intermediate pointe class focuses on bridging that gap by emphasizing momentum, gravity, and upper-body engagement. We begin with a condensed five-minute barre warmup to wake up the feet and ankles before diving into a comprehensive center practice.
A primary focus of this session is the mechanics of the tombé pas de bourrée. Julie encourages dancers to feel the very tip of the pointe shoe before rolling down through the foot. This attention to detail ensures a beautiful, controlled transition rather than a heavy step.
We also explore pas de bourrée over and under, refining the coordination required to move through these steps with clarity and speed. One of the most valuable takeaways from this class is the concept of using gravity to your advantage. By thinking about going up to get back up, you can find a lighter quality in your movements.
For instance, when executing a piqué sous-sus, the power shouldn't just come from the legs. Julie explains how engaging the shoulders and upper body provides the necessary lift to push off from a lower plié position. This shoulder power is essential for maintaining balance and control during complex center sequences.
Throughout the class, we revisit an up-up-up-hold exercise designed to build stamina and confidence. By playing with movement on your own for several minutes, you will learn how to find your own center and manage your momentum during chassé and temps lié combinations. The session concludes with a high-energy finale, putting all these technical elements together into a fluid dance sequence.
Whether you are working on your transitions or simply looking to feel more secure in the center, this class provides the technical corrections and encouragement needed to advance your ballet pointe work.
