What You'll Learn
- Techniques for maintaining balance during rapid-fire steps and turns en pointe.
- How to use breath and lift in a tombé to improve transitions and flow.
- The role of port de bras in providing physical counterbalance and audience engagement.
- Specific technical breakdowns of piqué ballonade and bourrée sequences.
About This Video
Take your pointe work to the next level with this 13-minute intermediate center class from Broche Ballet. Moving away from the barre requires a heightened sense of core engagement and a deep understanding of how to manage your weight over your pointe shoes. In this session, our instructor guides you through a series of challenging combinations designed to improve your speed, dynamics, and overall control. We begin with foundational movements and progress into complex sequences featuring turns, jumps, and intricate footwork.
A primary focus of this class is the relationship between speed and balance. To move quickly en pointe, a dancer must find a precise center of gravity. You will learn how to take small, efficient steps and utilize your arms as a counterbalance to maintain stability during rapid movements. We delve into the mechanics of the tombé, emphasizing the importance of a 'big breath' and a feeling of lift to prevent sinking into the floor. This technique allows energy to flow through the body, making transitions appear effortless and powerful.
Artistry is never secondary at Broche Ballet. We explore how port de bras can be used to connect with an audience, particularly when performing on the front of the stage. You will practice specific arm movements during bourrée sequences that create a sense of drama and narrative tension. Additionally, the class breaks down the piqué ballonade, focusing on quiet landings and the necessary power to execute the movement with grace. The lesson concludes with a final combination that integrates all these elements—balance, speed, and expressive port de bras—into a cohesive performance piece. Whether you are looking to sharpen your technique for a variation or simply want to feel more confident in the center, this class provides the tools needed for intermediate pointe mastery.
