What You'll Learn
- How to increase rotation in the hip joint through precise heel and knee alignment.
- Techniques for lengthening the back of the leg during pointe and flex movements.
- Maintaining a stable, upright torso while executing deep cambré stretches.
- Proper weight distribution and turnout during plié en seconde.
- Strategies for keeping the body active and engaged throughout foundational exercises.
About This Video
Welcome to this specialized barre session at Broche Ballet, where we dive deep into the fundamental building blocks of classical dance: the plié and the tendu. While these exercises appear in every ballet class, this 22-minute practice is designed to challenge your precision, focusing specifically on increasing turnout from the back of the hip and mastering the art of the cambré. Throughout this session, our instructor guides you through a series of intentional movements aimed at improving your functional rotation.
A key focus is the relationship between the heel and the knee. You will learn to keep the heel forward and the knee back, ensuring that your turnout is active and sustained rather than forced. We explore the nuances of the tendu, emphasizing the importance of keeping the thigh's position consistent as you transition between movements.
In addition to lower body precision, this class features an emphasis on cambré. Integrating extensive cambré into your plié and tendu sequences helps develop a supple back and expressive port de bras, all while maintaining a stable and grounded lower body. This holistic approach ensures that your technique remains fluid and artistic even during the most technical portions of the barre.
We also address common technical challenges, such as maintaining leg length during flex and pointe exercises. By focusing on lengthening the back of the leg rather than allowing it to soften, you will build the strength necessary for more advanced center work. Whether you are working in first position or moving through a plié en seconde, the focus remains on head height, a straight spine, and an engaged core.
By the end of this Broche Ballet practice, you will have a deeper understanding of how to use your barre work to prepare for the demands of center practice, focusing on alignment, rotation, and the graceful carriage of the upper body.
