What You'll Learn
- Techniques for maintaining soft, relaxed fingers during complex movements
- How to isolate leg power from upper body tension in relevé and fondu
- Enhancing port de bras with continuous energy and 'unlimited' movement
- Mental strategies for managing tension and body awareness at the barre
About This Video
In this comprehensive 52-minute session, Broche Ballet invites advanced dancers to reconsider the relationship between the upper and lower body. While the barre is often viewed as a place for building strength and technical precision, this class elevates the practice by focusing intensely on the artistry of the hands and the fluidity of port de bras. This is an essential study for any dancer looking to move beyond mechanical execution into true artistic expression.
The central theme of this advanced ballet barre is the management of tension. Often, as we push ourselves through challenging exercises like fondu or powerful grand battement, tension unintentionally creeps into the fingers and wrists. The hands might try to "help" the legs during a difficult relevé or a fast transition into sous-sus.
" We want to avoid using the hands as a physical brake for the movement of the legs; instead, the hand should follow its own path of continuous flow. Throughout the class, we will progress through a traditional sequence including pliés, tendu, and dégagé, culminating in more complex work on demi-pointe. You will learn how to let the hand "ride forever," continuing its movement even as the legs reach their peak extension.
This mental focus on awareness transforms a standard technical exercise into a performance-ready piece of art. By emphasizing proper hand and finger placement, you avoid the stiffness that often plagues advanced students, creating a more professional and healthy dance form that minimizes strain on the wrists. Join our instructor as she provides detailed corrections on body alignment and posture.
Whether you are working on the strength of your plié or the height of your leg in grand battement, the focus remains on relaxation in the upper body. This delicate balance of power in the lower body and grace in the upper body is what defines professional-level ballet. Prepare to challenge your stamina and your artistry simultaneously.
