What You'll Learn
- Master the alignment for a stable, high arabesque without leaning forward.
- Improve your tendu front to back transitions with proper weight placement.
- Refine port de bras to coordinate arm movements with complex center steps.
- Develop the control and momentum needed for smooth en dedans pirouettes.
- Execute a proper tombé with integrated arm sweeps for better flow.
About This Video
Welcome to this mid-level center class at Broche Ballet, designed to bridge the gap between foundational movements and more complex allegro and turn sequences. In this session, we transition away from the barre to challenge your balance, core stability, and spatial awareness. The center is where your technique truly comes to life, and today we focus specifically on the mechanics of the arabesque and the precision required for en dedans pirouettes.
We begin our center practice with foundational tendu and plié exercises. A key takeaway for this level is the execution of the tendu front; you will learn to push off with a straight leg, allowing the foot to float gracefully to the back corner. This sets the stage for our focus on the arabesque.
Many dancers struggle with maintaining a vertical torso while lifting the leg, but here we emphasize kicking the back leg straight up rather than allowing the energy to pull you forward. By keeping the body straight and focusing on the path of the back leg, you achieve a much more stable and aesthetically pleasing line. As we move into more fluid movements, we explore the importance of port de bras and swivel movements.
You will learn how to use your arms to generate momentum and control, particularly during the preparation for turns. In our short rep sequences, we practice coordinating both arms through first position, opening to second, and finishing with an allongé. This coordination is vital for the en dedans pirouettes featured in this class.
To master these turns, you must understand the relationship between your standing leg and your working side's rotation. The class also covers the execution of a big tombé in the back. By stepping out and sweeping the arm across the body, you create a dynamic movement that leads into larger traveling steps.
Throughout the lesson, our instructor provides detailed corrections to help you refine your body alignment. We conclude with a traditional révérence, rounding out a practice that honors both the athletic and artistic demands of ballet.
