What You'll Learn
- Proper engagement of the inner thighs and core to support higher, more stable extensions.
- Techniques for lifting up on the standing hip to improve arabesque stability and line.
- How to use a TheraBand to find resistance and correct alignment in tendu and dégagé.
- The functional relationship between the fondu coupé de pied and back extensions.
- Visualization strategies to reinforce muscle memory and technical precision during practice.
About This Video
Welcome to a specialized conditioning session at Broche Ballet designed to refine your extensions and perfect your arabesque. This 20-minute Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) class utilizes cross-training tools like the large exercise ball, small fusion ball, and TheraBand to build the muscle memory required for elite ballet performance. The arabesque is one of the most iconic yet challenging positions in ballet, requiring a delicate balance of strength, flexibility, and proper alignment.
This class dives deep into the mechanics of both the standing leg and the working leg. You will explore the fondu coupé de pied and its direct application to a high, stable arabesque. By using the TheraBand for resistance, you will learn to feel the necessary opposition of the standing hip moving forward while the working leg extends back into space.
We incorporate Pilates-inspired movements to strengthen your core, which serves as the foundation for every dégagé and tendu. The use of the large exercise ball challenges your balance and forces you to lift up out of your standing hip—a crucial sensation for avoiding 'sitting' in the joint during center work. One of the key takeaways of this session is learning how to properly engage the inner thighs and finding the correct 'wrap' of the leg.
Whether you are working through a tendu back or holding a sustained extension, this session provides the tactile feedback needed to ensure proper turnout and alignment. By the end of this session, you will have a clearer understanding of how to use your equipment to replicate the feeling of a professional-level arabesque. Consistent practice of these PBT exercises will lead to improved stability, greater height in your extensions, and a more graceful line.
