What You'll Learn
- Proper ankle articulation for smooth, controlled bourrées and chaînés
- Technique for pas de cheval and piqué to improve foot strength and rolling action
- How to maintain straight leg alignment and core stability while en pointe
- Strategies for rolling down safely through the shoe from relevé and sous-sus
About This Video
Welcome to Broche Ballet’s foundational guide to pointe work. This Pointe Basics session is specifically designed to help dancers bridge the gap between beginner and intermediate levels. Mastering pointe requires more than just foot strength; it requires a deep understanding of body alignment, ankle articulation, and core stability.
In this 30-minute class, we focus on the essential barre exercises that form the backbone of a strong pointe technique. We begin with a focus on bourrées and chaînés turns. One of the most common mistakes for new pointe students is using the knees to initiate movement.
Our instructor emphasizes utilizing the ankle for these actions, ensuring that the legs remain straight and the movement stays subtle and elegant. By focusing on the ankle rather than the knee, you will find more stability and control en pointe. We also delve into pas de cheval and piqué movements.
These exercises are crucial for developing the rolling action of the foot. You will learn to pick your feet up by sliding or rolling through the shoe, rather than simply stepping or leaning. This nuance is what separates a beginner from an intermediate dancer.
During pas de cheval, we focus on flexing the front foot correctly on the way up and down the barre, which builds the necessary resistance in the metatarsals. Additionally, we cover sous-sus exercises to help you find your center and maintain balance while the feet are tightly crossed. Proper plié depth is emphasized as the foundation for every relevé, ensuring you have the power to rise en pointe without straining your joints.
Throughout the practice, the instructor provides specific corrections, such as letting the heels go when descending and ensuring the back foot rolls down correctly during pas de bourrée sequences. These small details prevent injury and build the correct muscle memory needed for center work. To wrap up the session, we include a series of stretching and flexibility exercises.
Recovery is a vital part of pointe training, helping your muscles relax and stay supple after the physical demands of the barre workout.
