What You'll Learn
- How to maintain a consistent ankle shape when descending from en pointe to prevent injury.
- Techniques for pushing through the floor to improve balance during piqué turns.
- The mechanics of proper foot alignment during tombé and pas de bourrée transitions.
- Refining coupés by focusing on how the foot leaves the pointe shoe.
About This Video
Welcome to Broche Ballet's comprehensive guide to the essentials of pointe work. In this session, "Pointe Basics Barre for Strong Toes," we dive deep into the technical nuances that separate a beginner from an intermediate dancer. Dancing en pointe is about more than just standing on your toes; it requires a sophisticated understanding of how the foot interacts with the floor and the shoe to maintain stability and grace.
The core focus of this class is the maintenance of the ankle shape. A common mistake among developing dancers is allowing the ankle to bend or "break" as they descend from a relevé or piqué. Our instructor emphasizes the importance of the "swap"—that critical moment where the weight shifts from the tip of the shoe.
By learning to keep the ankle shape intact during transitions like the tombé, you build the necessary stability to progress to more complex center work. Throughout this 24-minute barre routine, we explore several fundamental movements. We start with piqué and tombé exercises that prioritize precision over speed.
You will learn to push through the floor with your back leg, a technique essential for finding your center and maintaining balance during turns. We also break down the pas de bourrée and the développé, ensuring that every transition is intentional and controlled. A significant portion of the class is dedicated to coupés.
Rather than just focusing on the leg moving up and down, we examine how the foot comes off the shoe. This refined approach to footwork ensures that your transitions are executed with professional polish. Whether you are just starting your journey en pointe or are looking to fix habits that might be holding back your piqué turns, this video provides the detailed corrections and feedback needed for success.
Join us at the barre and start building the strength and confidence required for beautiful ballet technique.
