What You'll Learn
- Techniques for transitioning safely from two hands to one hand on the barre
- Proper form for échappé, pas de chat, and piqué movements en pointe
- Strategies for finding and maintaining balance in sous-sous and passé
- Methods to improve coordination, timing, and foot speed during bourrées
About This Video
Welcome to a foundational yet challenging session at Broche Ballet, specifically designed for dancers transitioning from beginner to intermediate pointe work. This 29-minute class, "Pointe Basics Barre," focuses on the critical shift from using two hands for stability to mastering exercises with just one hand on the barre. This progression is essential for building the core strength and ankle stability necessary for eventual center work en pointe.
The class begins by reinforcing proper alignment and posture, ensuring that every plié and relevé is executed with precision. As we move into one-handed exercises, the instructor guides you through a variety of essential movements. You will practice the échappé, focusing on the "escaping" motion from a closed position to an open one with controlled landings.
We also delve into the pas de chat, where lightness and timing are key to a graceful execution. Coordination is a major theme in this lesson. Dancers will work on the piqué towards the barre, learning how to maintain their axis while preparing for turns.
We also incorporate passé changes and chassé movements, emphasizing the importance of a gentle landing and the correct sequence of weight transfer. Throughout the session, the instructor encourages letting go of the barre momentarily to test your balance and find your center in sous-sous. By the end of this practice, you will have a better understanding of how to use your upper body to support your lower body's work en pointe.
We cover the bourrée to build speed and control, alongside proper épaulement to add artistry to your technique. This Broche Ballet class is designed to push you slightly beyond your comfort level, providing the necessary challenge to elevate your skills from basic foundations to more complex, fluid movements.
