What You'll Learn
- Distinguish between winging, neutral, and sickling ankle positions.
- Develop fine-grained proprioception for safer pointe work.
- Use attitude passé exercises to improve ankle control and stability.
- Apply visual feedback to calibrate your muscle memory and alignment.
About This Video
Proper foot alignment is the foundation of safe and aesthetic ballet technique. In this Broche Ballet pre-pointe class, we dive deep into the world of proprioception—your body's internal sense of its position in space. For dancers, developing a high level of ankle awareness is critical, especially when preparing for the demands of pointe work.
Many students struggle with "sickling," a common misalignment where the ankle collapses inward, which can lead to injury and poor line. Conversely, "winging" is often used for aesthetics but requires careful control to maintain stability. This 20-minute practice session focuses on calibrating your internal GPS for your feet.
You will explore the spectrum of ankle movement, from a fully flexed position to a straight point, while learning to identify the subtle differences between a neutral, winged, and sickled foot. Through a series of targeted exercises, including ankle circles and attitude passé work, you will learn how to maintain a strong, safe ankle while your leg is in motion. We begin by establishing a solid turn out from the hip, which provides the necessary base for correct foot placement.
By practicing these movements in both parallel and turned-out positions, you will gain the fine-grained control needed to transition from a winged position to a neutral one without accidentally flipping into a sickle. The instructor provides clear cues to help you feel the engagement of the muscles around the ankle joint. Consistency is key to building new muscle memory.
This class encourages the use of visual aids like mirrors or cameras to verify what your body is feeling. Over time, you will find that you no longer need to look down to know if your foot is correctly aligned. Whether you are a beginner preparing for your first pair of pointe shoes or an intermediate dancer looking to refine your line, this proprioception training is an essential addition to your ballet routine.
