Ballet Quick Tip: Mastering Stability and Lift in Sous-sus

Finding stability in a sous-sus is a common hurdle for many adult ballet dancers. While it may seem like a simple transition from a plié to a tight fifth position on relevé, maintaining that lift without wobbling requires a sophisticated understanding of core engagement and spatial awareness. At Broche Ballet, we believe that small technical adjustments—our Quick Tidbits—can make a world of difference in your confidence and performance during center work.

In this focused tutorial, we explore the concept of working backwards to find your center of gravity. Often, dancers focus solely on the initial push from the floor. However, staying up in sous-sus depends heavily on how you arrive at the peak of the movement.

By focusing on picking yourself up from the end of the movement, you ensure that your energy is directed upward rather than just being spent on the initial rise. A key takeaway from this lesson is the unique visualization of the Pilates crunch. By imagining your ribs lifting up and forward, you engage the deep abdominal muscles necessary to support the spine.

This prevents the common mistake of arching out of the position. Instead of thinking about the legs doing all the work, you learn to pull your body up and back, aligning your head and torso directly over the cross of your legs. We also dive into the spatial aspect of the legs.

In a proper sous-sus, your legs are not just squeezing together; they are occupying a specific space in front of each other. Understanding how to transition your body weight from being over one leg to being perfectly centered between both is the secret to a rock-solid balance. Whether you are practicing at the barre or preparing for pointe work, these refinements will elevate your technique and help you feel more secure in every relevé.