What You'll Learn
- How to shape and 'hook' the foot during a tombé for better aesthetics
- The secret to propelling your body forward using the back foot and toes
- Techniques for fully stretching the back leg to create a clean classical line
- Why treating a tombé like a glissade improves the power of your pirouette preparations
About This Video
In the world of ballet, transitions are often the bridge between a good performance and a great one. One of the most common yet frequently misunderstood movements is the tombé. While often viewed as a simple 'fall,' the tombé is actually a dynamic engine that propels a dancer into their next step, whether it be a pirouette, a leap, or a sequence of traveling steps.
In this Broche Ballet quick tip, we explore how to refine your tombé by applying the mechanics of a glissade to your footwork. To master this movement, you must focus on the active use of the back foot. Instead of allowing the trailing leg to simply follow the body's weight, you should focus on pushing off the floor with intention.
This involves 'hooking' or shaping the foot as it leaves the ground, much like the precise action found in a well-executed glissade. By tucking your toes and maintaining a curved shape in the foot, you create a more efficient lever for propulsion. Additionally, stretching the leg fully behind you as you push ensures that you maintain a clean, classical line while generating the necessary force to move across the floor.
This technical nuance is particularly helpful for intermediate and advanced dancers who want to improve their weight transfer and momentum. When you treat the tombé with the same discipline as a glissade, your transitions become more athletic, fluid, and aesthetically pleasing. At Broche Ballet, we focus on these small but impactful corrections to help you find more stability and power in your practice.
Watch as we break down the 'hook and curve' method to ensure your feet are working for you in every transition.
