What You'll Learn
- Techniques for forward weight placement to maintain center balance and engage the legs.
- Coordinating complex port de bras with leg movements to act as a stabilizing force.
- The role of head alignment in securing stability during passé and retiré balances.
- Improving foot articulation through controlled tendu, pas de cheval, and dégagé piqué.
- Building standing leg strength using fondu and rond de jambe without barre support.
About This Video
Take your ballet practice to the next level by stepping away from the barre with our Slow & Steady Center Barre Practice. This 28-minute session from Broche Ballet is meticulously designed to help you transition from the physical support of a barre to the self-sustained stability required for center floor work. By performing traditional exercises without assistance, you will develop a deep sense of core strength and a heightened awareness of your body's alignment.
The class begins with essential foundations like demi-plié and grand plié, paired with complex port de bras. A unique aspect of this session is the focus on weight placement. The instructor guides you through forward stretches and combré movements, teaching you to push your weight toward your toes—almost like leaning over a cliff—to properly engage the backs of your legs and prevent your hips from shifting back.
This adjustment is crucial for maintaining your center of gravity during more advanced movements. As the practice progresses, you will work through intricate footwork including tendu, pas de cheval, and dégagé with piqué. These exercises emphasize foot articulation and control, ensuring that every transition is deliberate and stable.
The addition of fondu within rond de jambe sequences helps build the necessary strength in your standing leg to support fluid movement. A major highlight of this practice is the integration of head alignment and arm coordination. You will learn how specific head placement, especially when aligned over the standing foot, can stabilize your body during challenging positions like passé and retiré.
The class concludes with a focus on grace and extension through développé into arabesque, tying together all the technical elements practiced. Whether you are a beginner looking to build confidence or an intermediate dancer seeking to refine your technique, this Broche Ballet practice offers the tools you need to find your center and dance with greater poise.
