What You'll Learn
- Synchronize hand and heel movements for professional-quality timing and coordination.
- Use flexed-foot checks during tendu to actively engage and improve turnout.
- Maintain hip stability and vertical alignment during dégagé sequences.
- Integrate complex port de bras paths with fondu and développé movements.
- Develop precise foot articulation focusing on the 'match-striking' quality of movement.
About This Video
Refining your ballet technique requires a willingness to slow down and analyze the mechanics of every movement. This 42-minute class from Broche Ballet is designed for dancers who want to move past simply performing the steps and start mastering the intricate coordination required for professional-level execution. By focusing on a slow tempo, you have the cognitive space to ensure your port de bras and lower body movements are perfectly synchronized. A major theme of this session is the simultaneous arrival of the heels and hands; learning to have them land together at the end of a sequence creates the clean, polished look seen in professional dancers.
The class begins with a thorough set of pliés and progresses through a full barre sequence including tendu, dégagé, rond de jambe, and fondu. During the tendu sequences, the instructor introduces a strategic flexed-foot check. This is a tool to help you actively engage your turnout by aiming the toes toward the ceiling to ensure your rotators are firing correctly throughout the exercise. We also tackle the common challenge of hip stability during dégagé. Instead of shifting weight or leaning away from the working leg, you will practice reaching the foot down and out, maintaining a tall, vertical spine and a stable pelvis.
As the barre progresses into fondu and développé, the focus shifts toward the seamless integration of the arms through first and second positions. This coordination is vital for building the sharp, 'match-striking' quality of the feet, where the 'out' of the movement is just as sharp and articulated as the 'in.' By breaking these movements down methodically, you build the muscle memory needed for the increased speed of center work. This class is an invitation to slow down and find the precision that transforms your dancing. Whether you are looking to fix a specific habit or simply want to return to your technical roots, Broche Ballet provides the detailed guidance necessary to elevate your practice.
