Spicy Arches and Strong Feet: An Intensive Ballet Practice for Pointe Stability

This 12-minute intensive session at Broche Ballet is titled "Spicy Arches" for a reason—it is designed to create a deep burn in the intrinsic muscles of the feet and the stabilizers of the ankles. Foot strength is the foundation of all classical ballet technique, providing the necessary support for everything from a simple tendu to the most complex pirouette. In this practice, we focus heavily on the mechanics of the rise.

By moving through relevé in first position and second position, students learn to distribute weight evenly across the toes while maintaining a strong, lifted arch. One of the central themes of this video is the transition between demi-pointe and being fully en pointe. We focus on the "press" over the box, a technique that not only improves the aesthetic line of the foot but also ensures the dancer is properly stacked over their support.

This is vital for injury prevention and for achieving those effortless-looking balances in sus-sous. Throughout the drill, we emphasize pulling the knees back and engaging the turn-out from the hips, ensuring that the work in the feet translates to a solid overall alignment. We also incorporate cou-de-pied transitions to challenge the dancer's ability to shift weight precisely and hold their center under pressure.

The session concludes with a series of parallel balances, allowing you to feel the direct impact of the strengthening exercises on your proprioception and stability. Whether you are a student preparing for your first pair of pointe shoes or an experienced dancer looking to refine your articulation and power, these spicy drills provide the focused training needed to excel. At Broche Ballet, we believe that consistent, targeted practice is the key to mastering the physical demands of ballet.

This video serves as a perfect supplement to your daily barre work, offering a concentrated burst of training that targets the most overlooked muscles in a dancer's body.