What You'll Learn
- Mastering parallel and first position alignment for footwork
- Exercises to increase the height and stability of your demi-pointe
- Stretches to improve flexibility in the ankles and Achilles tendon
- Core engagement techniques to maintain balance during transitions
About This Video
Build the foundation for strong, beautiful ballet technique with this Standing Pre-Pointe class from Broche Ballet. Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced dancer looking to refine your footwork, these exercises are designed to target the intricate muscles of the feet and ankles. A strong relevé and a deep plié are essential components of ballet, and this session focuses on the mechanics needed to achieve both with grace and stability.
In this 16-minute practice, you will be guided through a series of exercises starting in a parallel position. We begin with demi-plié, focusing on lifting one heel at a time. This allows you to isolate the movement and ensure that your weight is distributed correctly across the metatarsals.
Our instructor emphasizes the importance of keeping the feet parallel, preventing the ankles from rolling in or out, which is crucial for long-term joint health and stability. As the class progresses, we move into bilateral movements, lifting both heels into a relevé. You will learn how to press the tips of your toes firmly into the floor to create a solid base.
We also explore these movements in first position to understand how rotation affects foot placement. Throughout the class, we maintain a focus on full-body alignment—pulling the stomach up into the ribcage, keeping the shoulders down, and ensuring the ears are lifted. This pre-pointe session specifically targets the Achilles tendon, calves, and quadriceps, providing the necessary stretch and strength to eventually transition en pointe or simply to improve your performance in flat shoes.
By controlling the "wiggle wobble" at the top of your relevé, you engage the deep stabilizing muscles of the lower leg. Join us at Broche Ballet to develop the foot articulation and ankle strength necessary for a lifetime of dancing.
