What You'll Learn
- How to differentiate between engaging the back of the hip and relaxing the hip flexor.
- Techniques to use your glutes effectively for higher grand battement derrière.
- The relationship between hip relaxation and achieving a deeper stretch in your arabesque.
- Tips for maintaining consistent turnout from the back of the hip throughout complex barre steps.
- Strategies to prevent gripping in the front of the hip during extensions and grand battement.
About This Video
In this comprehensive Broche Ballet session, we take a deep dive into the anatomical foundations of a successful ballet technique, focusing specifically on the hip flexors and their role in the arabesque. Many dancers struggle with a "blocked" feeling in the hip, which often stems from an overactive hip flexor resisting the lift of the leg. This class is designed to help you break through those physical barriers by teaching you how to isolate and relax the front of the hip while calling upon the strength of the glutes.
Our 44-minute journey begins at the barre, where we revisit fundamental movements with a new lens of awareness. Starting with a review of previous concepts, we move into tendu and dégagé sequences that challenge your ability to keep the back of the hip working. You will learn why the back of the hip must work throughout the entire combination to pull the knee to the side, especially when closing to fifth position or moving through passé.
As the class progresses toward grand battement and extensions derrière, the instructor provides specific feedback on how to achieve a true stretch in the hip flexor. A key takeaway from this session is the realization that squeezing the glutes too tightly can actually tighten the hip flexors, counterproductively limiting your range of motion. Instead, we practice allowing the leg to go "soft" so the glute can pick up the leg efficiently.
This shift in focus is essential for mastering grand battement derrière and achieving that coveted line in your arabesque. By the end of this practice, you will have a better grasp of how to manage complex combinations that involve quick hip flexor actions while maintaining turnout and alignment. This class isn't just about doing the steps; it's about understanding the "why" and "how" behind the movement, empowering you to practice with more intention and less tension.
Join Broche Ballet for this technique-heavy barre and find more freedom in your hips.
