What You'll Learn
- How to use a low demi-pointe (1/4 pointe) to audit your hip alignment and weight distribution.
- Deep muscle engagement techniques to maintain turnout during high extensions and développés.
- The role of micro-bends in protecting the knee joint while maximizing hip rotation.
- Strategies for stabilizing the pelvis to achieve greater height in your arabesque.
About This Video
In this comprehensive 42-minute technique barre class from Broche Ballet, we dive deep into the mechanics of turnout and hip stability. Achieving a high extension or a perfectly held arabesque requires more than just flexibility; it demands precise muscle engagement and a keen awareness of pelvic alignment. This session is designed to help you identify the specific hip muscles needed to maintain turnout throughout every movement.
We begin with a focus on alignment, ensuring that your foundation is secure before moving into more complex combinations. Throughout the class, you will work on tendu and dégagé exercises that emphasize the rotation of the femur in the hip socket. A unique aspect of this class is the use of the 1/4 pointe or a very low demi-pointe.
By lifting the heel just slightly off the floor, you create a diagnostic moment to check if your hips are level and your weight is properly centered. This technique prevents the common mistake of sitting into the hip during extensions or allowing the heel to slip backward. We also explore the importance of micro-bends in the knee.
While ballet often emphasizes a straight line, a subtle micro-bend can be a vital tool for dancers to avoid gripping the knee joint and instead focus on the deep rotators of the hip. This approach is especially helpful when working on coupé and développé to the front, side, and back. Furthermore, we address the challenge of keeping the heel forward as the leg lifts, which is essential for maintaining the line and health of the joints.
By the end of the barre, you will have a better understanding of how to control your hips during high extensions and how to maintain turnout without sacrificing stability. The class concludes with parallel stretches and a forward release to ensure your muscles remain long and supple, preventing post-workout soreness. Join us at Broche Ballet to elevate your technique and find your most functional turnout and highest extensions yet.
