What You'll Learn
- The role of precise ankle placement in maintaining a stable demi-pointe.
- How to identify falling patterns and apply counterbalancing muscular force.
- Techniques for maintaining spine stillness and core engagement during balance.
- The 'target practice' method for debugging and improving stability.
About This Video
Balancing on demi-pointe is a foundational skill in ballet, yet it remains one of the most challenging aspects for many dancers to master. In this 18-minute Technique Barre session from Broche Ballet, we dive deep into the mechanics of stability. Rather than simply telling you to "stand still," we explore the active forces required to maintain a rock-solid balance.
One of the core concepts covered in this lesson is the direction of force. Many dancers find themselves consistently falling in one specific direction. This isn't just a lack of balance—it is a sign that the body doesn't yet understand how to generate counterbalancing force in the opposite direction.
Through a unique exercise called "target practice," you will learn to intentionally fall in specific directions to better understand how to activate the necessary muscles to stay centered. We also emphasize the vital importance of ankle placement and the stillness of the spine. When you rise into relevé, your ankles must be precisely aligned to provide a stable base.
Simultaneously, engaging the core and maintaining a quiet, elongated spine prevents the micro-movements that often lead to a loss of control. By focusing on muscular activation in the hips and feet, you can transform your demi-pointe from a moment of luck into a moment of intentional strength. This class is designed to help you debug your balance issues by identifying your natural movement patterns and correcting them with purpose.
Join Broche Ballet for this technical exploration and bring a new level of confidence to your center work and across-the-floor combinations.
