What You'll Learn
- How to 'stuff effort' into the back to prevent rib splaying during port de bras.
- Using a wall for vertical alignment feedback during grand pliés to stack the spine.
- The 'inner wall' visualization for a stable and properly aligned relevé à la seconde.
- Core bracing techniques for maintaining torso stability during fast, aggressive dégagés.
- Integrating side-body engagement during stretches to maintain structural integrity.
About This Video
Welcome to this comprehensive 50-minute Technique Barre session at Broche Ballet, specifically designed to bridge the gap between upper-body placement and lower-body execution. Often, intermediate dancers focus so heavily on footwork that the torso becomes disconnected, leading to splayed ribs or a loss of balance. This class addresses those challenges by introducing high-level cues for total body integration.
Throughout this session, you will explore a full barre sequence including demi-plié, grand plié, tendu, dégagé, rond de jambe, frappé, and fondu. We begin by establishing a strong foundation with "stuffing the effort" into the back. This unique cue helps you pull the ribs toward the shoulder blades, preventing the common mistake of rib splaying during port de bras.
By maintaining this "closed" side body, you create an isometric force that stabilizes the spine and allows for more fluid leg movements. One of the highlights of this class is the use of external feedback. We utilize the wall as a tool during grand plié to ensure the shoulders stay vertically stacked over the hips.
This tactile feedback is essential for maintaining an upright spine and proper pelvic alignment. Furthermore, you will master the "inner wall" technique for relevé à la seconde. This mental image encourages the inner thigh to push up and over the foot, preventing hip distortion and ensuring a clean line.
As we progress to faster movements like sharp, aggressive dégagés, we focus on bracing the core. This level of engagement is necessary to hold the torso steady against the momentum of the legs. We also incorporate "armpit to hip" cues during side stretches to engage the obliques and maintain structural integrity during cambré.
Whether you are working on your su-su or a complex fondu combination, these upper-body integration techniques will transform your presence at the barre and beyond. Join Broche Ballet to refine your technique and find new levels of stability and grace.
