What You'll Learn
- Using the half-pipe visualization for smoother transitions
- Techniques for maintaining a level and low hip
- Maximizing leg length by pushing into the floor
- Maintaining consistent energy throughout the movement
About This Video
In the world of ballet, the dégagé is a fundamental movement that bridges the gap between floor-based work and the aerial freedom of jumps. While often translated as disengaged, the movement is anything but passive. To execute a proper dégagé, a dancer must master the specific internal mechanics that allow for speed, precision, and core stability.
In this Quick Tidbit from Broche Ballet, we dive into the sensory cues and visualizations that transform a simple leg lift into a fluid, high-energy extension. One of the most effective ways to conceptualize this movement is by imagining a circular track or a half-pipe located just beneath the surface of the floor. Instead of thinking of the leg lifting straight up, imagine your foot scooping down through the floor and following a curved path that continues its arc upward.
This visualization ensures that you are utilizing the floor's resistance to generate power and momentum, rather than simply relying on the hip flexors or quadriceps to hike the leg. This down-to-go-up approach is a hallmark of professional ballet technique. A common technical pitfall in dégagé is allowing the working hip to lift or crunch as the foot leaves the floor.
To combat this, focus on the sensation of pushing down into the standing leg and the floor itself. By driving your energy downward through the supporting side, you create the necessary space for the working leg to reach farther away from the hip socket. This keeps the pelvis level and maintains the long, elegant line required for classical aesthetics.
By treating the dégagé as a continuous cycle of energy, starting from a point below the floor and arcing outward, you will find greater control and a lighter quality in your footwork. At Broche Ballet, we believe that understanding these subtle shifts in feeling is the key to advancing your practice. Refine your barre technique today by applying these visualization techniques and experience the difference in your stability and grace.
