What You'll Learn
- How to use your obliques to maintain a square pelvis in à la seconde positions.
- Techniques for resisting rotation toward the working leg during dégagé.
- The 'plank' mindset for maintaining core stability during rapid leg movements.
- How to maintain proper alignment and opposition between the upper and lower body.
- Bracing the pelvis to ensure rotation remains in the hip joint.
About This Video
Closing a dégagé to the side, or à la seconde, is one of those deceptive movements in ballet that looks simple but requires immense internal coordination to execute correctly. One of the most common challenges dancers face is the tendency for the hips to follow the working leg, causing the body to lose its square alignment and "leak" energy. At Broche Ballet, we believe that mastering these foundational details is what transforms a student's technique from functional to professional.
In this tutorial, we dive deep into the mechanics of staying square. To maintain a truly front-facing pelvis during a dégagé, you must engage your core with the same intensity as if you were holding a floor plank. This isn't just about the legs; it is about the active opposition between your upper body and your hips. When your leg brushes out to the side, your obliques must work overtime to resist the pull of the working leg, ensuring you do not rotate toward the leg or tip away from your standing side.
Think of your body as a single, connected unit where every muscle has a job to do. When you disengage the foot from the floor for a dégagé, your core stability acts as the primary anchor. If you feel yourself "turning out" of the standing leg incorrectly or losing your vertical line, focus on pulling your ribs down and keeping your shoulders stacked directly over your hips. By bracing your pelvis and staying square to the barre, you ensure that the rotation comes from the hip joint itself rather than a shift in your entire frame.
This "Quick Tidbit" lesson provides practical cues to help you feel that internal connection. By treating every dégagé as an exercise in total-body stability, you will find significantly more balance and precision when you eventually move into center work. Whether you are working through a slow adagio or a fast petit allegro, these tips on body alignment and muscular opposition will help you achieve the clean, classical lines and technical control that define high-level ballet training.
