What You'll Learn
- Improve balance and stability when dancing away from the barre en pointe
- Master precise footwork for dégagé and cou-de-pied combinations in the center
- Execute smooth transitions using chassé, tombé, and pas de basque movements
- Coordinate port de bras with center combinations to enhance artistry and control
- Utilize head placement as a magnet for improved weight distribution and landing accuracy
About This Video
Ready to take the leap from the barre to the center of the room? Transitioning to center work while dancing en pointe is a pivotal milestone for any ballet dancer. In this 16-minute practice session with Broche Ballet, we focus on bridging that gap, helping you build the strength, stability, and confidence required to dance unsupported.
This class dives deep into the nuances of weight placement and precision. We begin by exploring how to maintain a grounded connection to the floor even when rising en pointe. You will work through targeted exercises including dégagé over and under, where we emphasize picking the foot up cleanly and returning it precisely to its starting position.
We practice sequences of four pick-ups in the back and four in the front to build rhythmic consistency and muscle memory. Understanding that your head placement acts like a magnet for your weight, you will learn how to align your gaze to ensure your feet always land exactly where they need to be. This magnet analogy is crucial for maintaining balance during cou-de-pied transitions and turns.
Throughout the lesson, we break down essential combinations involving chassé, tombé, and pas de basque. By integrating port de bras naturally into these sequences—whether you prefer second position or a more classical carriage—you will develop the coordination necessary for complex choreography. We also tackle the challenge of cou-de-pied placement in the center, focusing on the pick up action to ensure your footwork remains sharp and controlled.
Beyond just the physical steps, this session addresses the mental shift needed when venturing off the barre. We discuss practice and rehearsal strategies that help you manage the fear of losing balance, turning it into a focused awareness of your body's alignment. Whether you are working on your arabesque, jeté sequences, or en cloche movements that require a grounded feel, these exercises are designed to foster independence.
Join Broche Ballet as we step away from the support of the barre and into the beauty of center-floor artistry.
