What You'll Learn
- How to lead en dedans pirouettes using the obliques for better control
- Proper arm placement and force in soutenu and port de bras
- Fluid weight transfer techniques for pivots, lunges, and swivels
- Effective strategies to maintain balance and prevent dizziness during turns
About This Video
Welcome to Broche Ballet’s intermediate center practice, a 24-minute session designed to bridge the gap between technical barre exercises and fluid, expressive center combinations. This class focuses on the mechanics of stability and momentum, specifically through waltz patterns, lunges, and turns. Intermediate dancers will find this session particularly helpful for deconstructing the 'en dedans' turn (often phonetically referred to as an 'on-day-down' turn), emphasizing the importance of leading the movement with the obliques rather than letting the leg swing ahead of the body.
Throughout the class, we explore the vital role of the upper body in maintaining balance. You will learn how to utilize a wide, strong port de bras during movements like the soutenu, using the arms as a driving force to push through the rotation. We also dive into the specifics of weight transfer during swivels and lunges.
By starting with a pivot to face a foot in tendu front before picking it up to find the next corner, you will develop the spatial awareness necessary for complex adagio and allegro work. Beyond the steps, this class addresses the physical sensations of dance, providing practical strategies to avoid dizziness during multiple pirouettes. Tips such as maintaining a sharp focus and utilizing core engagement (obliques) to keep the shoulders ahead of the legs are discussed in detail.
We conclude the practice with a graceful révérence (curtsy), incorporating a big port de bras through first and second positions to close the session with poise. Whether you are practicing in a home studio or a professional space, these exercises are designed to build the control and speed required for advanced center work.
