Exercises
at the Barre
Warm-Up Tendu With Demi Plié
(tendu means stretched and demi plié means half-bends)
The first barre exercise will
warm-up the thighs and tendons of
the leg. It also aids in developing the instep and arch of the foot.
Demi Plié (in five
positions)
The demi plié is a half
or small bending of the
knees. This basic exercise turns out legs and develops the
tendons and muscles of thighs,
calves, ankles and feet. It increases flexibility
and strength in the Achilles tendon. The spring like action
of demi plié is essential
to all jumping movements as preparation before jumping
upward and upon returning of the feet to the floor. As knees
bend there is a slight counter
pull upward in the thigh, abdomen and buttock
muscles.
Grand Plié (means
a full bending of your knees)
The Grand Plié is a slow
continuous movement bending downward
and rising upward without pause. Arm
movement is also coordinated with the action of the legs. Here
again the legs are developed by
gently stretching the muscles as you slowly
lower yourself, maintaining the slight upward pull of the thigh,
abdomen and buttocks. Achilles
tendons and ankles are also strengthened.
Keep your weight centered and the head erect. Turn knees
and thighs outward and move the
knees in a line over the center of the feet.
As the body rises, press the heels into the floor and gently increase
the tension in buttocks and abdomen.
Battement Tendu (battement
means beating and tendu means stretched)
Battement tendu is a stretching
and pointing leg exercise. This exercise
strengthens and turns out legs and feet and develops the instep.
Be sure to center weight on the supporting leg to give freedom
to the movement of the working
leg. While holding both legs straight you
also hold your torso and head erect. Draw the tummy in and keep
the shoulders down.
Stretch the entire leg from thigh to toe during extensions.
Hold your hips down when doing battement tendu to the derrière
(behind). And finally lead with the toe to point back.
Battement Glissé (means
a glided beating)
Battement glissé is similar
to battement tendu only
you keep contact with the floor with your foot. Glisse means to slide
or to glide. This exercise is designed to push the
leg and foot out quickly with energy and control. Keep your weight
centered over the supporting leg. Push the foot sideways along the
floor. Again, this exercise
helps to elongate the leg and develop the pointed
foot.
Battement Jetté
(or dégagé)(jetté means "thrown")
Battement jetté is a
leg lifting exercise. This
exercise develops speed and precision of leg and
foot movement. It develops strength in legs, ankles and instep.
It also develops a freedom
of leg movement from the hips and develops and strengthens
the torso and legs from thigh to toe. While keeping buttocks
and tummy firm and tight hold torso and head erect and shoulders
down. When doing Battement Jetté to the derrière,
move torso slightly forward
and keep the working leg turned out.
Rond de Jambe à Terre
(circle of the leg on the ground)
This is a circular
leg movement exercise where the pointed toe keeps contact with
the floor. This exercise
develops the rotary position of the legs from the
hips and flexibility in the ankles and insteps. It helps in the
slimming of the hips and strengthening
the upper thighs. Accent is on a semi-circular
movement outward to derrière. Working leg moves continuously,
the toe sliding lightly over the surface of the floor.
Battement Fondu (beating
sinking down)
This exercise involves a slow
bending of the supporting leg with
the working foot pointing in front of the
supporting ankle, unfolding and extending to point the leg on the
floor, or in the air, as the supporting
leg slowly straightens. Battement
fondu develops and strengthens hips and legs.
Battement Frappé
(struck or striking, beating)
This exercise is a series
of quick foot movements with the
ball of the foot brushing the floor. It
develops strength in the legs, ankles and instep. The tummy is held
in and torso erect while the legs
are stretched outward to the maximum from
thigh to toe. The working leg thigh is turned outward.
Adage or Développé
(slow graceful development)
Développé means to
"develop" and the movement is a
slow unfolding of the leg. It develops strength
in the abdomen, legs, hips and thighs. It also develops control
and balance. The second position and derrière are the hardest
to hold, so use the barre for support
in these positions. Hold your turnout
equally in both thighs. Listen to the music as it will help you
with the slow unfolding.
Practice till you can do it with ease.
Grand Battement (large
throwing movement)
This is no longer a preparation,
but the real thing. Remember to raise or throw your working
leg without disturbing your supporting leg. Keep your back
still, except in derrière
when you can slightly arch and keep your knees
tight. This exercise develops strength, balance and control of
leg and hip. The lower back
is also strengthened in the derrière position.
DO NOT FORCE the grand battement too much.
Preparation for Allegro
(allegro is a generic term applied to all light and
lively springing movement)
This exercise prepares the dancer
to perform jumps.
The legs must be properly conditioned for this. Keep the
back straight and do not lean forward. Push off the floor as
quickly as you can. This
is where the demi plié exercise begins to pay off.
Your legs should really feel the work out here. Land as lightly
as you can. Imagine a gentle
lift upon landing, keeping firm control in the
buttocks and maintaining atight tummy throughout.
The Positions
of the Arms
Port de Bras (carriage of
the arms)
This
is a series of exercises that develop the
fluid movements of the arms through the basic positions used in all dance.
This also gives flexibility to the
upper part of the body. As a result the movements
are flowing, continuous and graceful.
Centre
Practice
(Exercises performed without the
support of the barre)
The
centre exercises begin with various combinations of exercises learned
at the barre. Here the dancer should be aware of the direction
of the body. Arm movements
should be done slowly and land with distinction. Watch
the dancer in the video and see how she moves her head and arms for
each of the exercises. Imitate these as closely as possible.
Each position in the centre
should be assumed accurately before going on to the
next. Once all positions have been learned correctly they may be
combined as the dancer performs them
with flowing and continuous movements.
Remember practice makes perfect. If
any of these exercises are difficult for you, simply practice the leg
patterns at the barre (or your
chair at home), then add the arm
movements until you can follow
the dancer on the tape.
Centre
Exercises
Battement Tendu is similar
to the stretching and pointing leg exercise performed
at the barre. Temps
Lié or a combination of leg and arm movements based on three
fundamental positions of the feet
(the 4th, 5th and 2nd). It combines movements
while teaching you how to shift weight from foot to foot.
Preparation for Pirouette.
Here you learn how to position yourself correctly
for a turn or spin done on one leg.
The Arabesque (extended
or stretched a classic example of balance and strength
with gracefulness) Consists of balancing one leg with the
other extended behind the arms
in a position to create the longest slanted
line possible between your finger tips and toes.
Sauté. These
are jumps in first position.
A Changement. These
are jumps that change feet position in the air.
An Enchaînement or
combination. This is a grouping of Allegro steps with
simple choreography. This is one of the pay offs of learning the
steps on this tape. You can
now dance a simple Ballet sequence of steps.
The Révérence
is the movement at the end of the class. It is a curtsey
or bow to show respect to the teacher, pianist or audience, as
well as a warm down exercise.
These are just a few of the
many steps and movements used in Ballet, there
are of course many more. Once you have mastered these fundamentals
you can go onto to more advanced levels of Ballet.
The
Rewards
Dancers are craftsmen of a difficult
art form. Only with dedication and discipline
can one master the Ballet. It takes years of training but even
as a hobby or recreation the rewards
are many. The dancer's body is a model
of perfection. The line and form are precise and clear, the movements
graceful and awesome. With
discipline you can accomplish anything. And if you
gain nothing else from this video, you will at least gain the knowledge
that YOU CAN CHANGE THE SHAPE
AND FORM OF YOUR BODY;
- if you practice carefully
and daily with this tape
- if you watch your diet
- if you believe in yourself
- if you relax and enjoy the
Ballet exercises on this tape
It is no miracle that dancers have
beautiful bodies which are the envy of
most of us. Beautiful bodies are the result of dedicated work and
daily practice at this precise and
classic art form called BALLET. It is
becoming more popular than ever before and with your new found knowledge,
you can enjoy ballet performances with added delight. Now you
will be at the head of the class and you will look beautiful being there. |
Ballet - The Classical Method, Level One
The
floor exercises are based on the "
All
dance training begins at the barre. Here the dancer executes a series
of exercises carefully designed to prepare the body for the exacting demand
of the classical dance. Each exercise is meant to strengthen specific
parts of the body. These exercises done correctly, develop the dancer
gradually, giving the ability to achieve a balanced and controlled movement.
BALLET, THE CLASSICAL METHOD, LEVEL ONE (1995)
.... the ideal exercise program, safe, effective, easy to follow and
enjoyable. "Ballet the Classical Method" is
an entire ballet class on video. The viewer is guided step-by-step,
through a class, in the same sequence and manner that every student
of dance and professional dancer goes through everyday. 
BALLET, BEYOND BASICS - LEVEL TWO
This spectacular video dance class explores classical ballet for the
Intermediate to Advanced student of ballet. With each viewing and
practicing of exercises contained in this program you will enhance
your level of fitness and conditionning. Stimulate your body and mind
with Ballet, Beyond Basics, Level Two.
WISEMAN TECHNIQUE: Floor Stretching Exercises (40 minutes)