Beginner pointe students who have spent some months just working at the barre will now be ready to start to work in the center. All of the movements need to be on two feet to begin with until the dancer becomes strong enough and secure enough to be able to spring onto one foot.

1) Releve in 5^th with echappes Hands placed on hips, facing enface.

4 count intro Feet in 5^th position, demi plie on the count of 4

1-2 Releve in 5^th

 and Demi plie

3-4 Echappe to 2^nd

and Closing feet in 5^th in a demi plie ,changing feet

5-6 Releve in 5^th

and Demi plie

7-8 Echappe to 2nd

and Closing feet into 5^th in a demi plie, changing feet

Repeat entire exercise

Holding each releve for 2 counts and making a quick demi plie helps the dancer to keep a light feeling on pointe.

This exercise can be done facing front to start with and then can be taken from corner to corner as the dancer becomes more secure. Port de bras can also be added once the dancer is secure with the foot work

2) Pas De Bouree Port de Bras to 2^nd position taken on 4 count intro

Standing on right foot, left foot in coupe derrriere, demi plie on count 4 of intro

1 Go onto pointe on left foot stepping right behind right foot

2 Step onto pointe with right foot in 2^nd weight evenly on both feet

3 Bring left foot in front of right foot in a close 5^th position on pointe

4 Demi plie on left foot placing right foot in coupe position.

This simple exercise is taken from side to side. It is a good idea to leave the arms in 2^nd position to start with as this will give the dancer a stronger feeling of balance. Once the dancer becomes comfortable with the foot work then you can add more complex port de bras.

3) Bourees Arms in demi seconde

Standing on right foot, left leg in degage derriere. 4 count intro, demi plie on front foot on the count of four bringing left foot to coupe derriere.

1-3 Starting with back foot, bouree for 3 counts in place

4 Fondu onto font foot

5-7 Repeat in place

8 Fondu onto front foot

1-3 Bouree travelling to the right

4 Fondu onto front foot

5-7 Repeat bourees travelling to the right

8 Fondu onto front foot.

Repeat all to the left side

Bourees should be quick and smooth. Many dancers when they begin to do bourees dig their toes into the ground. You will have already done bourees at the barre but sometimes when they are transferred to center work they become heavy and not at all like the running step that they should be. By adding the fondu every 4 counts it helps the dancer to understand that they must work through their feet as they go up and down in their pointe shoes. The key is to stress to the student that they need to keep lifted and still in their torso whether on pointe or in a demi plie. Adding a port de bras taking the arms up to 5^th and opening to 2^nd or placing them in 3^rd or 4^th position are good ways to keep the movement looking fluid.

These three basic center exercise are a good way to get your dancers accustomed to working away from the barre during their pointe class