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Advanced Ballet Barre Work-Part I

Type:

Teacher article

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None

  1. Plies

Prepare; 1st position, left hand on barre

Introduction; Demi allonge, 1st to 2nd on 4 counts of music

1-4 Slow demi plié in first position with simple port de bras

5-8 Full port de bras forward

1-6 Grand plié in 1st position

7- 8 Degage to second position and slowly lower to second position carefully articulating through foot

1- 2 Demi plié in 2nd position, soft port de bras wave arm in second position with palm up, using upper back

3-4 Demi plié in 2nd position, soft port de bras wave arm in second with palm down, using upper back

5-8 Full port de bras to the barre

1-6 Grand plié in second position using reverse arm through 5th

7-8 Degage decote and close to 5th position

1-4 Slow demi plié in 5th position

5-8 Port de bras away from barre

1-6 Grand plié in 5th position

7-8 Degage devant and lower to 4th position

1- 2 Demi plié in 4th position, soft port de bras wave arm in second position with palm up, using upper back

3-4 Demi plié in 4th position, soft port de bras wave arm in second with palm down, using

5-8 Port de bras back with arm in 5th

1-6 Grand plié in 4th position with reverse arm through 5th position

7-8 Rise and slowly carry arms through bras bas to 1st position and then a deux bras.

At end exercise

Hold balance in 4th

Transfer weight onto front foot and slowly lift back leg off to balance in low arabesque

Lower back to 4th position, transfer weight to back foot, degage devant and close 5th.

  1. Battement Tendu with battement glisse

Prepare; 5th position, left hand on barre

Introduction; Demi allonge, 1st to 2nd on 4 counts of music

1-2 Battement tendu devant, arm port de bras to 1st

3&4 2 batement tendu devant arm port de bras from 1st to 5th

5-8 Degage devant and temps lie en avant through 4th position, close 5th derriere

1-8 Repeat counts 1-8 starting with back foot tendu derriere

1-16 Repeat to 2nd position twice, first time using centre leg and second time using foot near barre.

1-2 1 battement glisse devant

3&4 3 battement glisse devant

5 Battement glisse devant with a rise

6 Lower to 4th demi plié and temps lie

7 Releve to a low arabesque derriere

1-8 Repeat counts 1-8 starting glisse derriere

1-16 Repeat counts 1-8 twice in second

  1. Battement Pique with Flic Flac

Prepare; 5th position, left hand on barre

Introduction; Demi allonge, 1t to 2nd on 4 counts of music

1-2 Battement pique devant with a releve , close 5th

3-4 Battement pique second with a releve, close 5th

5-6 Battement pique derriere with a releve, close 5th

7-8 2 petit retire passé (close back, close front)

&1 1 battement glisse to second (from back in 2nd closing front)

&2 Flic flac en dehors

3 Degage de cote

4 Close 5th derriere

5-8 4 fast petit retire passé (over, under, over, under)

1-16 Repeat all in reverse

1-4 Battement pique devant, carry to second pique, carry to derriere pique, close 5th plié

5-8 Battement pique derriere, carry to second pique, carry to devant pique and close 5th demi plié

1- 2 Petit developpe second closing 5th derriere

3-4 Petit developpe second closing 5th devant

5-8 Low battement en rond en dehors on a rise, closing 5th derriere

1-16 Repeat last 16 counts in reverse

Finish on rise and balance low devant extension

  1. Battement Fondu and Ballotte

Prepare; 5th position, left hand on barre

Introduction; Demi allonge and releve to 5th position demi pointe, 1t to 2nd on 4 counts of music

1- 2 Port de bras forward on demi pointe

3 Lift front leg to attitude devant with arm in 5th position

4 Developpe devant and close 5th position on flat holding arm in 5th

5-6 Port de bras back

7-8 Lift back foot to attitude derriere, arm 5th position

1-8 Coupe under and high battement fondu en lair en croix (front, side, back, side)

1-2 Lower working leg to degage decote and port de bras away from barre

3-4 Port de bras to the barre and close to 5th devant

5 Battement fondu with 1/8 turn to centre, en lair devant, arm 5th and using upper back bend

6 Close to 5th position

7 Battement fondu 1/8 turn to barre to a split penche arabesque

8 Close 5th position on demi pointe

1-2 Ballotte devant on rise (with high extension)

3-4 Ballotte decote on rise

5-6 Ballotte derriere on rise

7-8 Petit battement to degage devant, petit battement to degage derriere, rond de jambe en dedans, close to 5th position

Author

Alisa Finney

Alisa Finney

Alisa Finney re launched the Melbourne Ballet Company in 2007 and she carries responsibilities in artistic direction, programming and professional development for the company. Her successful career as a Principal ballet teacher at Gay Wightman School of Ballet for over 20 years is ably supported with an Advanced Diploma in Dance Teaching from the Australian Ballet School (Distinction), Borovansky Memorial Australian Academy of Dancing Diploma, Australian Institute of Classical Dance Licenciate Diploma, Bachelor of Applied Science (RMIT) and Bachelor of Business Administration (RMIT), plus multiple certificates in pedagogical studies that enhance her career in dance education. As Principal of the Gay Wightman School of Ballet she puts on 3 student productions annually with over 400 performers, teaches the Vaganova based BMAAD syllabus from Pre-Primary to Solo Seal and is a teacher of VCE and VET Dance as well as private coaching. Alisa has developed a 13 level elite student dance program- the Melbourne Ballet Company Coaching School, and she delivers and co- ordinates teachers development days in this system of training. Students are submitted in exams for this through the Australasian Dance Assessment. A vision to create a ballet company has been hers for many years. As a manager of a performing arts organisation she has taken the primary role to initiate and develop the Melbourne Ballet Company, securing its clear direction and future through bringing in key alliances and ensuring a stable management structure for the company. To maintain the momentum of a professional company that is high in integrity with committed and loyal personnel in the competitive environment that is Melbournes arts scene has earned her great respect within the industry and abroad. Now in its fourth year of operation, and with nine successful performance seasons, Alisa has provided a surety for Melbourne Ballet Company’s future.

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