BARRE WORK FOR STUDENTS SECOND 6 MONTHS ON POINTE

Teacher Notes:

-Slowly introduce each of the exercises one at a time after the students are warm and have done a full barre in flat shoes first.

- As the students gain strength the exercises can be taken with one hand on the barre and then later on in the center

- Place emphasis on a slow and careful execution of each exercise.

- Ensure a strong posture and alignment in all pointe exercises

- Speed of all the exercises can be increased as the students gain strength

- Make sure the students understand how to rise and lower through the positions of the feet ¼, ½, ¾ then to full pointe

- Use the pauses and holds so the students can continue to establish the position fully on pointe in their second 6 months on pointe.

1. Slow Rises to Pointe

Prepare: Facing the barre in parallel position

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre

1. Rise to ¼ pointe

2. Rise to ½ pointe

3. Rise to ¾ pointe

4. Rise to full pointe

5-8 Lower in reverse ¾, ½,1/4 then flat

1- 8 Repeat and degage to 2^nd position

1. Rise to ¼ pointe in 2^nd

2. Rise to ½ pointe in 2^nd

3. Rise to ¾ pointe in 2^nd

4. Rise to full pointe in 2^nd

5-8 Lower in reverse ¾, ½,1/4 then flat

Repeat all in 5^th position devant then 5^th position derriere

2. Demi Plie and Rise to Pointe with Releves

Prepare: Facing the barre in parallel position

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre

1. Slow demi plié

2. Stretch knees

3. Rise slowly to full pointe

4. Lower

5. Slow demi plié

6. Stretch knees

7. Rise to full pointe

8. Lower

1. Demi plié

2. Releve to pointe

3. Demi plié

4. Releve to pointe

5. Hold position

6. Slowly lower ¾, ½,1/4, flat

7. Degage to 2^nd position

8. Lower to 2^nd

Repeat all in 2^nd position, 5^th devant and 5^th derriere

3. Battement Tendu and Releves

Prepare: Facing the barre in 5^th position position or sideways to barre

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre

1. Degage devant

2. Demi plié in 4^th position

3. Releve in 4^th position on pointe

4. Lower to demi plié in 4^th position

5. Degage devant

6. Close 5th plie

7 Releve 5^th

8. Lower through pointe shoes to 5^th plié

Repeat exercise en croix and then other side

4. Demi Detournes

Prepare: 5th position left hand on barre

1 Demi plié and releve to 5^th position on pointe, arm to 5th

2 Demi detourne to other side, other arm to 5th

3 Hold position in 5th

4 Spring down through pointe shoes to demi plié 5^th opening arm

Repeat 3 more times, making sure the head does a sharp spotting movement ahead of the body in the demi detourne.

5. Retires

Prepare: Facing the barre in 5th position

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre

& Slow demi plié

1. Releve to retire devant

2. Place front leg back to 5^th position on pointe

3. Lightly spring off pointe to 5^th position plié

& Slow demi plié

4. Releve to retire derriere

5. Place back leg back to 5^th position on pointe

6. Lightly spring off pointe to 5^th position plié

& Slow demi plié

1. Releve to retire devant

2. Place front leg back to 5^th position on pointe

3. Lightly spring off pointe to 5^th position plié

& Slow demi plié

4. Releve to retire derriere

5. Passe retire devant

6. Lightly spring off pointe to 5^th position plié

Repeat all starting left foot front

6. Pas de bourees

Prepare: Facing the barre in 5th position

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre, and releve to 5^th position

& 1- 3 Pas de bouree under

&4-6 Pas de bouree under

& 7-9 Pas de bouree under

& 10 -12 Pas de bouree over, under

Repeat all with left foot front

Repeat all in reverse

7. Pas de Bouree Pique

Prepare: Facing the barre in 5th position

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre, and releve to 5^th position

& 1- 3 Pas de bouree pique with a high retire position and a big step decote.

&4-6 Pas de bouree pique

& 7-9 Pas de bouree pique

& 10 -12 Couru on the spot

Repeat all with left foot front

Repeat all in reverse

7. Travelling Courus at the barre

Prepare: Facing the barre in 5th position

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre

& Pick up back foot into a low cou de pied

1- 3 Couru travelling right

4 Plie 5^th and tendu under to swap legs

& Pick up back foot into a low cou de pied

5-7 Couru travelling to the left

8 Plie 5^th and tendu under to swap legs

& Pick up back foot into a low cou de pied

9-12 Couru on the spot

13 Spring down to 5^th position

14 1 changement

15 Sou sou to 5^th

16 Hold

Repeat all

8. Echappe Releve to 2^nd and 4th

Prepare: Facing the barre in 5th position

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre

1- 6 3 Echappe releve to 2^nd

7-8 1 Echappe releve to 4^th

Repeat twice more

Releve to 5^th

Repeat all

9. Pas Emboite

Prepare: Facing the barre in 5th position

Introduction; Arms lift to 1^st position, then softly hold barre and releve to 5^th on pointe

&1-3 Pas emboite close back, front, back with right leg

4 Hold 5^th

&5-7 Pas emboite close front back front with right leg

8 Hold 5^th

& 9- 11 Pas emboite close back, front, back with right leg

12 Hold 5^th

13- 14 Spring off pointe to 5^th demi plié

15- 16 Releve to 5^th on pointe with left foot front

Repeat all pas emboite with the left leg.