"Circuit Breaker" Ballet Exercise #1 (Barre & Centre for Beginner & Level 1)
9 April 2020
Barre Exercise #1 (Beginner & Level 1)
09 Apr 2020
- Pace yourself and exercise safely.
- Warm-up thoroughly
- Remove all obstacles and use sturdy equipment that will not topple over during exercise.
- Do not attempt these exercises with slippery floor or footwear.
- If you’re too tired, stop the exercise and cool down properly. Try again another day.
- Those not from our school, exercise at your own risk.
- Ballet51 Dance Studio is not liable for compensation for any injuries incurred or sustained from executing the exercises given below. In following the exercises below, you understand you are doing it at your own risk.
- I’ve provided the music links which are royalty-free for each exercise. Choose your favourite ones. (Better to download them as live streaming is a bit unstable)
Warm-up:
Music for Warm-up
- Facing your “barre”, parallel legs.
- Calf stretches 10 secs for each leg
- Achilles tendon stretch also 10 secs each leg
- Repeat above 2 stretches
- 1st position: plie>stretch>rise to demi-pointe>lower with straight legs. Repeat 8 times.
- Relax for 30 secs and proceed to Plie exercise.
Plie (knees over toes):
Music for Plie
- Left hand on “barre”. Preparation right arm to 2nd with head coordination.
- 2 demi plies and 1 grand plie: Repeat in 1st, 2nd & 5th position with coordinated arms as taught in class.
- Finish with arm allongee and then to Bras Bas with head following arms and then look up to the side.
- Hold for 4 secs before repeating to the other side.
- After finishing both sides, relax for 30 secs and proceed to Tendu & Jete exercise.
Battement Tendu & Jete (toes remain on floor throughout for Tendu):
Music for Tendu & Jete
- Left hand on “barre”. Preparation right arm to 2nd with head coordination.
- 4 tendu en croix with foot articulation & head coordination, keeping arms in 2nd position.
- 4 jete en croix with thrust of leg using ball of the foot.
- Finish by bringing arm quickly to Bras Bas together with last closing movement of the leg, head following arm down and then look up to the side.
- Hold for 4 secs before repeating to the other side.
- After finishing both sides, relax for 30 secs and proceed to Fondu exercise.
Battement Fondu (Keep weight on ball of foot throughout exercise):
Music for Fondu
- Left hand on “barre”. Preparation right arm to 2nd with head coordination.
- 1 double fondu devant (slow version in 4 counts) and 1 fondu devant in 2 counts, hold 2 counts
- Repeat en croix
- Bring leg in to retire, both arms in 1st position, balance 4 counts.
- Slide leg down to 5th front (don’t touch the “barre”), arms open to 2nd, head to the side.
- Allongee arms before you plie and straighten, arms Bras Bas. Remember head coordination & from balance to balance.
- Hold for 4 secs before repeating to the other side.
- After finishing both sides, relax for 30 secs and proceed to Rond de jambe par terre exercise.
Rond de Jambe par Terre:
Music for Rond de Jambe par terre
- Left hand on “barre”. Preparation right arm & leg to 2nd.
- 4 rond de jambe en dehors, finishing to the front.
- 4 rond de jambe en dedans, finishing to the back.
- Repeat both en dehors and en dedans.
- Last rond de jambe, close 5th front.
- 3rd Port de Bras in 8 counts.
- Rise en demi-pointe (tight 5th) and repeat 3rd Port de Bras in 8 counts.
- Open arm to 2nd position, head to the side.
- Allongee arm before you plie and straighten, arms Bras Bas. Remember head coordination & from balance to balance.
- Hold for 4 secs before repeating to the other side.
- After finishing both sides, relax for 30 secs and proceed for cool-down.
Cool Down:
Music for Cool Down
- Facing your “barre”, parallel legs.
- Calf stretches 10 secs for each leg
- Achilles tendon stretch also 10 secs each leg
- Repeat above 2 stretches
- 1st position: plie > stretch > rise to demi-pointe > lower with straight legs. Repeat 4 times.
- Extend left hand to the side (head to left), bring it up to 3rd position (head to right) and bend body to the right, 4 counts
- Recover to upright position, 2 counts.
- Extend right hand to the side (head to right), bring it up to 3rd position (head to left) and bend body to the left, 4 counts
- Recover to upright position, 2 counts.
- Finish with both hands open to 2nd (head to right), allongee and bring them down to Bras Bas, head follow right hand and then look up to the side.
- Hold for 4 secs before you relax.
~ End of Ballet Barre Exercise #1 ~
Centre Exercise #1 (Beginner & Level 1)
08 May 2020
- Make sure you have adequate space around you before attempting Centre Practice.
- You can use the same music you used for the Barre Exercises above.
Centre Battement Tendu
- 2x Battement Tendu in the 8 Directions of the Body with Right Leg and corresponding arms position and head direction.
- Repeat with Left Leg.
- After finishing both sides, relax for 30 secs and proceed to Jete.
Centre Battement Jete
- 2x Battement Jete in the 8 Directions of the Body with Right Leg and corresponding arms position and head direction.
- Repeat with Left Leg.
- After finishing both sides, relax for 30 secs and proceed to Pique.
Centre Battement Pique
- 2x Battement Pique in the 8 Directions of the Body with Right leg and corresponding arm positions and head direction.
- Repeat with Left Leg.
- After finishing both sides, relax for 30 secs and proceed to Fondu.
Centre Fondu
- 2x Fondu in the 8 Directions of the Body with Right leg and corresponding arm positions and head direction.
- Repeat with Left Leg.
- After finishing both sides, relax for 30 secs and proceed for cool down. (You can use the Cool Down for Barre Exercises above.)
Advanced Options (for Level 1 ONLY):
- Repeat all the above Centre Exercises on demi-pointe.
- Be thoroughly warmed up for this and only attempt it AFTER you have completed the above Centre Exercises.
- Only attempt this if your ankles are strong.
- Make sure you cool down properly after completing all the exercises.
~ End of Centre Exercise #1 ~
Enjoy the rest of your day & Keep Safe!!