A guide for dancers and teachers
For many aspiring dancers the barre is a sanctuary; a place of focus, meditation, and preparation. It centres you. It provides essential elements for training the dancer’s body. Before you skip straight to centre practice, here are a few important points to remember.
1. Warm Up
Barre work has been developed to prepare the dancer and their body for movement. By following a structured syllabus or program which links barre to centre the dancer will prepare for a balanced class in a safe and effective way. This includes mental preparation for the class (mindfulness). For example, a plié exercise sequence performed intentionally at the barre will prepare the dancer’s mind-body connection for the class ahead.
2. Strengthen
Ballet is a physically demanding sport. It is impossible to dance successfully without being physically strong. Barre work focuses on stability while maintaining good posture in static movements. Each exercise at the barre has been designed to build up on some technical element in the centre. These technical elements require muscle strength and endurance. There are many examples:
· one of the many benefits of Plié includes strengthening of muscles for allegro (jumping),
· tendus assists in strengthening intrinsic foot muscles
· fondus are essential for adage and allegro alighting from one leg.
o This is especially critical when starting on pointe shoes.
· focusing on strengthening turn out at the barre is paramount for all technical elements of ballet.
· The list goes on.
3. Flexibility
The barre is the most important place to start improving flexibility.
There is a place for safe stretching before class but it is more
important to build strength in all positions that a dancer will need. It’s not just about focusing on the stretch of
the relevant muscle but strengthening both it and the opposing muscle that
works to maintain the line. For example, emphasising pelvic stability while
encouraging limb mobility will facilitate greater controlled range of motion.
4. Co-ordination
The barre introduces elements of co-ordinating graceful port de bras, breathing and movement. Getting the timing and coordination of the arms and legs correct will help with both momentum and dynamics in the centre. Teachers and dancers alike tend to neglect the co-ordination of breathing and movement. Breathing in a controlled and relaxed manner greatly facilitates flow, endurance and enjoyment.
5. Balance and weight placement
The main purpose of barre work is to prepare the dancer to perform those same movements in the centre without assistance. This demands considerable control and balance. The barre exercises are designed to strengthen the supporting leg (and the body) while facilitating transference of weight and pelvic positioning as you move in the centre.
6. Correction of technique
The barre provides an opportunity to correct technique and focus on weaknesses for even the most accomplished dancer. Correcting pirouettes, for example will mostly be done facing square the barre en balance. Using the barre helps the student focus on weight placement, eyeline and posture.
For the teacher
The barre can sometimes become monotonous for students. This can be especially true if you tend to use the same music often. To avoid this, change from the usual syllabus music or use different interesting pieces that they can relate to.
Visual feedback is a good learning tool. Props like talcum powder (to trace the shape of ronde de jambe a terre) or stickers on different body parts (to remind them to engage relevant muscles) can be especially helpful when learning new technique at the barre.
It is very important to explain to students WHY they are learning a certain step at the barre. Make the link between the barre and the centre. For example holding your balance in pirouette position for as long as possible at the barre translates to a more sustained pirouette in the centre. Another example is grand battements leading up to grand jeté in the centre.
Lastly, in my experience it is good to keep a dynamic flow of the barre section. I would choose to correct or break down one or two exercises at the barre in one lesson and dance through the rest. Make it fun and give a lot of positive constructive feedback.
Melissa is a registered Dance and Pilates instructor with 21 years teaching experience.