Ballet Technique Lessons

A demi plié is one of the most basic but most important steps in classical ballet.  Today you’ll learn how to do a demi plié in ballet! 1. Start in a Position A demi plié in classical ballet is always done in one of the five positions of the feet.  For this demonstration, we’ll show you…

A demi plié is one of the most important movements in classical ballet.  Its the start and end of every jump, pirouette and is used between steps to look more fluid and protect the dancer from injury.  Since its so common, its important to have a really solid plié, and part of that is keeping…

If you have hyper-extended arms, this tip is especially for you!  In ballet, there are several positions of the arms that require them to be straight.  But you’ll find that its a common mistake for dancers with hyper-extended arms to go beyond the “straight” line they’re trying to achieve and into hyper-extension.  While it may…

It is a common mistake when doing a penché in ballet to lead with the upper body.  Since a penché is typically done in arabesque, a dancer can sometimes get caught up in trying to get their back leg to a 180 degree position and lead with their upper body in an effort to get…

Try to always keep your shoulders down.  Even when you are in fifth port de bras, they should be kept down and not scrunching upwards.  Sometimes a dancer may have raised shoulders because they’re concentrating too hard on trying to be in a good position or strong port de bras.  Relax and your position and…

Here’s a quick ballet technique tip: Remember to always keep your heels forward and turned out in relevé!  Keeping your heels forward, instead of back behind your toes, allows for a stronger position and better line.  It may help to think of your feet and ankles as puzzle pieces that need to connect together.  If…

Tendu is taught as the action of stretching your leg and foot out from one position to another, while keeping it on the floor.  While most teachers may simply say “Tendu…,” the complete term is battement tendu.  Tendu literally translates from French as “stretched”.  A tendu in classical ballet, outside of a class, is most…

Plié [plee-AY] is one of the more basic steps in ballet, but it’s arguably the most important as its often the beginning and ending of the majority of intermediate and advanced steps, provide explosive power in jumps and pirouettes and help reduce the risk of injury. We’ll get into a more advanced look soon, but…

Believe it or not, there is actually a technique to properly hold the barre in ballet class.  It may not seem important to a beginner, but the more you think about it, the more it makes sense.  After all, every step and position in ballet has a specific technique, why would holding the barre be…

Having a stretching routine is a great thing to have for both students and professionals.  However, poor stretching habits can lead to fewer, and possibly unwanted, results when it comes to ballet technique.  Let’s take a look at a few examples of how to properly stretch your muscles at the barre. Tips for Proper Stretching…