Dancers dressed in tutus or warm-up leggings and leotards stretching at a ballet barre may seem like something of a modern day interpretation of a Degas painting, but the importance of barre work in ballet can’t be emphasized enough. All ballet dancers, whether they want to go on to be prima ballerinas, or are the youngest novice still learning how to tie the ribbons on her ballet slippers, will learn that the barre will be the greatest tool to help a ballet dancer develop the strength, poise and balance that she (or he) will need to create the graceful movements synonymous with ballet dancing.
Ballet Barre Exercises
The first barre work exercise that most ballet dancers will learn is a plie. Performed in either first or second position, this is either a demi-plie where your feet hold position with your heels flat into the floor, while the knees bend outwards, or a grand-plie where you should raise your heels off the floor. The most important thing to remember here is to keep your back straight as your knees bend. Don’t be tempted to bend forward.
The tendu is the next exercise you will learn. This is a simple barre exercise that forms the basis of the following two exercises. Stand with your feet in third position and gently push your non-supporting leg forward until your toe points out in front of you. Slide your leg back until you are in your starting position once again. You can also do this exercise to the side.
Degage: Almost identical to tendus, degage exercises can also be done to the front or to the side. Once you extend the pointed foot at the end of the tendu, lift the foot slightly (remember to keep your toes pointed) from the floor. Return it to the floor and then slide it back into third position.
Grande Battements: Take the degage exercise a little further by raising the leg to hip height. This should be done slowly and with both your back and your leg straight. Grande Battements can be done to the front, the side, or behind. When doing a Grande Battement back exercise, resist the temptation to bend your upper body forwards as your leg extends back. Your back should remain straight at all times.
Barre work at first may seem boring and not what you want to do, but put your focus into perfecting the exercises. You’ll find your body not only becomes more graceful and poised, but it will also build strength that will make the more advanced exercises you will learn easier.
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