Learn Basic Ballet Vocabulary | Tutorial for Beginners with Demonstration

Summary

In this video, the creator provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to essential ballet barre exercises for beginners. Covering foundational movements like pliés, tendus, dégagés, rond de jambes, and grand battements, the tutorial explains the importance of proper form, turnout, and control. The instructions are clear, friendly, and easy to follow, helping newcomers understand each step's technique and purpose. Whether you're just starting ballet or looking to refine your basics, this video offers a great introduction to ballet class essentials and aims to improve your practice with each movement.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ballet classes follow a regimented series of steps, starting with plies and progressing to advanced techniques like grand battements.
• 😀 Plies involve bending the knees in a controlled manner, ensuring knees are directly over the toes to avoid injury and maintain proper turnout.
• 😀 Tondus are performed by pointing the foot to the front, side, or back, while focusing on knee alignment and maintaining turnout throughout.
• 😀 Degagés are similar to tondus, but the foot lifts off the floor, requiring sharp movement with an emphasis on turnout and inner thigh engagement.
• 😀 Rond de jambe involves drawing a circular motion on the floor, either from the front to the side and back or vice versa, always maintaining proper knee and hip alignment.
• 😀 Fondues require both legs to bend and straighten simultaneously, with a focus on achieving proper turnout and positioning of the working and standing legs.
• 😀 Adagio movements like the développé involve slow, controlled leg extensions that move through various positions (front, side, back) while maintaining turnout and inner thigh engagement.
• 😀 Frappés involve striking the floor with the working foot, either with a flexed or pointed foot, and focusing on proper knee alignment and strong inner thigh muscles.
• 😀 Grand battements are large, explosive kicks that require a controlled upward motion and slow, deliberate descent to avoid injury and maintain control over the movement.
• 😀 Throughout all ballet bar exercises, it’s crucial to maintain proper turnout, focus on knee alignment, and keep the inner thigh muscles engaged for maximum effectiveness.

Q & A

What is the first step in a typical ballet class?

The first step in a typical ballet class is the plie combination, which involves bending the knees while maintaining proper turnout and alignment of the hips, knees, and toes.

How should the knees be positioned during a plie?

During a plie, the knees should always be directly over the toes. It is important not to let the knees move too far forward as that can cause injury.

What is the importance of turnout when performing a plie?

Turnout is crucial during a plie because it ensures that the knees stay over the toes. The turnout should be as wide as the body can comfortably manage, maintaining proper alignment.

What is a tondu and how should it be executed?

A tondu is a ballet step where you stretch the foot to a pointed position on the floor. The foot should be pointed directly in front of the body, and the knee should face outward to maintain proper turnout.

What is the difference between a tondu from first and fifth position?

When performing a tondu from first position, the feet start with the heels together and toes pointed outward. In fifth position, the feet are crossed, and the tondu is executed by extending the foot from this more compact position.

How does a degage differ from a tondu?

A degage is similar to a tondu but involves lifting the foot off the floor. The leg is extended sharply and then returned to its starting position, maintaining full turnout and inner thigh engagement throughout.

What should be kept in mind when performing a rond de jambe?

When performing a rond de jambe, the foot moves in a circular motion on the floor. It’s important to maintain turnout, keep the knee facing outward, and ensure the standing leg remains turned out as well.

What is the significance of the standing leg's turnout during exercises?

The standing leg's turnout is crucial for balance, alignment, and proper technique. It ensures that the entire body is aligned and helps avoid injury by preventing incorrect weight distribution.

What does a fondue involve in ballet?

A fondue involves a smooth bending of both legs simultaneously. One foot is pointed and brought into the coupé position while the standing leg bends. Then both legs straighten together. This movement can be performed in various directions, such as front, side, and back.

How is a grand battement different from an adagio?

A grand battement is a fast, powerful kick off the floor that reaches its highest extension, whereas an adagio is a slow, controlled movement that involves lifting the leg and holding it in position, often with more sustained control.