Intermediate Level Barre Exercises for Ballet
An Outline of Barre Work for a Typical Ballet Class
Jan 25, 2009
Most ballet classes will begin with exercises at the barre. The following is an example of the first four exercises for barre work in an intermediate-level class.
These barre exercises can be done at home, but please keep in mind that they are intermediate exercises. Beginners should consult with their instructors before attempting work that has not yet been covered in class. For definitions, photos and videos of the steps and terms in the article, please see the American Ballet Theater's Ballet Dictionary.
Plie (plee-AY)
- Starting in first position turned out, with left arm on the barre and right arm out to the side in second
- Demi plie, bringing right arm down to low first position, and straighten
- Demi plie, bringing right arm up in front to chest-level, and straighten while opening arm to second
- Grande plie, bringing right arm down while bending knees, and opening arm through chest while straightening
- Releve in first position and hold
- Lower to first position in demi plie, tendu right foot to the side, and lower heel to stand in second position
- Repeat exercise in second position, fourth position, and fifth position
- When you releve in fifth position, pull heels together in sous sous and balance with arms in high fifth position
- Repeat entire exercise on the other side, with right hand on the barre
Tendu (tahn-DOO)
- Starting in fifth position with right foot in front, left hand on the barre, and right arm in high fifth position
- Tendu right foot to the front and close in fifth, four times
- Tendu right foot to the side and close in fifth, with right arm in second position (close in front first, then back, then front, then back)
- Tendu right foot to the back and close in fifth, four times, with right arm in front of chest, hand pointing forward
- Repeat four tendu to the side, closing in back first
- Tendu right foot to the front, then plie in fourth position keeping the right foot out in front
- Lift weight onto right foot, and tendu left foot back
- Close left foot in back in fifth position
- Tendu right foot to the side, then plie in second position, lifting left hand off the barre
- Lift weight onto right foot, and tendu left foot in second
- Close left foot in front in fifth position (now away from the barre)
- Tendu left foot to the side, then plie in second position
- Lift weight onto left foot, and tendu right foot in second (left hand is now back on the barre)
- Close right foot in back in fifth position
- Tendu right foot to the back, then plie in fourth position keeping the right foot in back
- Lift weight onto right foot, and tendu left foot front
- Close left foot in front in fifth position
- Repeat tendu-plie fourth combination in reverse, starting with right foot tendu to back (arms can remain in second)
- Repeat entire exercise on other side, with right hand on the barre
Degasse (day-gah-ZHAY)
- Starting with right foot in front in fifth position, left hand on the barre and right arm in high fifth position
- Degasse right foot to the front and close in fifth, four times
- Degasse left foot (inside foot) to the back and close in fifth, four times, with right arm extended in front of chest
- Degasse right foot to the side and close in fifth, four times, with right arm out in second (close in back first, then front, then back, then front)
- Degasse left foot (inside foot) to the side and close in fifth, four times (close in back first)
- Repeat exercise in reverse, starting with right foot degasse to back, right arm extended in front of chest (degasse to the side will close in front first)
- Repeat entire exercise with two degasse in each direction
- Repeat entire exercise on the other side, with right hand on the barre
Frappe (frap-PAY)
- Starting with right foot in front in fifth position, left hand on the barre and right arm out in second position
- Before exercise starts, tendu right foot to side, then place right foot in front of ankle, flexed, with right leg turned out; lift right arm to high fifth position
- Frappe right foot to the front
- Frappe right foot to the side, closing in back, with right arm out in second
- Frappe right foot to the back with right arm extended in front of chest
- Frappe right foot to the side, closing in front, with right arm out in second
- Repeat exercise once
- Repeat exercise twice with a "beat" before the frappe (right foot beats around the ankle before the frappe – beat in back, beat in front, frappe front - beat front, beat back, frappe side - beat front, beat back, frappe back – beat back, beat front, frappe side)
- Repeat the beat combination twice, with a releve during the beats and a demi plie on the frappe - right foot stays pointed throughout this final portion of the exercise
- Repeat entire exercise on the other side, with right hand on the barre
Typically, these four exercises at the barre will begin the intermediate-level ballet class. As a reminder, please consult with your instructor before attempting any exercises that have not yet been covered in your class. If you have already learned these exercises, feel free to work on the above combinations at home. Remember to check the ABT Online Ballet Dictionary for help with definitions of terms, and photos and videos of the steps.
Please see the article "More Intermediate Barre Exercises for Ballet" for exercises that usually follow these first four combinations.
The copyright of the article Intermediate Level Barre Exercises for Ballet in Ballet is owned by Terry Finch. Permission to republish Intermediate Level Barre Exercises for Ballet in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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