More Intermediate Barre Exercises for Ballet
An Outline of Barre Work for a Typical Ballet Class
Feb 1, 2009
Most ballet classes will begin with exercises at the barre. The following is an example of four ending 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.
Rond de Jamb (rahn-deh-ZHAMB)
- Starting in first position turned out, with left arm on the barre and right arm out to the side in second
- Tendu right foot to front and hold
- Circle foot around to tendu back and hold (foot should move through tendu in second, keeping toes on the floor for the entire half-circle)
- Slide foot from back, through first position turned out to tendu front again
- Repeat rond de jamb around to back and hold
- Sliding through first, complete four rond de jamb sequentially, without pausing in front or back, finishing in first position turned out
- Repeat exercise with two slow and four quick rond de jamb, starting in back first
- Repeat entire exercise on the other side, with right hand on the barre
Developpe (deh-vel-lo-PAY)
- Starting in fifth position with right foot in front, left hand on the barre, and right arm out to the side in second
- Lift right foot, pointed, and slide right foot up the left leg, from ankle to knee (right leg is turned out and ends in passe position, with toes in front of left knee)
- Slowly extend and unfold right leg, turned out, to the front (right arm comes up to chest and extends to high fifth position)
- Lower right leg to tendu in front, and close in front in fifth position, lowering arm to second
- Repeat developpe with right leg to the side, sliding up to passe and extending to second (right arm comes up to chest and opens to second)
- Lower right leg to tendu and close in back in fifth position
- Repeat developpe with right leg to the back, sliding up to passe in back of the left knee and extending to arabesque (right arm comes up to chest and opens to front, reaching fingers forward)
- Lower right leg to tendu and close in back in fifth position
- Repeat developpe to second, finishing by closing in front in fifth position
- Repeat developpe to front, side, back, and side with right leg
- Repeat entire exercise on other side, with right hand on the barre
Grande Battement (grahnd-baht-MAH)
- Starting with right foot in front in fifth position, left hand on the barre and right arm in high fifth position
- Slide right foot forward, through tendu front and lift while turned out to the front (smooth kick forward)
- Lower right foot, through tendu and slide into fifth position in front
- Repeat grande battement to the side, with arm in second, closing in back in fifth position
- Repeat grande battement to the back (arabesque), with arm extending forward in front of chest, closing in back in fifth position
- Repeat grande battement to the side, with arm in second, closing in back in fifth position
- Repeat entire exercise with grande battement front, side, back, and side three more times
- Repeat entire exercise on the other side, with right hand on the barre
Stretch on the Barre
- Starting in first position turned out, facing the barre with both hands resting on the top barre
- Before exercise starts, developpe right leg to side and lift to rest right foot on the barre in second, turned out
- Demi plie on left leg (standing leg), straighten, and releve on left foot, then lower to standing position
- Repeat demi plie, straighten, releve, and lower, while keeping hips straight and both legs turned out
- Lift left arm in high fifth position, stretch to the right over the right leg
- Return to standing position, switch arms and stretch away from the right leg
- With both hands on the barre, slide the right leg away from the body, to stretch in second position
- Return to standing position, and turn body to the right to face the leg (right leg is now extended in front, still on the barre)
- Lift right arm in high fifth position, stretch forward over the right leg
- Return to standing position, look into right hand and cambre back, keeping hips straight and both legs turned out
- With both hands on the barre, lift the right leg and rond de jamb to the back in arabesque position, shoulders and body squared to the barre with leg extended in back
- Bend right leg into attitude position, keeping chest lifted
- Straighten right leg back into arabesque position
- Tendu right leg in back, close in first position
- Developpe left leg to the side and lift to rest on the barre; repeat entire exercise with left leg on the barre
Typically, these four exercises at the barre will end the intermediate-level ballet class barre work. 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 "Intermediate Level Barre Exercises for Ballet" for the exercises which usually precede these combinations.
The copyright of the article More Intermediate Barre Exercises for Ballet in Ballet is owned by Terry Finch. Permission to republish More Intermediate Barre Exercises for Ballet in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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