Basic Ballet Warm-ups

Creative_Dancer · Joined: 26 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

Hi Everyone,
Where can i find a website that shows basic ballet warm-ups that i can teach a group of non-experienced ladies? also what are some good arm warm-ups in ballet?

thanks
Creative_Dancer

nimmysnv · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 61

Hi,

I have search allot about this and I have not get any site relate to this but I got one site that provides all the information about the costumes that are required in the ballad.

Thanks!

NeilT · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Posts: 9 Location: Manchester, UK

Hi Creative Dancer,

Would never recommend using elements of Ballet for a warm up/exercise class unless you have experience of dancing/teaching Ballet. In this form of dance we stand constantly turned out from the hip, and the potential to damage the knee and hip joint (and sometimes the lower back) if performed wrongly is significant. I would recommend trying out some Jazz, Modern or Contemporary exercises if you are relatively inexperienced as they are much 'safer' dance styles (apologies if you're an experienced teacher just looking for fresh ideas... got to cover my back sometimes!!!). That side Ballet can be a fantastic way to exercise working plenty of different muscle groups that are crucial but don't get touched by many other exercises!

I would recommend starting off with a basic barre (plies, tendus, glisses, fondues, grand battements... maybe an adage). Focus on correct posture and stance, and always keeping the leg muscles (particularly the turnout muscles) fully engaged, extending the leg out of the hip socket (making the leg as long as you can without pulling off the supporting leg) in any degage type position (terre or en l'air), pulling up the knees whenever the legs are straight and lifting the torso up out of the hips (think of trying to lengthen out the spine, or pushing your feet down through the floor whilst reaching up through the ceiling with your head).

Extended Glisse exercise can be a fantastic leg toner. Facing the barre, feet in first do 8 to the Right (all a la seconde), 8 on the left, 4 right, 4 left, 2r, 2l, r, l, r, l... repeat the whole thing starting on the left straight away and if your feeling upto it repeat again as jetes (for anyone who isn't RAD a jete is basically a glisse to 45 degrees... that extra bit of height but at the same tempo will really work those inner leg muscles on the ferme action!).

The important thing for this exercise is to keep the hips stable (ie. only the leg moves, no hula dancing!). I tell my students (all adults) to think of holding a pencil between their butt cheeks... throughout the exercise they shouldn't let that pencil drop on the floor! Always gets a laugh and it works technique wise.

The exercise can also be done in centre with the arms in 5th for an extra challenge (wouldn't recommend it until they've learnt to keep their hips steady at the barre).

Centre Barres and floor barres can be fantastic aids posture and stance wise... I won't get into that right now as this post is getting long enough and is hard to explain purely in text!

Finally Chasse pas de bourre glissade assemble/jete/pas de chat can be a fantastic cardio exercise! Don't worry too much about technique, as long as they plie when they land and the knee is tracking over the top of the foot (so not forcing the turnout) damage can't really be done (though keep an eye out for any glaring technical faults!). Once they have learnt the steps (I generally teach chasse pas de bourree during a waltz/balance exercise, and glissade assemble during the petit allegro/warm up jump earlier in the class with my beginners so they already know the steps, they just have to put it together... so doesn't take too long) make them concentrate on travelling. If your room is the right size you can tell them to touch one wall then do the step back the other way and touch the other wall! Partner them up and make them race across the room, that can be a fun one too! If you don't have time for this in the class then temps leve can be taught pretty quickly too (step hop arabesque, step hop retire, repeat), again, with the emphasis on travelling!

Hope I helped... check out my post on music (Music for ballet... february) for fresh music ideas to keep the class fun!

Regards,
Neil @ KNT Danceworks

sharoncook · Joined: 10 Feb 2010 Posts: 14 Location: usa

Me also in same row.

nimmysnv · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 61

This is really very interesting to know the exercise that are quite good to perform and I think that it is a best way to learn the basics of ballet which is really awesome and I must say that this type of warm ups really gets your posture to give that lift which is necessary for you.

Thanks
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