Katie's Ballet Barre

Plies

L arm on barre: In 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th: 2 demi plies, 1 grand plie, plie releve, plie tendu to next position (except in 4th replace grand plie with plie press-through). After 5th combo, port de bras front and back, hold in 5th.  START MUSIC OVER to repeat on other side.

 

Tendu Slow

Start in 1st, tendu front, flex, front, close 1st, 2 tendus front; tendu side flex side close 1st, 2 tendus side; same to the back. In 1st: plie, releve, move R foot into 5th, soutenu to other side and repeat.

2nd combo: From 5th, 2 tendus to front; 2 side; 2 back; tendu side (L leg plie), soutenu, reverse.  

(Note: in the video on the first side, I made a mistake when my leg went to the back - I should have done SCDP, 5th, tendu, close instead of SCDP, close, pas de cheval, close.)

 

Option: with their first exposure to this, you can have them keep the arm in second during the tendus to the front, side and back.  As they get more experienced, you can add the more advanced arms.

 

Tendu fast

Sur le coup de pied ("around the neck of the foot") abbreviation SCDP:

From 5th: SCDP close 5th, tendu front close 5th; SCDP close 5th, tendu side close 5th; Coupe 5th, tendu back close 5th, tendu side (L leg plie), soutenu, reverse on other side.

2nd combo: SCDP close 5th, pas de cheval front, close 5th; same to side; same to back; tendu side (plie) soutenu; reverse

 

Degages

Facing the barre, in 5th (R foot in front):

1st combo with accent IN.

Degage with R leg to side, closing back, front, back, front; now L leg degage side closing front, back, front, back; now R leg degage front, L leg back, R front, L back; sweet pea (R foot pas de cheval, R plie (L leg in low arabesque), pas de bourree to close 5th with L foot in front. Reverse.

REPEAT both sides with accent OUT.

 

Ronds De Jambes

Ronds De Jambes abbreviation (RDJ):

Intro: plie L leg while R leg RDJ from front to side.

2 RDJ, brush front, back, front; 2 reverse RDJ, brush back, front, back; tendu front (L leg plie), RDJ around to back with L leg straightening (sweeping R arm going toward back) twice; then with straight standing leg, the R leg brushes to front and does a RDJ en'laire (off the ground), touches the floor in the back and brushes through 1st to tendu front; reverse the combo (with the RDJ brushing through 1st and out to second and then front): 2 RDJ brush back, front, back; 2 reverse RDJ brush front, back, front; plie RDJ with standing leg straightening and sweeping arm, do that again; then on straight leg brush arabesque to RDJ en'laire to side and front, close 5th; soutenu.

Reverse on second side.

 

Fondu

Intro: tendu R leg to side:

Fondu extend front, fondu side, fondu back, plie to temps lie through 4th, close L leg into 5th. R leg tendus side to start combination to the back: fondu extend back, fondu side, fondu front, plie into 4th to swivel to other side, close 5th and then tendu L leg side to start (repeat full combination).

Music will be half-way done at this point. Either stop them or have them repeat both sides again.

One option: the first time (both sides) the arm stays in second the whole time and the second time use more advanced arms.

Another option (as they get better): the first time (both sides) use the advanced arm and the second time raise the leg higher in each position.

 

Pas De Cheval

Facing the barre. Start in 5th, tendu side to 2nd positon.

4 plies in 2nd; now plie to R, L, R, L; pull up on L standing leg so R leg can begin the pas de chevals closing in 5th front, back, front, back; step sideways to the Left, close 5th with R foot in front, tombe pas de bourree to close 5th with L foot in front. Reverse. Repeat.

 

Grand Battements

Grand Battements abbreviation: GB

GB front twice, degage front twice; repeat to the side (GB closes front first); repeat to the back, tendu side to soutenu; repeat.

Option: for their first exposure to, ask them to hold arm in second during the front, side and back part of the combo. As they get better, add in the more advanced arms. 

 
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