Description

As you do these exercises on a portable barre in front of the mirror you will be encouraged to use the barre by pressing down on it with your hands. This will energize your shoulder and supporting arm, strengthen your posture, and help you to balance the movement of your legs and feet in center floor. You will also be instructed to keep your head turned toward yourself in the mirror so that you check your placement, alignment, and execution while you develop correct body positions—éffacé, croisé, and écarté. All pliés (except for stretches) are to be performed with opposition and resistance, which will strengthen your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and core. The fondu relevé exercises develop proper placement, balance, and the foot-ankle-knee strength which is necessary in order to correctly execute most poses, turns, and jumps. Learning to plié and relevé correctly on one foot is the determining factor in how quickly you will advance and how far you will go. The CD music is by Scott Killian.