Concept: Opposition
Barre
Exercise #1
Pli
Musical Meter: 3/4
Counts
Sequence
Prep 1-4
Start with left hand of barre, right arm bras bas and feet in 1st
Port de bras right arm to 1st, then open to 2nd
1-2
Demi pli; arm comes down to bras bas
3-4
Demi pli; arm goes through first to second
1-4
Grand pli; arm goes through bras bas, first, back to second
1-4
Corps pench en avant, pli legs, roll body up to return arm 5th
Tendu to second position
1-2
Demi pli; arm comes down to bras bas
3-4
Demi pli; arm goes through first to second
1-4
Grand pli; arm goes through bras bas, first, back to second
1-4
Cambr to the barre, right hand grabs the barre, pli right leg, straighten
Return back to arm second, tendu to fourth position
1-2
Demi pli; arm comes down to bras bas
3-4
Demi pli; arm goes through first to second
1-4
Grand pli; arm goes through bras bas, first, back to second
1-2
Cambr to the barre
3-4
Continue to corps pench en avant
Return up with arms in second, tendu to fifth
1-2
Demi pli; arm comes down to bras bas
3-4
Demi pli; arm goes through first to second
1-4
Grand pli; arm goes through bras bas, first, back to second
1-2
Cambr to the barre
3-4
Continue to cambr back
Return up with arms in second
Balance with feet in fifth position, pli, arms in fifth
Repeat on the left side
- Think of the top of your head as connected to the ceiling as your feet are to the floor
- Imagine pli as a round, circular movement rather than and up, down angular movement
Exercise #2
Tendu from first
Musical Meter: 2/4
Counts
Sequence
Prep 1-4
Start with left hand of barre, right arm bras bas and feet in 1st
Port de bras right arm to 1st, then open to 2nd
1-2
Tendu devant, close
1-2
Tendu devant, close
1-2
Tendu devant, pli left leg
Straighten left leg and close to first
Hold
1-24
Repeat en quarr; seconde, derrire, seconde
1-2
Pli; arms bras bas
1-2
Relev
1-2
Pli
1-2
Relev
1-2
Pli
1-2
Relev
1-2
Pli
1-2
Relev
Balance in relev
Repeat on the left side
- Engage the high hamstring during the pli on one leg and keep it engaged when you
straighten to first
- Feel length from the toe to the pelvis
- Isolate the leg from the hip
Exercise #3
Counts
Tendu from 5th
Musical meter: 4/4
Sequence
Prep 1-4
Start with left hand of barre, right arm bras bas and feet in 5th
Port de bras right arm to 1st, then up to fifth
And 1
Tendu devant, close
And 2
Tendu seconde, close
And
Tendu derrire
Battement tendu en cloche to tendu devant
And
Battement tendu en cloche to tendu derrire
Close in fifth derrire
And 1
Tendu derrire, close
And 2
Tendu seconde, close
And
Tendu devant
Battement tendu en cloche to tendu derrire
And
Battement tendu en cloche to tendu devant
Close in fifth devant
Tendu left leg derrire
And
Battement tendu en cloche to tendu devant
Close fifth
Tendu right leg derrire
And
Battement tendu en cloche to tendu devant
Close fifth
And
Tendu seconde
Close first
And
Tendu seconde
Close first
And
Tendu seconde
Close 5th derrire in pli
Straighten legs
1-16
Repeat en dedans
1-4
Corps pench en avant, return up
1-4
Cambr to the barre, return
1-4
Cambr back, return
1-4
Corps pench en avant, roll body up
Pli sous-sus balance, arms in 5th
Repeat on the left side
- Make quick weight shifts when switching legs, as if you could do it without the barre.
- Make the cloches swing but stop in a position devant or derrire.
Exercise #4
Dgag
Counts
Musical meter: 4/4
Sequence
1-4 prep
Start facing the barre and feet in 1st
Port de bras both arms on the barre
1-2
Pli, straighten to dgag right leg seconde
3-4
2 dgag closing on 3 and 4
1-2
Pli, straighten to dgag seconde
3-4
2 dgag closing on 3 and 4
And
Dgag seconde
Close 5th devant en pli
Straighten legs
3-4
Hold
And
Dgag seconde
Close 5th derrire en pli
Straighten legs
Hold
1-4
Dgag seconde four times closing en fifth devant closing on the count
1-4
Dgag seconde four times closing en fifth derrire closing on the count
Repeat on the left side
- Keep the hips even at all times
- Push against the floor to fully point feet in dgag
Exercise #5
Counts
Rond de jambe terre
Musical meter: 3/4
Sequence
1-4 prep
Start with left hand of barre, right arm bras bas and feet in 5th
Port de bras right arm to 1st, then open to 2nd
1-2
Pli chass through 4th to tendu derrire; arms first arabesque
3-4
Temps li par terre to tendu devant; right arm fifth
1-8
8 rond de jambe terre en dehors, arm come down to second
1-4
1 rond de jambe en lair at 45 degrees; close to 5th derrire
1-16
Repeat en dedans
1-8
Port de corps en rond en dehors
1-8
Port de corps en rond en dedans
1-2
Tendu left leg derrire open arm to second
3-8
Pli to long lunge
1-4
Cambr back still in tendu derrire, return
Pli 5th, balance pass retir devant
Repeat on the left side
- Hit first every time you go around in the rond de jambe.
- Try to go as far as possible in every direction in the rond de jambe.
Center
Exercise #4
Counts
Warm up jump
Musical meter: 4/4
Sequence
1-4 prep
Prepare feet in 5th, arms bras bas
1-8
8 sauts in first; arms bras bas
1-8
8 sauts in second; arms in second
1-16
16 changements; arms bras bas
- Use this exercise to wake up the feet; articulate and use the toes and ankles.
Exercise #5
Petite allegro
Musical meter: 4/4
Counts
Sequence
1-4 prep
Prepare arms bras bas, feet in 5th with left leg devant
And 1
Glissade change right
And 2
Glissade change right
And 3
Glissade change right
Soubresaut right leg front
And 1
Glissade change left
And 2
Glissade change left
And 3
Glissade change left
Soubresaut left leg front
1-2
Glissade jet right
3-4
Glissade jet left
1-2
Glissade assembl right
3-4
Glissade assembl left
1-16
Repeat with battu; jet battu, assembl battu, soubresaut to royale
- Try to begin glissade at the last possible moment to create dynamic, syncopated timing in the
allegro.
- Keep a relaxed upper body while the lower legs are quick and sharp.
Exercise #6
Medium allegro
Musical Meter: 4/4
Counts
Sequence
1-4 prep
Prepare in corner 3, sous-sus right leg front crois
1-2
Sissonne ouverte right, assembl to corner 1
3-4
Sissone ouverte right, assembl to corner 1
1-2
Tomb right coup assembl right to corner 4
3-4
Failli to corner 4, pas de cheval devant saut to corner 2
1-2
Bris left, pas de bourre
3-4
Bris right, pas de bourre
1-2
Sissone ferme en face right, left
Temps de cuisse right
Sissone ferme en face left
Exercise #7
Grand Allegro
Music Meter: 4/4
Counts
Sequence
1-4 prep
Prepare in corner 3, right tendu crois
1-2
2 piqu tour en dedans, arms coming through 4th position
3-4
Tomb pas de bourre glissade
Grande jet with arms in third arabesque
6
7
Failli, develop demi right leg
Left coup, pass saut 3rd arebesque to corner 1
Chass to corner 3
1, 2
Saut arabesque right, left with arms in third
3, 4
Balanc to corner 3, balanc en tournament over the right shoulder
5-8
Tomb pas de bourre, glissade, grand jet with arms in high fifth
