Ballet technique is the foundational principles of body movement and form used in
ballet
Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form ...
. It is an important aspect of ballet performance because ballet (especially
classical ballet
Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions), its ...
) puts great emphasis on the method and execution of movement.
[, pp. 6-7 & 21.] The techniques found in classical ballet are a framework for many other styles of dance, including
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
and
contemporary ballet
Contemporary ballet is a genre of dance that incorporates elements of classical ballet and modern dance. It employs classical ballet technique and in many cases classical pointe technique as well, but allows greater range of movement of the up ...
.
Aspects of ballet technique include alignment, which refers to keeping the head, shoulders, and hips vertically aligned.
Turnout refers to completing movements with legs rotated outward; this promotes clean footwork, graceful ''
port de bras'' (movement of the arms), and correct body positions, lines and angles. Other aspects of ballet technique include posture, toe pointing, keeping shoulders down, and pulling up, which combines proper posture and lifting of the muscles to increase turnout and enhance alignment and thus improve the quality of turns. Ballet technique is also used to exhibit ''
ballon
Ballon may refer to:
Places
*Ballon, County Carlow (''Balana'' in Irish), a village in Ireland
*Grand Ballon
The Grand Ballon () or Great Belchen is the highest mountain of the Vosges, located northwest of Mulhouse, France. It is also the hig ...
'', the appearance of gravity-defying lightness, during leaps.
Pointe technique is the part of ballet technique concerned with dancing on the tips of fully extended feet.
The core techniques of ballet are common throughout the world, though there are minor variations among the different styles of ballet. Together with stylistic differences, these variations produce an aesthetic and physicality of performance that is unique to each style. For example,
Russian ballet exhibits high extensions and dynamic turns, whereas
Italian ballet tends to be more grounded, with a focus on fast and intricate footwork.
Training
Ballet training places great emphasis on ballet technique because precise technique is an essential element of the aesthetics of ballet performance. Ballet technique is drilled into ballet students to develop the desired aesthetics and to prevent injury. For example, students are taught to avoid sickling of the foot, which is an undesirable aesthetic and can result in ankle injuries when performing ''en pointe''.
The
ballet barre
A barre () is a stationary handrail that provides support for people during various types of exercise. Barres are used extensively in ballet training and warm up exercises, where such exercises are commonly referred to as ''barre work''. In a ba ...
is a tool for learning ballet technique. Barre work typically involves all elements of ballet technique except for the elements that are exclusive to jumps. It is possible to practice turning technique for fouettés and pirouettes at the barre.
Applications
* Petit allegro (meaning "small and fast") movements comprise small jumps and fast, detailed footwork.
* Grand allegro (meaning "big and fast") movements comprise technically challenging movements such as large jumps and leaps.
See also
*
Glossary of ballet
References
External links
Advanced Ballet Techniques*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballet Technique
Ballet terminology