What Is Barre Work?

Video Transcript

"What is barre work? The word barre, spelled b a r r e, in ballet terms refers to all of the exercised done at the beginning of the dance class, standing at the ballet barre. You should never allow a dancer to lean or hang on the barre. It is merely there to help balance for the first portion of class. Several exercises such as plies, or bending movement of the knees, tendu, stretching of the leg, degage, disenging of the leg from the foot are done at the barre. There are also exercises done to help with balance for further use in the ballet class for turns and balancing exercises in center. A dancer can face the barre in first position and do plies and releves, using the barre to help guide them in their balance. These can be done on two foot or one foot. A dancer can also use the barre as a way means for stretching their hamstrings and hips with doing a barre stretch. One leg to be placed on the higher or lower barre as a means of a different kind of stretch in the class."