The how-to on exercises at the barre, and sample exercises for you to practice.

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In this section, you can learn some simple barre exercises (with my own choreographed exercises), and use them as practice, or modify them for your ballet students. I've included some of the basics like pliés, and frappés, and then some more modified things like barre stretching. I believe that in a ballet class, it is a necessity to stick to a routine. Use the same exercises, and then work your way up by adding things to your barre work to challenge your muscles.

Throughout this section, I will put in pronunciations of some of the French terms, those will be in brackets like these: [ ]. I’ve also used pictures and have numbered them a single number will be in brackets [7] and will either be a link to a picture, or show that picture off to the side.

A barre (pronounced: bar) is a long wooden bar mounted to the side of a wall which provides a dancer with support. Both male and female ballet dancers use a barre in their exercises. It is one of the most important things you will do in a ballet class because it can focus on most areas of your body. Some examples are: balance and spinal alignment, to turnout and other critical areas.

Barre work is the second thing that you will do in a ballet class. The first, of course is stretching. Some ballet classes have a barre session that lasts ten minutes, while others may take an hour. It just depends on who your teacher is.

Preparatory Positions
Before your teacher starts counting and clapping, or the music begins, you will stand at the barre in one of two common preparatory positions. Always start so that your left arm is closest to the barre (in dance, everything will begin with the right side). The first preparatory position is first position.

First position preparatory is show to the left. This picture shows Elena ready to begin her exercise, but before you get to this pose, you must stand in first position, arms en bas. The music should have an introduction of 1, 2, 3 or 4 counts. On those counts, raise both arms to en avant then open with your left hand on the bar. In this case, Elena has her right arm en bas…she might be doing petit battements.

Fifth position preparatory is very similar to first. Tara (shown to the right) is standing ready to begin her exercise. However, you must first stand in fifth position, with your arms en bas. On the introduction to the music, raise your arms to en avant, then your left arm to the barre, and then place your right arm. Tara, like Elena, looks ready to perform petit battements in her position.

Remember not to squeeze the bar, and to keep your barre-arm light weight. For practice, try only placing your index and middle fingers on the barre, or just your fingertips. Keep in mind: the barre is suppose to help you balance, not be a lifejacket.

Arm placements are also important to your preparatory position. As you know, the right side always begins, but where do you place your right arm? Most teachers will point out where they want your arm during an exercise either verbally or physically. In following exercises, I will give you suggested placements for your arms, though your teacher may direct you differently.

By placing your hands on your hips, you can check your hip level. An alternative to putting your hands on your hips, is wearing a dance belt on your hips. You can also help to balance yourself when doing barre work without a barre.

Here, I will refer to the arm not placed on the barre as your working arm. The leg closest to the barre will be referred to as the supporting leg, and the leg furthest from the barre is the working leg.