Remember to keep proper posture
through the warm-up. Likewise, engage all muscles, including legs, arms, abs,
and glutes. If you do not control your movements this warm-up is worthless.
Ø
Turnout
exercises
o
Lie
on stomach, press bottoms of feet together. Keep pelvis flat. Feel the stretch
in the hips. This is where proper turnout comes from.
o
Lie
on your back. Place legs straight in front of you and slowly rotate from the
hips to a turned out position. Notice the turnout comes from the hips and not
the knees.
Ø
Plies
o
Begin
in first position (arms in preparatory position for all demi plies) perform 4
demi plies followed by 1 grand plie.
o
Tendu
to second position. Repeat with 4 demi followed by 1 grand.
o
Repeat
through 3rd, 4th, & 5th positions using
tendu to move from one to another.
**Each exercise that follows must be repeated on both
right and left sides**
Ø
Tendu
(toes never leave the floor, arms may stay in preparatory position)
o
Begin
in 1st position. Tendu to the front (devant). Return to 1st
position. Repeat 5 times.
o
Repeat
to the side (a la seconde).
o
Repeat
to the back (derriere).
Ø
Degage
(Building on the tendu, the leg and foot extend off the floor)
o
Begin
in 1st position. Degage to the front (devant). Return to 1st
position. Repeat 5 times.
o
Repeat
to the side (a la seconde).
o
Repeat
to the back (derriere).
Ø
Rond
de Jambe
o
Begin
in 1st position. Tendu to the front (dot #1) Rond de Jambe touching
dot #2 and ending at dot #3. Brush through 1st position and finish
extending through to tendu. Remember to rotate from the hip. Hips should stay
square to the front. Repeat 5 times.
o
Reverse.
Repeat 5 times.
Ø
Grand
Battement
o
Perform
to the front and to the side. Repeat 10 times each direction.
o
Movement
should be quick up (the kick) and slow down (placed back into 1st)
o
“Brush
through the floor and throw the leg into the air. Then slowly place it back to
the ground.”
Ø
Sauté
jumps
o
Perform
3 sets of 10 sauté jumps beginning and landing in first position. Repeat in 2nd
position.
o
Concentrate
on extending legs, articulating the feet and performing a complete pointed toe.