Floor barre is based on the daily ballet routine that is performed by the dancer standing up at the barre. The barre is a wooden rail that would be found alongside a mirror in any ballet studio. The exercises in floor barre are designed to be accessible, and students do not need to have prior experience in ballet or dance training and would still be able to tone and strengthen the body.
Floor barre allows non-dancers to enjoy the benefits from ballet without having to worry about stability or one’s center of gravity and losing one’s balance when one executes leg lifts. The floor provides perfect support and helps protect one’s back from injury, allow one to perform the exercises correctly and to find a better range of movement than standing up. (Bussell, 2007)
Floor barre starts off with slower moves and gradually advances to faster and more complicated ones. The repetition of the exercises helps to warm up every joint and muscle. Floor barre is perfect for conditioning because it targets the abdominals, the glutes, thighs, calves, and arms. (Bussell, 2007)
An example of a floor barre exercise is shown below in the video:
Floor barre allows non-dancers to enjoy the benefits from ballet without having to worry about stability or one’s center of gravity and losing one’s balance when one executes leg lifts. The floor provides perfect support and helps protect one’s back from injury, allow one to perform the exercises correctly and to find a better range of movement than standing up. (Bussell, 2007)
Floor barre starts off with slower moves and gradually advances to faster and more complicated ones. The repetition of the exercises helps to warm up every joint and muscle. Floor barre is perfect for conditioning because it targets the abdominals, the glutes, thighs, calves, and arms. (Bussell, 2007)
An example of a floor barre exercise is shown below in the video:
The exercise is characteristic of the point and flex fee, changing from first to third position in ballet and engaging the core muscles while pressing the shoulders into the floor.
For more information about a particular floor barre technique known as the Zena Rommette can be viewed here:
For more information about a particular floor barre technique known as the Zena Rommette can be viewed here:
It incorporates dance movements with the anatomical principle of alignment and kinesthetic usage of the body. It achieves perfection, fluid transition, strengthens and corrects muscular usage. The dancer can achieve vitality and artistic expression with repeated practice. As the technique takes pressure off the weight of the body pulling towards gravity, it protects and strengthens the muscles and joints, knees and prevents injuries. It can be practiced as a rehabilitation program to recover from injury.
References:
Bussell, D (2007) Darcey Bussell’s Dance Body Workout. London: Penguin Group.
Camille Mouquinho (2010) Zena Rommette Floor- Barre Technique w/ Gregory King (former dancer w/ Joeffrey ballet). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dLY7XiTmH8 [Accessed 28 April 2015].
Mark Mahler (2010) Stephane Dalle: Floor Barre / Barre à Terre / Barre Sol / Floor Exercises. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOicVoj6ErA [Accessed 28 April 2015].
References:
Bussell, D (2007) Darcey Bussell’s Dance Body Workout. London: Penguin Group.
Camille Mouquinho (2010) Zena Rommette Floor- Barre Technique w/ Gregory King (former dancer w/ Joeffrey ballet). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dLY7XiTmH8 [Accessed 28 April 2015].
Mark Mahler (2010) Stephane Dalle: Floor Barre / Barre à Terre / Barre Sol / Floor Exercises. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOicVoj6ErA [Accessed 28 April 2015].