| For every ballet dancer, the barre is as much of a | | | | flexibility of the ankle joint. |
| necessity as their ballet shoes. Used for a | | | | Frappe |
| multitude of stretching and strengthening | | | | Frappes strengthen the instep and toes. They also |
| exercises, the barre is more than just something | | | | help develop the power of elevation. |
| to support a ballet dancer through each fluid | | | | Rond de Jambe |
| movement. Ballet dancers use it during their slow | | | | Rond de jambe a terre works to turn out the |
| and repetitive warm-up routine. | | | | legs from the hips and to loosen the hips. It also |
| Beginning dancers who are starting on pointework | | | | forces the toe well back and the heel forward. |
| find it useful to help strengthen their ankles while | | | | Rond de jambe en l'air is done to turn the legs |
| professional dancers use it to limber up. The | | | | out from the hips and to keep control of the core |
| following barre exercises are meant to build | | | | for balance. |
| strength over time while aligning the body for | | | | Developpe and Fondu |
| correct placement. | | | | Developpe is a great strengthening exercise for |
| Plies | | | | the abdomen, legs, and back muscles. It also |
| Plies are the first exercise done in a ballet class at | | | | improves the ability to sustain an extension of the |
| the barre. These movements are done to make | | | | leg in the air. Fondu works the muscles in the legs |
| the joints, muscles, and tendons soft and flexible. | | | | needed to improve jumping. |
| Plies are also helpful to develop a sense of | | | | Grand Battement |
| balance. | | | | Grand battement is the last exercise at the barre |
| Tendus | | | | and is usually done after a stretching exercise. |
| Tendus are done to articulate the joints and | | | | Grand battement limbers and strengthens the legs |
| muscles in the feet and ankles to warm up for | | | | and hips. It creates a lightness of the legs useful |
| the remainder of the class. They also help to | | | | for steps of high elevation. Grand battement also |
| force the instep outward and to develop the | | | | increases the height of leg extensions. |
| arches. | | | | The barre is also a great way to get back in |
| Degage | | | | shape after an injury or absence from dance. No |
| Degages are an extension of tendus and they | | | | matter how you use it as a dancer, the barre is a |
| help further the development of the instep. This | | | | vital tool in your dance preparation and actual |
| exercise also strengthens the toes and improves | | | | performance. |