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How to Shift Weight From One Foot in Ballet

Ballet dancers need to execute smooth shifts in weight to enable the fast footwork and frequent directional changes that are central features of the art. Shifts in weight need to be smooth and should appear completely effortless. Even once the dancer understands the goal, consistently achieving a smooth transfer of weight from one foot remains challenging. Mental and physical self-discipline, muscular strength and frequent practice are key.

Things You'll Need

  • Mirror
  • Ballet barre
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lift the abdominal muscles upward and back toward your spine and feel your weight centered directly over the supporting leg. Test the stability of your stance by lifting the non-supporting leg slightly off the floor. If you are well-centered, the upper body should not move and the standing foot should not wobble.

    • 2

      Engage the muscles of the inner thigh, turn out the standing leg and push through the standing foot as you prepare to execute the shift.

    • 3

      Stretch upward through the standing leg and pelvis as you shift from the standing foot. Breathing through the shift will disguise the actual transfer of weight, making it appear effortless.

    • 4

      Stretch upward and forward to center your weight over the new supporting foot. If the transfer is from one foot to two feet, aim to center your weight equally between both feet following the shift. Use the mirror to help you find your new center.

    • 5

      Lift the non-supporting leg slightly off the floor to determine if you successfully shifted your center of gravity to the second foot. You should be able to lift the non-supporting foot quite easily, without any movement of the upper body or rocking of the standing foot. If the shift was to two feet, test the accuracy of the weight transfer by lifting the heels slightly off the floor.

Ballet

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