Summary
A step-by-step guide to the balancé, a swaying three-step move (down-up-down) that shows up all across ballet. Sarah counts it out slowly so dancers can feel the rhythm and the gentle rise and fall before putting it to music.
Viewer safety
All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
- How would you describe the rhythm of a balancé -- what does it feel like?
- Which count is the big step and which are the little ones?
- Why does it help to learn a step slowly before adding music?
Quick work-a-long
Words to know: balancé, down-up-down, transfer of weight, count of 3.
Try it: Say "down, up, down" out loud and do four balancés side to side with the video.

