Barre Excercise....... ??

Question:How long is the barre excercise done? When did people start doing it? Give some other facts on the barre excercise also .

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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: How long is the barre excercise done? When did people start doing it? Give some other facts on the barre excercise also .

Best answer get 10 PTS!! :D thanks

All dance training begins at the barre. Here the dancer executes a series of exercises carefully designed to prepare the body for the exacting demand of the classical dance. Each exercise is meant to strengthen specific parts of the body. These exercises done correctly, develop the dancer gradually, giving the ability to achieve a balanced and controlled movement.
The support of the barre frees the dancer from the strain of maintaining control of the entire body before the muscles are sufficiently prepared. Barre practice remains an important part of the dancer's technique throughout professional life. It is always used as a preparation to every class and performance.
The Barre should never be tightly gripped, leaned on or pulled on. Each exercise should be performed slowly and simply.

Exercises at the Barre
Warm-Up Tendu With Demi Plié (tendu means stretched and demi plié means half-bends)
The first barre exercise will warm-up the thighs and tendons of the leg. It also aids in developing the instep and arch of the foot.
Demi Plié (in five positions)
The demi plié is a half or small bending of the knees. This basic exercise turns out legs and develops the tendons and muscles of thighs, calves, ankles and feet. It increases flexibility and strength in the Achilles tendon. The spring like action of demi plié is essential to all jumping movements as preparation before jumping upward and upon returning of the feet to the floor. As knees bend there is a slight counter pull upward in the thigh, abdomen and buttock muscles.

Grand Plié (means a full bending of your knees)
The Grand Plié is a slow continuous movement bending downward and rising upward without pause. Arm movement is also coordinated with the action of the legs. Here again the legs are developed by gently stretching the muscles as you slowly lower yourself, maintaining the slight upward pull of the thigh, abdomen and buttocks. Achilles tendons and ankles are also strengthened. Keep your weight centered and the head erect. Turn knees and thighs outward and move the knees in a line over the center of the feet. As the body rises, press the heels into the floor and gently increase the tension in buttocks and abdomen.

Battement Tendu (battement means beating and tendu means stretched)
Battement tendu is a stretching and pointing leg exercise. This exercise strengthens and turns out legs and feet and develops the instep. Be sure to center weight on the supporting leg to give freedom to the movement of the working leg. While holding both legs straight you also hold your torso and head erect. Draw the tummy in and keep the shoulders down. Stretch the entire leg from thigh to toe during extensions. Hold your hips down when doing battement tendu to the derrière (behind). And finally lead with the toe to point back.

Battement Glissé (means a glided beating)
Battement glissé is similar to battement tendu only you keep contact with the floor with your foot. Glisse means to slide or to glide. This exercise is designed to push the leg and foot out quickly with energy and control. Keep your weight centered over the supporting leg. Push the foot sideways along the floor. Again, this exercise helps to elongate the leg and develop the pointed foot.

Battement Jetté (or dégagé)(jetté means "thrown")
Battement jetté is a leg lifting exercise. This exercise develops speed and precision of leg and foot movement. It develops strength in legs, ankles and instep. It also develops a freedom of leg movement from the hips and develops and strengthens the torso and legs from thigh to toe. While keeping buttocks and tummy firm and tight hold torso and head erect and shoulders down. When doing Battement Jetté to the derrière, move torso slightly forward and keep the working leg turned out.

Rond de Jambe à Terre (circle of the leg on the ground)
This is a circular leg movement exercise where the pointed toe keeps contact with the floor. This exercise develops the rotary position of the legs from the hips and flexibility in the ankles and insteps. It helps in the slimming of the hips and strengthening the upper thighs. Accent is on a semi-circular movement outward to derrière. Working leg moves continuously, the toe sliding lightly over the surface of the floor.

Battement Fondu (beating sinking down)
This exercise involves a slow bending of the supporting leg with the working foot pointing in front of the supporting ankle, unfolding and extending to point the leg on the floor, or in the air, as the supporting leg slowly straightens. Battement fondu develops and strengthens hips and legs.

Battement Frappé (struck or striking, beating)
This exercise is a series of quick foot movements with the ball of the foot brushing the floor. It develops strength in the legs, ankles and instep. The tummy is held in and torso erect while the legs are stretched outward to the maximum from thigh to toe. The working leg thigh is turned outward.

Adagio or Développé (slow graceful development)
Développé means to "develop" and the movement is a slow unfolding of the leg. It develops strength in the abdomen, legs, hips and thighs. It also develops control and balance. The second position and derrière are the hardest to hold, so use the barre for support in these positions. Hold your turnout equally in both thighs. Listen to the music as it will help you with the slow unfolding. Practice till you can do it with ease.

Grand Battement (large throwing movement)
This is no longer a preparation, but the real thing. Remember to raise or throw your working leg without disturbing your supporting leg. Keep your back still, except in derrière when you can slightly arch and keep your knees tight. This exercise develops strength, balance and control of leg and hip. The lower back is also strengthened in the derrière position. DO NOT FORCE the grand battement too much.

Preparation for Allegro (allegro is a generic term applied to all light and lively springing movement)
This exercise prepares the dancer to perform jumps. The legs must be properly conditioned for this. Keep the back straight and do not lean forward. Push off the floor as quickly as you can. This is where the demi plié exercise begins to pay off. Your legs should really feel the work out here. Land as lightly as you can. Imagine a gentle lift upon landing, keeping firm control in the buttocks and maintaining atight tummy throughout.

Barre is traditionally done in advanced ballet classes for one hour, including plies, slow and fast tenus, degges, ron de jombes, fondu, frappe, petite battment, barre stretch, grand battment and adagio.

in beginner classes barre time is more limited and they do less excercises (usually plies, tendus, and battments)

Barre is used to warm up the body and get into the perfect alignment, barre is essential!

Barre is usually half an hour to an hour long in any class other than beginnier. I'm not sure when they started doing barre, but I'd imagine it's been done since actual ballet lessons were taught. A typical barre consists of plies, tendues, degajes (sp?), ron de jambes, fondues, frappes, developes, and grande battements. It is used to work on technique, allignment, and speed. The exercises are designed to help improve steps done in the center, without a bar to hold onto. Classical music is played during barre exercises.