Techniques to Achieve Perfect Port de Bras and Avoid the Top Mistakes
Ballet is a beautiful and graceful art form that requires precision and attention to detail. Every movement, angle, and shape must have a purpose, which is why dancers must not only be artists but technicians too.
At Dance World, we understand the importance of perfecting every aspect of ballet, including the hands. The hands play a crucial role in completing the line of the body and creating the ideal shape that dancers strive for. However, with so many other things to focus on, it's easy for hands to be overlooked and develop bad habits.
To help our dancers achieve the best results, we've put together a list of the most common mistakes in ballet hands and how to correct them. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, mastering the art of port de bras hands will elevate your performance and make you shine on stage.
1 - Wrists
Ballet dancers, have you ever had your teacher mention broken wrists during class? While some dancers prefer a higher hand with an angled intersection between the arm and fingers, limp hands or hands at a 90-degree angle to the arm detract from the dancer's body's aesthetic, especially in profile. This mistake is often made when performing strenuous movements such as grand battement derrière or arabesque. In these moments, we tend to focus on pulling up the body and not letting the back drop, causing the hand to droop.
To avoid this, try visualizing your fingertips reaching towards an invisible horizon line instead of shooting towards the floor. This will help maintain a beautiful line. The emphasis of the movement should be on gently elongating the entire body, keeping a flow of energy in the arm and preventing a return to broken wrists during an exquisite arabesque.
2 - Ballet Hands
One of the common mistakes in ballet is the rigid positioning of hands and fingers, which can cause an awkward and unsightly claw shape. While a specific style of ballet does call for slightly spread thumbs and curved fingers, it's important to ensure that the hands remain flexible and fluid in motion. Rigid, frozen joints in the fingers and wrists detract from the overall grace and beauty of the performance. To overcome this challenge, some ballet teachers recommend taping the thumbs during class to retrain muscle memory. Another option is to wear a hair tie or rubber band on the wrist to serve as a visual reminder to check hand position. By keeping the joints flexible and hands relaxed, dancers can maintain the proper form and achieve a stunning, fluid performance.
3 - Fingers
The search for the perfect port de bras shape may seem like a never-ending quest, but it's important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Some dancers may fall into the trap of unconsciously clenching their hands and thumbs, trying to avoid awkward movements. However, this stiff approach can detract from the fluidity and grace of your movements.
To achieve a more natural and relaxed hand shape, focus on creating a small cushion of space (about 3 to 4 centimeters) between the thumb and fingers. This allows for greater articulation and enhances the flow of energy from your arms to your fingertips, creating a more dynamic and expressive port de bras. So, let your hands breathe, and enjoy the fluidity that comes with it.
4 - Flat pancake-style hands
The issue of protruding thumbs in port de bras is a common one in dance. Stiff digits with spiky, straight thumbs often detract from the smooth shape of an ideal port de bras and shorten the line of the arm. To overcome this habit, it takes a lot of focus and the help of a mirror to replace it with good technique. Remember to keep a cushion of space between your thumb and fingers and allow your hands to move fluidly through movements.
5 - Thumbs
The issue of protruding thumbs in port de bras is a common one in dance. Stiff digits with spiky, straight thumbs often detract from the smooth shape of an ideal port de bras and shorten the line of the arm. To overcome this habit, it takes a lot of focus and the help of a mirror to replace it with good technique. Remember to keep a cushion of space between your thumb and fingers and allow your hands to move fluidly through movements.
