Move · Videos · Dance · 33 min
Ballet for Seniors: Express Barre with Live Piano
Video by Queensland Ballet on YouTube · Open on YouTube
A Queensland Ballet barre class for seniors with a live pianist: pliés, tendus, glissé, fondu, rond de jambe, adagio, frappé and a final grand battement, with beginner and intermediate versions shown. A chair back or stable bench top works as the barre.
- 33 min
- All levels
- Low impact (no jumping)
- chair
- Ballet barre
Good forHealthy ageingDancing for fun
Step by step 10
Tap a time to watch that step in the video.
- Warm-up facing the barre: small pliés in parallel, slow rises, shoulder rolls, walking through the feet. 1:29
- Pliés in first, second and third, one hand on the barre; beginners skip the rise, others may balance. 5:07
- Slow tendus: slide the foot along the floor with the toe pointing last, front, side and back, then faster. 9:53
- Faster tendus from third position with small retiré passés; keep the toe in contact with the floor. 13:45
- Glissés: a sharp brush where the toe just leaves the floor, three to the front, side and back with a plié. 16:12
- Fondus facing the barre: bend the supporting leg as the working foot lifts to the ankle, then extend. 18:23
- Rond de jambe: fondu and stretch to the front and side, then circle the leg on the floor and reverse. 21:35
- Adagio: flowing arms and a slow développé; choose a low or higher leg and keep the core engaged. 25:13
- Frappés from third or fifth position: quick, sharp actions of the foot, with an optional balance. 29:56
- Grand battement: swing the leg like a bell, bent then straight, letting the hips stay relaxed. 31:06
The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.
Form cues from the coach
- Check you have enough space around you before you start
- Take it at your own pace; it is about moving and enjoying it
- Beginners can keep to first, second and third positions with no rise
What it works
Tap an area for more videos that work it.
Joints it uses 2 takes load
- Hips takes loadtendus, développé, rond de jambe, grand battement
- Knees takes loadpliés, fondu, frappé on one leg
- Shoulders movesport de bras, shoulder rolls
- Lower back movesport de bras, contractions, grand battement
- Ankles & feet movestendus, pointing, optional rises
Easier option from the coach: Hold the barre throughout; beginner level keeps legs low and skips the rises
A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated
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Video by Queensland Ballet; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety