“Allow yourself to be a beginner. No one starts off being perfect.” -Unknown
Introduction
Penché is a beautiful step often used in adagio and slow, grand pas de deux’s. It is the ultimate test of balance, strength, and flexibility, and is no easy feat. To master your penché focus on these things:
· Developing strength in your lower and upper back
· Work on your splits and leg flexibility
· Keeping your back and leg connected
· Strong supporting leg with proper weight distribution
As usual, if you continue working on your strength, flexibility, and placement, you will have a beautiful penché in no time!
· Developing strength in your lower and upper back
· Work on your splits and leg flexibility
· Keeping your back and leg connected
· Strong supporting leg with proper weight distribution
As usual, if you continue working on your strength, flexibility, and placement, you will have a beautiful penché in no time!
Cornerstones of Dance: Strength and Flexibility
Penché is a step that depends on the cornerstones of dance: strength and flexibility. As a step that relies heavily on the back, it is crucial to have strength in both the lower and upper backs in order to support the leg and to protect the back. When you go into penché, make sure not to simply dive down towards the floor with your body. Keep your back as lifted and engaged as possible, and keep your chest open and lifted as well. Check out the links below for good back strengthening exercises.
Flexibility, specifically the splits, is critical for a good penché. While you do not need to aim for a penché at 180 degrees, your leg does need to get above 90 degrees in order for it to count as a penché and not just an arabesque. The more flexible you are, the easier it will be to improve your penché, so keep stretching and working on those splits!
Flexibility, specifically the splits, is critical for a good penché. While you do not need to aim for a penché at 180 degrees, your leg does need to get above 90 degrees in order for it to count as a penché and not just an arabesque. The more flexible you are, the easier it will be to improve your penché, so keep stretching and working on those splits!
Connecting Your Leg and Back
Your penché is always initiated by your leg--never dive down towards the flor with your body. Start by lifting your leg into arabesque. When you have reached your highest position, continue pushing your leg up and only then allow your back to start tilting forward and down. When your leg cannot go further, you have reached your deepest penché, so do not allow your upper body to continue moving.
To come up from your penché, start by lifting your back first, and bringing it up so far that your leg is forced down. Make sure that you pass through your arabesque before you lower your leg completely.
Finally, do not forget to consider your standing leg. Drive it into the ground, and keep you weight over the ball of your foot. When you have reached your deepest point, you may move your weight slightly into your heel, but you must return it to the ball of your foot as soon as you start to lift up out of the penché. It is very important to restore your normal body alignment as soon as possible, so that you are ready to move on to the next step.
To come up from your penché, start by lifting your back first, and bringing it up so far that your leg is forced down. Make sure that you pass through your arabesque before you lower your leg completely.
Finally, do not forget to consider your standing leg. Drive it into the ground, and keep you weight over the ball of your foot. When you have reached your deepest point, you may move your weight slightly into your heel, but you must return it to the ball of your foot as soon as you start to lift up out of the penché. It is very important to restore your normal body alignment as soon as possible, so that you are ready to move on to the next step.