Promenade

pronunciation: prom-en-odd

translation: "walk"

​

To turn around on one leg with the standing leg’s heel on the floor, while the working leg is in a position such as arabesque. 

The promenade happens by slightly lifting the heel just enough to scoot it several times to rotate the body as a whole while staying in the position.

​

Tips for balancing in the promenade en arabesque:

• Maintain turnout in both legs. The rotator muscles on standing leg are engaged, and the working leg is actively rotating in turnout to hold it up in the position. 

​

• Oppositions in the body: 

1. Ground your standing leg into the floor, while simultaneously lifting your torso and feel like you are growing taller. (This goes for everything in ballet, not just the promenade.)

​

2. Reach out through the front arm and simultaneously reach back through the working leg of the arabesque. 

​

• Make sure your back leg is in the correct position (for arabesque: the back leg is straight, foot fully pointed, and reaching through the leg like you want it to grow longer). If the foot is floppy and the arabesque leg is bent in a non-position, it weakens the structure and it is harder to balance. 

​

• Squeeze your butt!

​

• Practice at home!

 

Don't get discouraged if you fall out of the position. It takes a while to build the strength needed to successfully complete the whole promenade circle without falling out of it. If you fall out, just get back into the position and keep going. It is better to practice the promenade in the correct position and fall out of it​ than it is to complete the whole promenade without falling but sloppily in an incorrect position. This is the most advanced step we have learned so far, so give your muscles time to build up to it. Be kind to yourself and don't give up!

​