This exercise is pivotal for dancers beginning pointe work, focusing on the nuanced transition through the roll-up and understanding shifts in gravity. This foundational warm-up strengthens the muscles of the foot and ankle, preparing dancers for the technical demands of pointe work by promoting foot flexibility, strength, and correct alignment.

Preparation: Have dancers start facing the barre in a parallel position with feet together, ensuring a grounded stance for stability.

Steps:

1. Have students initiate with 4 prances to activate the feet and lower leg muscles, then draw both feet en pointe, emphasising the smooth transition.

2. Guide dancers to roll through the feet, ensuring even weight distribution across all 10 toes, transitioning into a demi plié in parallel.

3. Instruct students to roll through the feet again, this time incorporating an external rotation of the legs to open the hips gently.

4. Lead students into a degagé with the right foot to à la seconde, focusing on the transition from internal to external rotation with the foot fully stretched in front of the supporting leg.

5. Encourage students to employ a quicker internal and external rotation, closing back into first position with precision.

6. Have students conclude by returning the legs to parallel and repeating the sequence on the alternate side.

Focus: Stress the importance of maintaining a straight spine and engaged core throughout the exercise to support balance and alignment.