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You'll Regret Not Knowing: Center of Gravity and Base of Support
Created by
- Lumen
Category
- Anatomy
To perform stable movements in ballet, one must accurately recognize the relationship between the body's center of gravity and the base of support and adjust the body accordingly. The base of support refers to the surface area of the body in contact with the ground; when standing on two feet, the entire sole touching the ground serves as the base of support. For the body to maintain balance, the center of gravity must be located within this base of support; if it moves out of this area, the body becomes unstable, leading to a loss of balance and a fall.
Specific principles and methods for recognizing the base of support and adjusting the body when the center of gravity shifts
1.
Recognizing the Shift in Center of Gravity Due to Base of Support Contraction When performing a ballet movement on one leg (e.g., the one-legged Soushu) from a two-legged standing position, the area of the base of support is minimized to the size of a single leg. While this reduces stability, it increases movement. If you misunderstand the instruction to fix the torso like a box and move only your legs without shifting the center of gravity at all, the center of gravity will move out of the base of support, disrupting the balance of forces. Therefore, stability can only be secured by completely shifting the center of gravity into the narrowed base of support.
2.
Centering through the body's just compensation
When extending or lifting a leg, the weight (mass) of the extended leg generates a moment (rotational force), causing the center of gravity to shift toward the moving leg (walking leg). To avoid losing balance, you must adjust the center of gravity within the narrowed base of support through the body's compensatory actions as follows. (Example of 'A la Seconde Tendu' extending the leg to the side)
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Precise center of gravity transfer to the standing leg: First, completely shift the center of gravity from the center of the two legs to the standing leg. At this time, you must ensure that the line connecting the two bones on the front of the pelvis (anterior superior iliac spine) remains parallel to the floor; during this process, the standing leg will tilt slightly to maintain balance.
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Pelvic Balance and Hip Joint Maintenance: While keeping the shifted center of gravity and the hip joint on the standing leg firmly in place, contract the muscles of the walking leg to lift the leg. You must maintain pelvic balance so that the standing hip joint does not wobble until the leg reaches a 90-degree angle.
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Upper body compensation: When extending the leg, you must shift your center of gravity as if supporting the weight of the extended leg in your upper body. By compensating so that the center of gravity is located within the altered base of support, you can express beautiful lines without straining your body.
3.
When performing independent balance movements that do not rely on a bar, if you do not accurately shift your center of gravity within the base of support, you will unconsciously shift your weight onto the hands holding the bar, incorrectly establishing the bar as another center of gravity. Therefore, you must train to maintain proper balance by controlling your feet (base of support) and hip joints yourself, as if there were no bar.
In conclusion, the key to maintaining balance in ballet is to recognize the shift in the center of gravity that occurs when extending or lifting the leg, and to accurately settle the center of gravity onto the narrowed base of support through proper compensatory action of the body (upper body and standing leg).