In the world of fitness, emerging disciplines seek to create a comprehensive and effective experience to strengthen the body and take care of health. One of these disciplines is barre, which has been gaining popularity in recent years. Combining elements from ballet, Pilates and yoga through isometric exercises, barre has become an interesting option for those looking to tone the body, work on flexibility and improve body posture. 

 Origins and foundations 

 Barre, as we know it today, had its beginnings in the ’50s, when Lotte Berk, a German dancer, developed a training method that combined ballet with physical rehabilitation exercises. This approach evolved over time, incorporating elements of Pilates and yoga, eventually giving rise to contemporary barre. 

The term barre refers to the ballet barre used as the main piece of workout equipment during training sessions. The ballet barre provides support for balance while performing targeted movements designed to work specific muscle groups in a precise and controlled manner. 

 Benefits of barre

One of the winning points of barre is its ability to offer a full body toning workout. Isometric exercises, characterized by sustained muscle contraction, are essential in this modality and contribute to strengthening and defining the body. Barre is also effective in improving flexibility and physical endurance. Flowing, controlled movements, combined with conscious breathing, help lengthen the muscles and improve the range of motion of the joints. This not only benefits physical performance, but also reduces the risk of injury and improves body posture. 

 Core principles of barre 

 Barre is based on a series of fundamental principles that guide the practice and guarantee effective and safe results: 

1. Control and precision: Every movement in the barre is performed with control and precision, focusing on quality over quantity. This ensures that you work out optimally and minimize the risk of injury.
2. Range and stability: Barre exercises seek to achieve a balance between range of motion and stability. This involves working on both strength and flexibility in a balanced way to improve body functionality. 
3. Mind-body connection: As in yoga, barre emphasizes the mind-body connection through conscious breathing and the precise execution of each movement, promoting relaxation and mental well-being.
4. Variation and progression: Although barre is based on specific movements, it includes such a big range of exercises and variations that allows us to adapt the practice to different skill and fitness levels. Additionally, gradual progression is essential to keep on challenging the body and achieve long-lasting results. 

 Barre is a unique and effective fitness discipline that combines elements of ballet, Pilates and yoga to offer a complete workout that tones the body, improves flexibility and physical resistance and promotes healthy body posture. If you are looking for a fun and challenging way to stay in shape, barre could be the perfect option for you! In our online shop you can find the perfect wall mounted or freestanding ballet barres for practicing this discipline. 

The Giselle height-adjustable portable ballet barre offers great versatility in the classroom thanks to its two types of bases, its double wooden bar and the 10 positions of its adjustment mechanism. When we had to name it, we were inspired as you might have guessed, by one of the greatest ballet classics.

The ballet Giselle is one of the best known and most appreciated ballets of the world’s classical repertoire. With music by composer Adolphe Adam and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, this work premiered in Paris in 1841 and has since been performed all over the world.

The story of Giselle is about a beautiful young peasant girl who falls in love with Count Albrecht, who has disguised himself as a humble villager in order to court her. When the truth comes out, Giselle is so devastated that she loses her mind and dies.

In the second act, Giselle rises from the dead as a spirit, along with other prematurely dead maidens known as ‘Willis’. Although dead, Giselle remains loyal to Albrecht and tries to protect him from the vendettas of the Willis, who want Albrecht to join them in death.

The ballet Giselle is known for its thrilling pas de deux and difficult ballet steps, especially in the role of Giselle, which demand impeccable technique and grace on the part of the principal dancer. In addition, Giselle’s story of love and its everlasting loyalty remains a universally moving theme.

If you have the opportunity to see the ballet Giselle live, don’t hesitate. It is an unforgettable show that will not disappoint.

In 2000 we designed and manufactured our first ballet barre for the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona. We wanted to create a set that would offer maximum stability so that different students could perform demanding exercises and at the same time have the flexibility to move the ballet barre easily.

After many hours of designing, making molds, and testing different materials, we achieved what we were looking for. Then it was time to baptize it, thereafter we decided that each of our products would be a tribute to dance, which after more than 20 years is still the source of inspiration for our entire team. Our first mobile ballet bar would be named Maurice, in honor of the French choreographer Maurice Béjart.

Maurice Béjart was a French choreographer and founder of Ballet Béjart Lausanne, a dance company based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Béjart is known for his innovative approach to dance, often incorporating eclectic music, elements of theater, mime, and other performing arts.

Béjart was born in Marseille, France, and began his dance training at an early age. He studied ballet and modern dance with leading teachers such as Serge Lifar and Martha Graham, and also trained in mime with Marcel Marceau. In 1954 he founded his own dance company, the Ballet du XXe Siècle, which became the Ballet Béjart Lausanne in 1987.

Throughout his career Béjart created more than 200 ballets, many of which have become iconic works of modern dance. Some of his most famous productions include “Bolero”, “The Rite of Spring”, “The Ninth Symphony”, and “The Nutcracker”. Béjart is known for his bold and expressive choreography, which often explores topics of love, death, and spirituality.

In addition to his work as a choreographer, Béjart was also a teacher and mentor to many young dancers. He founded the École supérieure de danse de Genève, a dance school in Geneva, and taught in dance academies all over the world. Béjart was highly influential in the dance world, and his work continues to be celebrated and performed by dance companies everywhere.

Maurice Béjart died in 2007 at the age of 80, but his legacy as a choreographer and innovator in the world of dance continues. His bold and expressive style has inspired countless dancers and choreographers, and his contributions to the performing arts will be remembered for generations.