Barre vs. Floor Barre: The Difference Explained — and Why Ballates Is Unique

Evelin Bandeira
Apr 25
2 min read

As ballet-inspired workouts gain popularity across the wellness world, terms like barre, floor barre, and ballet fitness often get used interchangeably. But while they may share a foundation in classical technique, they’re far from the same.

If you’re here seeking strength, grace, and body awareness, you might be asking:

“What’s the difference between barre and floor barre? And how is Ballates any different?”

Let’s explore.

What Are Barre Classes?

Barre classes are a modern blend of ballet, pilates, yoga, and fitness. Born from the desire to bring the elegance of ballet into mainstream workouts, they focus on high reps, low-impact movements, core strength, posture, and endurance — all set to music and rhythm.

They’re dynamic, energetic, and often feel like a mix between dance and workout.

But here’s the thing: Barre isn’t Ballet! It’s ballet-inspired fitness — which makes all the difference. And it's fun, but not easy!

What Is Floor Barre?

In the article Barre au Sol x Floor Barre | What's the Difference and What's Better? I've talked about different methods and why I love them, but let’s recap:

Floor barre, or barre au sol, refers to two influential methods:

1. The Boris Kniaseff Method

Developed in the 1950s, when fixed barres weren’t available, it brings traditional ballet warm-ups to the floor. The aim? Technical precision, alignment, strength, and control — with less strain on the joints.

2. The Zena Rommett Floor-Barre® Method:

More therapeutic, gentle, and focused on somatic awareness. This method is widely used by dancers in recovery or those seeking to prevent injury through postural re-education and deep core activation.

Both methods rely on the ground as a stabilizer, allowing the body to move mindfully and precisely.

Why Ballates Is Something Else Entirely

Ballates is not a barre class. It’s not a floor barre. It’s a method.

Ballates was developed through my personal journey of rehabilitation — shaped by years of professional ballet training, a deep dive into somatic practices, and my own recovery from multiple injuries. As a classically trained ballerina with additional training in modern techniques such as Martha Graham and Horton, I created Ballates to bridge the precision of dance training with the intelligence of body-mind methods like pilates and breathwork.

At its core, Ballates is a floor-based method that blends ballet technique, Pilates principles, and somatic awareness into a cohesive class structure inspired by traditional ballet classes — beginning with gentle floor-centered "barre" work, followed by progressive exercises that build strength, alignment, and fluidity.

While rooted in classical form, Ballates incorporates modern dance vocabulary and floor conditioning techniques to enhance mobility, core stability, and neuromuscular re-patterning. Each class is carefully designed to be accessible to all levels — from former dancers rebuilding their practice, to beginners seeking elegance and intentional movement.

Unlike typical fitness barre classes, Ballates doesn’t simplify ballet — it translates it. It’s not a workout that imitates dance. It’s a movement experience that invites your body to move with awareness, artistry, and strength, from the ground up.

It may look easy, but as Geraldine Chaplin’s character says in Almodóvar’s Talk to Her: