Ballet

Ballet

A classical dance form based on line, grace, flexibility and strength. Basic structure of the classes includes: barre, center and across the floor combinations all performed to classical piano music. Ballet slippers/leotards/tights recommended; check with the individual instructor.

Level 1:

This is a beginning-level course introducing students to ballet’s fundamental techniques. This course is for the absolute beginner and/or students looking to refresh their technical base. Students will learn basic movement vocabulary and be introduced to ballet’s overarching physical principles such as turnout, body positions and facings, carriage of the arms (port de bras), and movement quality.

Level 2:

This beginning–advanced beginning level course further solidifies and advances the basic ballet principles introduced in Ballet 1. In Ballet 2, students will develop and broaden various steps of study (faster footwork, pirouettes en dehors from fifth and fourth positions, beginning-level petit allegro and grand allegro steps), develop stronger coordination between the upper and lower body, and begin to increase the speed of movement.

Level 3:

This is an intermediate-level course where students will learn and progress through more advanced steps of study and longer combinations at the barre and in the center, with faster weight shifting. Special attention will be paid to jumping and turning (introducing en dedans pirouettes and basic traveling turns), smoothing out transitions between steps, and beginning to reverse certain steps and combinations at the barre and in the center.

Level 4:

This is an intermediate–advanced level course. Students should have a solid technical base and be able to learn and perform combinations quickly. Dancers will continue to move through more advanced steps of study, including increasing the number of pirouettes, developing more complex petit allegro sequences, and building stamina through longer grand allegro combinations. In addition to refining technique, students will also focus on developing personal artistry and musicality.