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Ballet is the foundation of all dance
forms, characterized by grace, poise, placement and
precision of movement. Students will learn classical
ballet based on a combination of the Cecchetti , French
and Russian methods. Ballet helps students achieve their
maximum potential in all types of dance.
Level |
Age approximation |
Suggested classes/week |
Years previous experience
Previous experience must be continuous
|
Pre-Ballet 1 |
Ages 5-7 |
1 |
Beginner or coming out of combo
class |
Pre-Ballet
2 |
Ages 6-9 |
1 |
Pre-Ballet 1 or recommendation of the teacher |
Ballet 1 |
Ages 7+ |
1 or 2 |
Pre-Ballet or older beginner |
Ballet 2 |
Ages 10+ |
2 recommended |
2 or more years of ballet classes (not combo) |
Ballet 3 |
Ages 11+ |
2 classes a week required |
3 or more years of ballet classes (not combo) |
Ballet 4 |
Ages 12+ |
2 -3 classes a week required |
5+ years of ballet |
Ballet 5 |
Ages 12+ |
2 mandatory, 3 recommended |
5+ years of ballet & on pointe |
Teen/Adult |
Students ages 10+ |
1 or 2 |
For pre-teens, teens and adults |
IMPORTANT- Please read!
Placement is determined
by careful evaluation by the director and teachers, not
by parents or students. We take this very seriously.
Students are evaluated school wide and placed in the
class best suited for the individual student. Advancing
a student too quickly before fundamental technique is
established can be counterproductive to progress.
Levels are designed to be in 2-3 years or more.
Criteria for Ballet Placement in Ballet
1-5
Ballet 1
This class emphasizes posture,
placement, alignment, turnout, feet, arms, beginning
allegro, adage & terminology. Fundamental ballet barre.
In order to advance to level 1, student should
demonstrate the following:
- Accurate demi and grand plies
- Turned out tendus & degages
- Able to remember 2-3 steps in a combination & execute correctly
- Accurate portabra
- Strong core
- Good work ethic & good behavior
Ballet 2
- Accurate demi and grand plies
- Turned out tendus & degages
- Able to remember 4-5 steps in a combination &
execute accurately
- Good work ethic & good behavior
- Execute single pirouette accurately
- Fluid movement in combinations
- Recognize French vocabulary
- Increase flexibility and extensions
- Accurate developpes, fondus and grande
battements
Ballet 3
- Clean single pirouettes & solid arabesque
- Attempting double pirouettes
- Use of consistent epaulment
- Able to execute complicated combinations (5+ steps)
- Knowledge of French ballet terminology & basic ballet positions
- Clean jumps, leaps, pique turns, petite & grand allegro
- Fluidity of movement in the center
- Good work ethic and behavior
- Know 8 basic ballet body positions
- Strong ankles and excellent balance on one foot.
- 90 degree developes
Ballet 4 with pointe
- Clean double pirouettes in slippers, clean single pirouettes en pointe
- Use of consistent epaulment
- Able to execute complicated combinations (8+ steps)
- Knowledge of French ballet terminology & know 8 basic ballet body positions
- Clean jumps, leaps, pique turns, petite & grand allegro
- Fluidity of movement in the center
- Good work ethic and behavior
- Use of beats in allegro
- 4 + fouette turns in a row
- Strong ankles and excellent balance on one foot.
Ballet 5 with pointe
- Clean triple pirouettes in slippers and double pirouettes en pointe
- Use of consistent epaulment
- Able to execute complicated combinations (8+ steps)
- Knowledge of French ballet terminology &
basic ballet positions
- Know 8 basic ballet body positions
- Clean jumps, leaps, double pique turns, petite & grand allegro
- Fluidity of movement in the center
- Good work ethic and behavior
- Use of beats in allegro
- Strong ankles and excellent balance on one foot.
- 8 + fouette turns in a row
- 180 degree grand jetes
- 90 plus degrees developes
Book – Highly recommended for all ballet students!
Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet, Author, Gail Grant, Publisher, Dover
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