Teaching Methods Ballet 1 Class
Teaching Methods Ballet 1 Class
Barre
Exercise #1
Pli
Counts
Sequence
Prep 1-4
Start with left hand of barre, right arm bras bas and feet in 1st
Port de bras right arm to 1st, then open to 2nd
1-2
3-4
1-4
Grand pli; arm goes through bras bas, first, back to second
1-4
Corps pench en avant, pli legs, roll body up to return arm 5th
Tendu to second position
1-2
3-4
1-4
Grand pli; arm goes through bras bas, first, back to second
1-4
Cambr to the barre, right hand grabs the barre, pli right leg, straighten
Return back to arm second, tendu to fourth position
1-2
3-4
1-4
Grand pli; arm goes through bras bas, first, back to second
1-2
3-4
1-2
3-4
1-4
Grand pli; arm goes through bras bas, first, back to second
1-2
3-4
- Think of the top of your head as connected to the ceiling as your feet are to the floor
- Imagine pli as a round, circular movement rather than and up, down angular movement
Exercise #2
Counts
Sequence
Prep 1-4
Start with left hand of barre, right arm bras bas and feet in 1st
Port de bras right arm to 1st, then open to 2nd
1-2
1-2
1-2
Hold
1-24
1-2
1-2
Relev
1-2
Pli
1-2
Relev
1-2
Pli
1-2
Relev
1-2
Pli
1-2
Relev
Balance in relev
Repeat on the left side
- Engage the high hamstring during the pli on one leg and keep it engaged when you
straighten to first
- Feel length from the toe to the pelvis
Exercise #3
Counts
Sequence
Prep 1-4
Start with left hand of barre, right arm bras bas and feet in 5th
Port de bras right arm to 1st, then up to fifth
And 1
And 2
And
Tendu derrire
And
And 1
And 2
And
Tendu devant
And
And
Close fifth
And
Close fifth
And
Tendu seconde
Close first
And
Tendu seconde
Close first
And
Tendu seconde
Straighten legs
1-16
Repeat en dedans
1-4
1-4
1-4
1-4
- Make quick weight shifts when switching legs, as if you could do it without the barre.
- Make the cloches swing but stop in a position devant or derrire.
Exercise #4
Dgag
Counts
Sequence
1-4 prep
1-2
3-4
1-2
3-4
And
Dgag seconde
Straighten legs
3-4
Hold
And
Dgag seconde
Straighten legs
Hold
1-4
Dgag seconde four times closing en fifth devant closing on the count
1-4
Dgag seconde four times closing en fifth derrire closing on the count
Repeat on the left side
Sequence
1-4 prep
Start with left hand of barre, right arm bras bas and feet in 5th
Port de bras right arm to 1st, then open to 2nd
1-2
3-4
1-8
1-4
1-16
Repeat en dedans
1-8
1-8
1-2
3-8
1-4
Center
Exercise #4
Counts
Warm up jump
Sequence
1-4 prep
1-8
1-8
1-16
- Use this exercise to wake up the feet; articulate and use the toes and ankles.
Exercise #5
Petite allegro
Counts
Sequence
1-4 prep
Prepare arms bras bas, feet in 5th with left leg devant
And 1
And 2
And 3
And 1
And 2
And 3
1-2
3-4
1-2
3-4
1-16
- Try to begin glissade at the last possible moment to create dynamic, syncopated timing in the
allegro.
- Keep a relaxed upper body while the lower legs are quick and sharp.
Exercise #6
Medium allegro
Counts
Sequence
1-4 prep
1-2
3-4
1-2
3-4
1-2
3-4
1-2
Exercise #7
Grand Allegro
Counts
Sequence
1-4 prep
1-2
3-4
6
7
Chass to corner 3
1, 2
3, 4
5-8
Tomb pas de bourre, glissade, grand jet with arms in high fifth