Methods of Teaching Ballet Level Overview

Chloe Stacey
Pre-Ballet
-younger than 8
-1 day/week
-45 minutes
-coordination
-musicality
incorporate into
every exercise
-feet in 6th and 1st
position
-arm positions: 1st,
demi 2nd, and low
5th
-work on
preparations and
finishes for each
combination
-spatial awareness
(using floor dots,
windows)
-establish the idea
of cool down
even if its just a
little rest/stretch
before leaving class
-ballet walks
-push into the floor

Level 1
-8-9 years old
-1-2 days/week
-1 hour
-ballet etiquette
posture when
teacher is talking,
doing while teacher
is demonstrating,
curtseying after
class
-work on turn out,
45-60 degrees
-plis 1st, 2nd, 5th,
no 4th, demis, no
grands, work on
proper knee-overtoe alignment
-tendus en croix
from 1st
-coordination of
port de bras
-tendus with a lift
to teach dgags
-add 2nd and 5th en
avant arm position
(talk about marble

Level 2
-9-10 years old
-2 days/week
-1 hour 1hr 15
mins
-always use proper
ballet vocabulary
-start incorporating
the meanings of
ballet words as
youre teaching the
exercise
-arms in 5th en haut
-grand plis in 1st
and 2nd, and demis
in 4th, no grand in
4th or 5th
-tendus and
dgags from 5th
-rond de jambes
terre
-work the cou-depied position at the
barre
-retir balance at
the barre, and later
on in the center

Level 3
-10-11 years old
-2-3 days/week
-1 hour 1 hr 15
mins
-work on
memorizing
combinations
without help
-coup, pas de
cheval work on
knee back
-rond de jambes
terre, but add a
small lift to prepare
for rond de jambes
en laire
-frapp learn first
in flexed position so
that can feel the
motion of striking
on the floor
-petite battement
practice movement
of only lower leg,
thigh stays in
place, knee does

Level 4
-11-12 years old
-3 days/week
-1 hr 15 mins 1.5
hrs
-grand plis in 4th
-pass dvelopp
-single pirouettes at
the barre
-pirouette prep
tomb, pas de
bourre, pirouette
in the center
-waltz turns and
balancs across the
floor
-pas de bourre
dessous and dessus
-spring relevs and
ankle strengthening
exercises for pointe
prep
-adagio in center
work on the
stability of low
dvelopp in the
center

to establish turn
out and engage
rotators
-Cecchetti corners
of the room
-exercises with
hands on shoulders
to build back
strength without
putting strain
-teach 3rd
arabesque
-plis and tendus
from sixth and first
at the barre
-paddle turns
(practice for turns
and spotting)
-proper ballet attire
and hair (wear a
skirt)
-jumps only 2 feet
to 2 feet

rolling down arms

so they practice
their elbows not
drooping)
-spotting exercise
across the floor
(preparation for
turns across the
floor)
-Cecchetti positions
of the body
-jumps 2 feet to 2
feet
(jumps in 1st, 2nd,
chapps)
-bourres across
the floor

-work on stretching
and flexibility
-tendus from first in
the center
-jumps from 1 foot
to 2 feet, and 1 foot
to the other foot
-practice
changement,
glissade, assembl
-posture helps
engage core (walk
like a very
important person)
-piqus at the barre
(preparation for
piqu turns)
-run, run leap
combination across
the center
-rvrence

not move forward

and back
-pass where to
place on leg
-balances on relev
-adagio at the barre
include
dvelopp, temps
li, cambr
-grand battement
fast up, controlled
down
-stretched ankles
and toes, bottoms
under in jumps
-pirouette drill in
the center from 2nd
and 4th (balance in
the position, and
then turn)
-jumps 1 foot to
the same foot
-jet, temps lev
-glissade saut de
chats

-make sure to work

on closing tight 5th
positions in jumps
-continue working 1
foot to the same
foot jumps and
anything below that
level
-pas de chats,
sissonnes

Level 5
-12-13 years old

Level 6
-13-14 years old

Level 7
-14-16 years old

Level 8
-17-18 years old

Beyond
-18 and older

-3 days/week
-1.5 hours
-speed in picking
up combinations
-start pointe work
work multiple
relevs in a row at
the barre on two
legs and one leg
first position,
second position, in
cou-de-pied
derrire
-fondue
-rond de jambes en
laire at 60 degrees
-frapps in sur le
cou-de-pied
-leg swings
-grand battements
en cloche
-pirouettes en
dedans from 2nd
and 4th position
-work on extension
strength building
exercises,
strengthening back
for arabesque
-temps de cuisse

-4 days/week
-1.5 hours
-artistry and
presentation
-musicality
-emphasis on
general alignment
head, shoulders,
ribs, pelvis
-discuss how
alignment has a
chain reaction
one thing can affect
another; head and
shoulders forward
can cause a pelvic
tilt, for example
-double frapps
-serr
-double pirouettes
at the barre - work
on faster spot
-balances in relev
in attitude devant
and attitude
derrire at the
barre
-grand battement
in center
-double pirouettes

-4 days/week
-1.5 hrs 2 hours
-dynamics, artistic
quality, sharpness,
accents
-awareness and
knowledge of
anatomy and
kinesiology (being
able to visualize
body parts/muscles
and use imagery
helps have better
access to body)
-warm up before
plis therapeutic
barre
-batterie working
inner thigh strength
-grand battements
accent in (works
different
musculature, and
teaches musicality,
accents, and
dynamics)
-adagio work
fondue dvelopp,
pli, relev
(strength building)

-5 days/week
-2 hours
-power and
musculature behind
movement
-increase
endurance
-cross training and
outside exercise in
addition to ballet
class
-theraband and
floor barre
exercises
-triple pirouettes
-fouett turns in
the center (work on
pointe as well)
-adagio with grand
pirouettes in it
-attitude turn
devant, en dedans
-attitude turn
derrire en dehors
-entre chat seis
-Bournonville
-coup jet turns
en mange
-pointe work in the
center (technique

-5 days/week + (as
needed)
-2.5 hours + (as
needed)
-more in depth
knowledge of
broader topics that
will help perfect the
art of dance:
anatomy,
kinesiology, music,
etc.
-imagery
-strength on pointe
-pas de deux
partner work
-resistance
stretching
-lots of
performance
opportunities
-tours in the center
-grand pirouettes
with piqu
-add attitude turn
devant en dehors
-turns la seconde
en dehors
-rond de jambe
fouetts in the

-ballott and
ballonn
-entre chat quatre
-piqu turns and
tours chans
dbouls across the
floor

in the center
-piqu turns and
tours chans
dbouls en
mange
-royale
-grand jet
-tour jets

-pench
-pirouettes from 5th
position
-grand pirouettes
attitude derrire en
dedans, arabesque
en dedans, la
seconde en dedans
-fouett turn prep
at the barre
-contretemps
-saut fouetts

class on pointe 2-3

times/week, if not a
separate pointe
class)

center
-Italian fouetts
-Italian pas de
chats