Note: This course is taught entirely in English.  

Course Description:

To give a basic understanding of the ballet body by understanding the muscles involved in the ballet movement, ballet positions, and technique. No prior knowledge of ballet is required for this course, ballet movements will be taught at a basic level. Students will leave this course with an increased understanding of their own body, respect for the discipline required in ballet and an understanding of ballet class etiquette.

Course Objectives:

• To have a working understanding of the ballet posture including physiology, basic movements, and musculature involved.
• Understand ballet etiquette, coordination, balance, and poise as a means to increase confidence in everyday life and work settings.

Class Attire:

Ladies-Leotard and legging or tights, soft ballet shoes, hair must be neatly secured in a bun or french twist. (An athletic t-shirt that is tight to the skin will be accepted if you are uncomfortable wearing a leotard.)

Gentleman-Slim fitting athletic pants or shorts, tight to the body athletic t-shirt, ballet shoes (black/white/tan)

Teaching Methods:

• Lecture: muscles used in ballet will be demonstrated through lectures to give students a concrete knowledge of muscle attachments and insertions.
• Cooperative learning: students will be asked to locate muscles on fellow students as well as assist each other to find quality of movement such as resistance and rotation.
• Studio: practice is the key element of understanding ballet, students will be expected to attend class and experience the art of ballet.
• Media: Recommend students online ballet self-study video information, so that they can practice by themselves after class.

Course Schedule:

General Goals: By helping each other, students learn the correct way to do each ballet step and have the opportunity to practice it.

9/06    Self-introductions/Introduction of course.

9/13  Basic Exercises / Stretch.  Facing Barre: 1st, 2nd, plie, tendu, dégagé, tendu jete, rond de jambe, releve etc.. Center: Port des bras (arm positions)

9/20  Basic Ex / Stretch.  Facing Barre: 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 5th, plie, tendu, tombe, relève, ronde des jambe, fondu, frappe etc.. Center: Port des bras (Arms / Basic Movements)

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General Goals: Practice set Barre, understand foot articulation and leg use of leg musculature. Begin to introduce center practice ballet steps: pass des burre, burrey, tombe liet, ballance, small jumps, simple steps across the floor: chasse, glissade…

9/27   Facing away from barre: teach barre combinations **9/27-10/18 Barre combinations will be in the same order.  ***10/25 Midterm: as a class perform full barre.

10/04 Set Barre Adding: Dégagé, Wrapped foot, Retiré, Cou-de-pied. Center combination. 

10/11 Set Barre Adding: Frappé, Develop, Grande battement. Center combination. 

10/18 Set Barre. **Each student will be asked to demonstrate one barre combination of the teacher's choosing. Center combination.

10/25  Midterm: Full barre. Center combination.

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General Goals: to use knowledge of the body to coordinate several parts of the body to work together during combinations and center work. To introduce traveling steps across the floor. This section of the class will focus on some of the quality of movements fundamental to ballet.

11/1    Barre movements practice: including proper epaulement and port des bras, adding to ballet vocabulary movements according to the skill level of the class. Center movements practice.

11/08 Annual Sports Meet (No classes for full-time students of all degree levels)

11/15  New Barre Combinations: including proper epaulement and port des bras, adding to ballet vocabulary movements according to the skill level of the class. ( Barre #2) Quality of Movement: Circular initiations of movement,  Center/Across the Floor.

11/22  Quality of Movement: Circular initiations of movement. Set Barre #2. Center/Across the Floor.

11/29  Qualities of movement discussed in this course. Set Barre #2. Center combination for course final.

12/06    Qualities of movement discussed in this course. Set Barre #2. Center combination for course final

12/13  Review of all the musculature, concepts, positions and qualities of movement discussed in this course. Set Barre #2. Center combination for course final**Each student will be asked to demonstrate one barre combination of the teacher's choosing. 

12/20  Final Exam: Set Barre #2 / Center Combination.

1. Visual body online anatomy https://support.visiblebody.com/hc/zh-cn/categories/4411909666075-%E4%BA%BA%E4%BD%93%E8%A7%A3%E5%89%96%E5%AD%A6%E5%9B%BE%E8%B0%B12022- 

2. Bones of the body https://fb.watch/dZiW0M31q3/

3. Anatomy online library https://www.visiblebody.com/anatomy-and-physiology-apps/web-suite