Absolute Beginner – 8 Week Plan

Jeté. Now we have learned plié and tendu, we will progress on with Jeté which means to throw. It is a much more dynamic movement which is critical to help us jump with dynamic later. Let’s learn how to execute a dynamic jeté in each direction.

Well done! Now you’ve learned Jeté. Today we will implement transference of weight going from one leg to another without losing form, technique or placement which is easier said than done. The most common thing that’s lost is turnout. Let’s dive in.

The next exercise at the barre is Rond de jambe Par Terre which literally translates as circle of the leg on the floor. An amazing movement for training turnout and postural awareness. Isolation of movement is absolutely key here. You will find, as you get more and more connected with your muscles, posture and turnout, these ‘simple” looking movements will suddenly become harder as your connection to them will be greater.

Fifth position of the feet. We will learn fourth in a separate lesson because it’s slightly more complex than fifth and requires more muscle awareness of the hips. Fifth position is where nearly every exercise and step starts from. A tricky position to train but a critical one to work on and perfect. If we have an improper fifth, the steps and movements following will likely be affected also.

Now we have established cou de pied, we will go into the next exercise at the barre which is fondu. Fondu means melting or sinking down. This describes not only the meaning but also the quality of the movement, melting down on one leg while we peel the other foot to cou de pied. In this lesson we will work on the simple coordination of peeling the foot off whilst we plié on one leg.

In this Lesson we will cover doing a fondu to an extended pose, devant ( front), derrière (back). and a la seconde (side). This movement is so strengthening for the body, turnout and a big test of coordination. This movement will take time to perfect. I want you to pay heavy focus to your hips, keeping them aligned and turned out. Pay special awareness to your supporting leg, keep it tall, avoiding twisting the pelvis. Let’s Fondu!

In this lesson we really start to challenge strength and flexibility with an adagio ( slow ) movement called Relevé lent ( rising up slowly) as well as grands plié in first and seconde. Relevé Lent despite the name we use this for lifting the leg straight up in each position slowly and holding at the top. Maintenance of placement of hips, shoulders, strength in supporting knee, maintaining straight lines are key with a beautifully straight back.

Retiré is the position we develop the leg from for higher extentions as well as the position we most notably turn from in pirouettes ( but that’s later!) Here we will learn how to lift the leg to the knee with correct muscle usage and positioning. This can very easily be out of alignment. Despite the knee being lifted, we have to initiate from other areas to avoid hitching the hip and losing placement.

Now we have established a développé to the side, let’s learn how to do a developpé front and back. The développé back will lead to the iconic ballerina pose of arabesque. A movement we work on for our entire careers. Let’s get started!

Introduction to Grand Battement. A very dynamic movement where we keep both legs straight and kick one leg out and in with control and dynamic. We do this in all positions front, back and side. As side is the most difficult for the hips we will focus on front and back.

Now we have gone through most of the barre exercises that happen in a ballet class we will use this lesson to teach you how to stretch and lengthen on the barre. Stretching is so important in ballet. Strength without flexibility is useless therefor as a ballet dancer we must look after our body and stretch regularly. The barre is a great place to stretch daily. Definitely check out the stretch classes in the online studio for targeted stretches. You will need a barre and a towel or stretch band for this lesson.

Congratulations on completing one month! In this lesson we will give you a chance to try a BWI very beginner barre. This class is designed for beginners. We have covered all the steps in the course so far. This should give you a sense of a doing an actual ballet class with the knowledge we have so far. Be super proud of how far you have come at this point in time. Ballet is hard and requires a lot of focus and consistency. You’re doing super well and I am excited for the next month with you.

In this lesson we will be learning Single frappé. Striking the air and returning back to our turned out position. This is a hard movement as it requires strong action, whilst keeping everything still and returning back to a turned out pose and keeping the beautiful shape of foot.

In this class we will learn where to place our weight when balancing. What muscles to engage and how to find our “centre” which in ballet is a term we use for finding our axis and centre of gravity. Step towards getting on balance for pirouettes one day.

Now we have found where to be on demi pointe. We will work on plié relevé. This literally means to bend, to rise. When we do a plié relevé. This needs to have a stronger action to it, pulling up the knees quickly, pushing from the heels, and with a sensation of lift under the glutes and in the core. A movement that has to be done right.

This has its own lesson as it’s much more complex. It requires much greater awareness of the turnout as well as how to come down in fifth position properly without losing turnout or position of the feet. Let’s get started.

In this lesson, we will do some really useful balance and proprioception work. This shows you just how much you rely on site to balance, bringing more awareness to the body. Along with this, we will be finding balance on one leg, sharing all that this requires to execute well.

The head in ballet is so important. Especially in the Vaganova school, use of head and arms is absolutely key. In this lesson, we will learn how to stand with the head at the barre along with a very critical arm movement that links movements together as well as finishes combinations. Allongé. This means to elongate. A very expressive and meaningful movement in ballet.

In this lesson we will see how we use the head in relation to the legs by doing a simple tendu exercise. Every exercise in ballet starts with a preparation. Depending on the mood, it can be done slow and adagio like, or with more accent and assertion. However, the pattern of the preparation is nearly always the same. Let’s learn!

In this lesson we will be learning basic port de bras forwards, back and side. We touched on this earlier in the course with two hands on the barre. Now we are practicing one handed and larger bends of the body. This requires more awareness of the body, legs, shoulders, core, and alignment. Key to building strength, coordination and isolation.

This is exciting and should really give you a sense of movement now. There are so many rules in ballet but in this lesson we will put together a lot of what you have learned into a simple Plié combination executing first and seconde position of the legs. This is how we start every ballet class. With Plié.

Turning to the otherside at the barre is harder than it looks. This happens usually when we do one side after the other. A good lesson of how to transfer weight and hold the body tight, whilst maintaining form. It must be done elegantly, maintaining turnout and be almost unnoticeable that we are changing feet. Let’s get started.

Now we are finally ready to tackle fourth position. The hardest position to find and feel for execution and control of hips, inner thigh wrap, posture, pelvic alignment and turnout. A challenging position but one which is key to many movements in ballet. Fourth is often used as preparation for pirouettes further down the line so correct connection to the fourth is super important.

You may remember we did Relevé Lent earlier in the course. Now with the challenge of just one hand one the barre. With this exercise. I stress for you to be aware of what happens to the inside leg and shoulder. Are you twisting? Sitting back in the leg? The key with ballet is isolation and control. Let’s practice.

While we aren’t ready to start turning. We are ready to find the position we turn in. Retiré is a fixed pose while Passé is a moving position. Think of it like “passing”. The foot passes over the knee. While these movements are used in pirouette, they are used for many things, linking steps together. Let’s find these poses and learn what goes into executing them..

We continue our barre with the next exercises that follow what we did yesterday. Roads de jambe par Terre meaning circle of the leg on the floor, Fondu, melting or sinking movement requiring lots of coordination and Frappé, a completely different mood and dynamic requiring precise placement of the feet and legs. Try to dance with these moods in mind.

We complete our single handed Barre with Adage and Grand Battement. Two exercises again which are completely contrasting in mood and style. Adage we will practice Developpé, coming through the Retiré positions. Grand Battement, we will practice dynamically lifting the leg while keeping form. Be wary of your placement and squareness of hips throughout. Fully stretch the knees in extended positions. Let’s go!

Step away from the barre! you did it. You completed an entire ballet barre with me. Let’s step into the centre and practice our carriage of arms, Using our head and upper body to express while we sustain beautiful shape of the arms.

Wow, I am so proud of you! Now we bow and reverence as we would in the Vaganova school every single day both at the beginning and end of class. As you learn these steps, I want you to be proud of how far you have come and what you have learned. This is just the beginning. Congratulations