Choose below the level and class most suitable for you
Ballet class
Beginners
Suitable for those with little to no ballet experience as an adult. Also, for those who have had a long break since their early years of ballet training. By the end of the course, you will have grasped the basics of Ballet and its vocabulary.
Course content:
• Posture and alignment, basic positions of the arms and feet.
• Develop strength and flexibility.
• Improve coordination.
• Basic steps at the ballet barre such as plié, tendu, glissés, rond de jambe, grand battements.
• Centre practice progress to short movement sequences standing without the barre in the centre of the dance studio.
• Broaden awareness of the body in space.
Ballet class
Beginners Improvers
Some dance experience is required. It is for those with a basic to moderate understanding of ballet terminology and steps. By the end of the course, you will have progressed to more challenging sequences using a more comprehensive range of steps.
Course content:
• Continue to improve your posture and balance.
• More complex barre work adding frappes and fondus.
• Introducing exercises for pirouettes.
• Working on linking steps in the centre, such as pas de bourrees and glissades and jumps onto one leg, such as jete’ ordinaire.
• Introduction to petit batterie (beats), directions and grand allegro (big jumps)
Ballet class
Improvers
It is a progression from the beginners-improvers course. It covers more complex elements of Ballet, including more pirouettes and allegro, with a greater sense of movement in each class to challenge technically whilst encouraging artistic development.
The course is also suitable for those who have done Ballet as an adult for a minimum of 3 years.
Course content:
• Continue to improve flexibility, posture, turn out and technique
• Long and quicker sequences at the barre and centre practice
• Challenging balances and footwork combinations
• Centre work with a pirouette and often use of the (beats) in petit allegro
• Increased stamina, musicality and coordination
• greater use of epaulement and building more fluidity
Ballet class
Intermediate
Suitable for those with a good knowledge of ballet terminology from 5 years of ballet experience as an adult who has gained sufficient skill, technique and strength to learn more advanced steps and combinations.
Course content:
• Challenging barre work
• Pirouettes en dedans and en dehors in passe, attitude and arabesque.
• More complex allegro enchainment
• Increased stamina, musicality and coordination
• Greater sense of movement in each class to challenge technically whilst encouraging artistic development
Ballet class
Advanced
Ideal for those with a minimum of 7 years of ballet experience as an adult at a high skill level, former professionals, returning ballet-fit dancers and dance teachers. It is for those wishing to keep strengthening and honing their ballet technique.
Course content:
• Building up strength, confidence, and knowledge of ballet terminology and movements.
• More complex musicality with changes in rhythm and timings
• Challenging barre work, including adage and ronds de jambe en l’air.
• Centre work with a test of quick footwork on petit allegro and greater use of the body directions in space.
• Building on dance quality, virtuosity and artistry.
Pointe class
Pre pointe
You will do exercises with or without props on the floor and at the barre during the course. The course is on barefoot or soft shoes, focusing on feet, toes, ankles and calves strengthening in preparation for the complete beginner’s Pointe Work course. Those looking to take the Pre Pointe course have completed two beginner ballet courses or have relevant experience as beginners-improvers.
Course Content:
• Floor and barre work.
• Exercises with TheraBand and trigger ball.
• Gain stronger muscles and an understanding of body awareness.
• Overall control through hip, knee, ankle and upper body.
• Acknowledge pointe shoes.
Pointe class
Improvers
This course is ideal for those who have completed our Beginners Pointe classes or want to revisit pointe work. Each class will start at the barre focusing on foot, toes, ankle and calf strengthening exercises before centre work of more advanced enchainments. At least two terms of Ballet Improvers level will be required before assessing if pointe improvers will be suitable for you.
Course Content:
• Rises and echappés, to relevés in retiré, posés into arabesque, and more challenged combinations in the centre.
• Pointe introduces turns from the corner, releve on one leg in the centre and single pirouettes.
• Increase dancers’ technical and gain confidence.
• Given friendly feedback and support from your tutor throughout the course.
Pointe class
Beginners
Each class will start with 30-40 mins of barre work focusing on foot and ankle strengthening exercises before 20-30 minutes of pointe work. You must have completed one term of ballet improvers and assessed by your teacher as suitable for Pointe. It is recommended to complete two to three courses of Pre Pointe and an assessment with our physiotherapist and former professional ballet dancer Emma Fletcher.
Course Content:
• An introduction to Pointe and wearing Pointe shoes.
• Guidance on the correct fit of your pointe shoes.
• Exercises on Pointe to strengthen calves, feet and ankles like rises and echappés, to relevés in retire and simple combinations in the centre.
• Expert advice on which Pointe shoes to buy and breaking them in.
• Given friendly feedback and support from your tutor throughout the course.
Clothing and Footwear Guide
We recommend bringing a hair tie to keep long hair back, layered clothing and soft or pointe ballet shoes depending on your chosen class.
Dance brands have clothing with very flattering lines and are made of the perfect material for physical activity. However, yoga clothing is also suitable. The best place to purchase dancewear is in-store so that you can try things on and get the advice from the staff for suggestions and alternate choices. Here’s our recommendation for local companies for ballet clothing:
- Dance Zone
- Fusion Dancewear
- Stage Shop
The correct footwear is also essential, but if you are new to ballet, then socks are perfectly acceptable for the first few classes and can often be better in terms of being able to feel the floor and gain a connection to the ground. It can also help to build the muscles of the feet if there is less resistance.
Eventually, ballet shoes will be necessary and help you develop strength. Selecting the right shoe should be done in a dancewear store to ensure that they are fitted correctly.
Most of all, when it comes to what to wear to a ballet class, you should feel happy in what you are wearing so that you are not distracted by uncomfortable clothing or shoes that rub.
