Class Descriptions
— Class Descriptions —
Classes are listed in ascending order of degree of difficulty.
please note that some classes may not be available in the current schedule.
Intro to Ballet
For the student who has never taken ballet before or is perhaps returning to ballet for the first time since their youth. This physical technique class moves at a slow and methodical pace to encourage the student to take in analytical information as well as the physical movements. Proper muscle engagement, posture, and mental dexterity are a strong focus, while learning the basic positions of the legs and arms and foundational movements such as plié, battement tendu, port de bras, and relevé. It is recommended that students who are new to ballet start with Introduction to Ballet before taking Beginner Ballet.
Stretch & Strengthen
A supplemental class to your dance training, during this time we’ll learn how to safely stretch areas of the body that are important to our ballet technique in order to enjoy a wider range of motion. These extending exercises will be interspersed with strengthening work designed to amplify what our body performs in class. Students will use a floor space and are welcome to join class with or without a yoga mat and with athletic shoes at the ready though we will work barefoot as well.
Beginner Ballet
Taking what we’ve learned in Introduction to Ballet, the Beginner Ballet student will begin to perform foundational movements in tandem with port de bras sequences. New steps and concepts are introduced that build on those learned in the previous level. Speed of movement will increase slightly but only as to present a gentle challenge for the mind and body. Flexibility and stamina elements are introduced into classwork.
Ballet Mat Warmup
This shorter format class flows through mat exercises intended to properly warm up the body in preparation for ballet class. Aerobic elements will be introduced to raise the heart rate interspersed with gentle stretches and exercises targeting specific muscle groups vital to proper ballet training. This is a bring-your-own-mat class.
Advanced Beginner Ballet
A bridge between Beginner Ballet and Intermediate Ballet, this class serves to introduce the student to slightly more complex combination patterns and weight exchanges. More advanced students may enjoy this class as an opportunity to clean up or fill any gaps in their technique.
Variations for Small Spaces
Variations for Small Spaces will teach students a 1-3 minute solo from a classical ballet over two weeks. Students will focus on building artistry skills, memorization, musicality, and negotiation of space. Variations will be modified according to level and amount of space which makes this class a good fit for many different capabilities. Class will begin with choreography and will not have a warm up. It is recommended that you take the Advanced Beginner Ballet technique class right before in order to be properly warm, however this is not a requirement.
Variations Workshop
Over the course of 3-4 weeks, students will learn a classical variation in studio complete with jumps and corner/menege passes. Character development and intention, technical details, stamina, and refined port de bras will be highlighted in this course. It is highly recommended that students attend the technique class that precedes this workshop to be properly warmed up. There is no warm up in this class period. Workshops begin at the top of each month.
advanced beginner contemporary ballet
Using elements from Graham, Horton, and various ballet techniques this class will fuse modern and classical methodologies to create movement. Movement components such as center and off center shifts, contractions and releases, as well as inward and outward rotations will be explored. Class begins at the barre for a fluid warmup and then moves to the center for a longer combination of choreographed sequences. Dancers can use technique shoes, socks, or dance barefoot as they like.
Intermediate Ballet
A faster paced class that encourages the student to step into their artistry while continuing to build their technical knowledge and analytical problem solving methods.
beginner pointe
Advanced Beginner and Intermediate Students are invited to join me for a short form class building fundamental pointe work technique at the barre. Students may also join in flat technique shoes to begin to pave the path toward pointe work. It is highly recommended that students take the technique class that precedes this class in order to be sufficiently warm for class.
ADV. beginner pointe
Advanced Beginner and Intermediate Students are invited to join me for a short form class further building pointe work technique at the barre and in the center. Students may also join in flat technique shoes to begin to pave the path toward pointe work. It is highly recommended that students take the technique class that precedes this class in order to be sufficiently warm for class.