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Ballet: Adult Beginner
Concepts, Strategies & Class Structure in Order of Introduction

FIRST SEMESTER: Content is from the Vaganova syllabus first year
September and October. The order of introduction is slightly altered in
comparison to the regular division levels for children and young people.
It is designed to accommodate a once a week schedule for individuals
with more developed physical and cognitive abilities.

Weeks 1 & 2
Barre: (Two hands facing the barre. Slow tempos. Attention to music.)
-Explain dress, training, class structure, concept of working/supporting leg, stretching
through the instep of the foot and spacing at the barre.
-V1B1 Review TBS and briefly refer to ballet history in order to build concepts around
it: nobility, grace, elegance and royalty.
-Explain the concept of proper turn-out!!! (repeat every week)
-V1B2 Review the positions of the feet 1
st
, 2
nd
1
st
and 3
rd

-V1B4 Review Demi-Pli in 1
st
, 2
nd
and 3
rd
only (repeat every week)
-V1B5 Review Battement Tendu from 1
st
only, side only (repeat every week)
-V1B6 Battement Tendu from 1
st
only combined with demi-pli side only (repeat every
week)

Centre: (Proper Spacing and everything should be en face.)

-Dance March stretching through the instep of the foot. Go across floor.
-Review spacing and stance.
-V1B1 Review TBS and build concepts around it: majesty, grace, beauty, specialness,
elegance
-V1B3 Explain the positions of the arms 1
st
and 3
rd
only
-Explain how to raise the arms up and down (through 1
st
position with no opening to 2
nd
)
-V1B4 Demi-pli in 1
st
, 2
nd
and 3
rd
position (once introduced, repeat every week)
-V1B6 & V1B6 Battement Tendu from 1
st
, side only (once mastered at the barre, repeat
in the centre every week)

Allegro (pay attention to the music and proper spacing. Work with loose
turn out):
-V1B1 Review TBS
-Explain the concept of vertical attack
-Introduce the concept of ballon (rubber ball vs. egg (yo-yo, basketball, springs, cats etc.)
- V1A11 Review Trampoline J umps
First without music later on the beat consecutive and bouncy, not in isolation
arms gently held to the sides or on hips
Loose turn-out
-Skipping with an extra high bounce
-Add a simple reverence at the end of class arms prep and nod.
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Weeks 3 & 4
Barre
-Repeat week 1 and add tendu to the front
-V1B8 Demi-rond de jambe par terre en dehors
-V1B12 Battement Tendu J et (J et) side only (Preliminary version with pointe)

Centre
-Repeat week 1 add arms (2
nd
half of the first port de bras)
-V1B10 Battement Tendu with a demi-pli side only
-V1B5 Battement Tendu straight side and front

Allegro
- V1A11 Review Trampoline J umps
First without music later on the beat consecutive and bouncy, not in isolation
arms gently held to the sides or on hips
Loose turn-out
-Skipping with an extra high bounce and the Dance March stretching through the instep.
-Add a simple reverence at the end of class arms prep and nod.

Week 5
Barre
Position transitions one hand on the barre arm low, half port de bras where applicable.
-V1B10 Battement Tendu with a demi-pli side and now front one hand arm low
-V1B5 Battement Tendu straight side, front and back facing the barre still
-V1B12 Battement Tendu J et (J et) side only (Preliminary version with pointe).
-V1B8 Demi-rond de jambe par terre en dehors and en dedans
-Relev with parallel feet facing the barre

Centre
-V1B36 Half and 1
st
port de bras
-V1B10 Battement Tendu with a demi-pli side and now front
-V1B5 Battement Tendu straight side, front and back
-V1B8 Demi-rond de jambe par terre en dehors
-V1B12 Battement Tendu J et (J et) side only (Preliminary version with pointe).

Allegro
-Dance March and Skipping across the floor
- V1A11 Review Trampoline J umps 8 jumps to complete one turn
-Walking improve in a circle (adagio)
-Add a simple reverence at the end of class 1
st
position step half port de bras and nod


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Week 6
Barre
-V1B7 Passe par terre through 1
st
position (preparation is a degage back)
-V1B8 Demi-rond de jambe par terre en dehors and en dedans combined with V1B39
Cambr side.
-V1B12 Battement Tendu J et (J et) side and front (Preliminary version with pointe).
-V1B20 Relev to demi pointe in 1
st
position only

Centre
-V1B5 Battement Tendu straight side, front and back
-V1B8 Demi-rond de jambe par terre en dedans

Allegro
- V1A11 Review Trampoline J umps 8 jumps to complete one turn
-V1A1 Temps Lev in 1
st
only two hands facing the barre.
-Skipping forward and backward

Week 7 & 8
Barre
-V1B9 Battement Tendu in 3
rd
position explaining the concept of alternating closings
-Begin to do demi-pli with only one hand on the barre mix in cambrs
-V1B12 Battement Tendu J et (J et) side, front and back (Preliminary version with
pointe).
-V1B11 Rond de J ambe par terre en dehors and en dedans
-V1B15 Relev Lent side at 45degrees
-V1B20 Relev to demi pointe in 1
st
and 2
nd
position

Centre
-V1B12 Battement Tendu J et (J et) side, front (Preliminary version with pointe).

Allegro
-V1A1 Temps Lev in 1
st
and 2
nd
only two hands facing the barre.

Week 9 & 10
Barre
-Introduce 4
th
position
-Move to one hand on the barre as ready
-Explain and include the motivational hand movement whenever possible
-V1B12 Battement Tendu J et (J et) side, front and back (without pointe)
-V1B18 Position of the foot sur le cou de pied (front and back)
-V1B39 Cambr to the back facing the barre


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Centre
-Arms in 2
nd
position for some exercises
-V1B12 Battement Tendu J et (J et) side, front and back (without pointe)
-V1B11 Rond de J ambe par terre en dehors and en dedans the full range now
-V1B39 Cambr to the side only


Allegro
-V1A1 Temps Lev in 1
st
and 2
nd
only two hands facing the barre.
1
st
position in the centre
2
nd
position at the barre.
-V4A1 Pas Chass (spring in 1
st
)


Note: There are 5 weeks or so built in to this semester as flex weeks. Flex weeks are to
be used at the teachers discretion when students need a bit more time to master an
element before going on to the next


SECOND SEMESTER: Content is from the Vaganova syllabus first
year the remainder of the October work. The order of introduction is
slightly altered in comparison to the regular division levels for children
and young people. It is designed to accommodate a once a week
schedule for individuals with more developed physical and cognitive
abilities.


January through May Review the work accomplished in the first semester and at
the students readiness to assimilate add the following.


Barre
-V1B13 Battement tendu jet with demi pli
-V1B14 Battement double tendu straight leg, with pli and flex and point.
-Plie Soutenu
-V1B19 Battement frappe side with the toe to the floor then front and eventually back
-V1B25 Petit battement with an even accent
-V1B26 Battement double frappe side with the toe to the floor then front and eventually
back
-V1B18 The position of the foot sur le cou de pied conditional
-V1B23 Battement fondu side with the toe to the floor then front and eventually back
-V1B20 Relev to demi-pointe in 5
th
position


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Centre
-V1B11 Rond de jambe en dehor and en dedans full
-V1B18 The position of the foot sur le cou de pied wrapped position and back
-V1C3 The pose crois J ust the direction of epaulement
-V1C2 1st and 2
nd
port de bras with head.
-V1B20 Relev in 1
st


Allegro
-Eliminate trampoline jumps
-V1A1 Temps Lev in 5
th

-V1A2 Changement de pieds
-V1A3 Echapp from 5
th
-Triplets across the floor
-V1B39 Cambr forward backward and side with the arms in the preparatory pose

Note: J ust hold the poses croiss, effaces and ecarts do not use them in exercises until
next year Ballet: Advanced Beginner.



M. MacDonald