Examples of Development Skills
How Classes are Structured * Early Childhood Program
Questions & Answers
It is important to remember that physical skills that often seem quite simple to us as adults are very difficult and complicated for young children.
Creative Movement -
Three year olds are quite new to learning how their bodies move, as well as how to behave in the classroom. Children in this program are gently introduced to the classroom environment. Because this age child loves and needs repetition, the same class is repeated several times before being
changed.
Some of the concepts taught are stretching the feet (foundation for a balletic battement tendu), balancing on one leg (an essential skill for the dancer), weight transfers from one foot to the other (the basis for balance), jumping, simple arm movements, stretching, and moving across the floor. Many types of movement characterizations are used to develop both movement quality and imagination. Toward the end of the year, skipping is introduced.
Kinder Ballet -
Five year olds continue to work on the same concepts, but in greater degrees of complexity. Their ability to count the music is developed, they utilize opposite arms and legs while skipping, galloping, and balancing. Weight transfers are taught in more complex patterns, and traveling steps across the floor are done on half points. They also begin to learn the technique of spotting (the snap of the head that allows dancers to turn without getting dizzy).
Elementary Ballet -
At age six, children move into the Elementary level, a transition class for students preparing for the study of classical ballet technique, which begins at age 8. Essentially, this class takes the concepts learned in the Early Childhood Program and begins to put them into the format used in actual ballet class. By the time students have turned eight, they are ready both physically and mentally to begin studying the beautiful and disciplined theatrical art form that is called classical ballet.
Instructors - All instructors who teach classes in our Early Childhood Program receive extensive training in the syllabus before they ever enter the classroom, and are monitored and updated in teaching techniques regularly
