Exit Skills Level 4 2014-15

Barre

Stance/ Ability to demonstrate secure verticle alignment through the back of the leg as well as proper weight distrubution (especially on one leg) 2/3 of the weight over the ball of the foot 1/3 over the front of the heel pad. The action of lengthening the lower back and front of the pelvis should be clearly visible.

Turnout Student can clearly show stable and neutral pelvis (with abdominal support) while maintaining turn out of both gesture and supporting leg. The muscles of the thighs that sustain this action should be well developed and visible on flat and 3/4 pointe where required. This should be maintained throughout all work

Plié elasticity Elasiticity in demi-plié and ability to maintain strong back in grand plié (barre and center).

Port de bras Well developed sense of breath while executing all port de bras with coordinated head and eyes and appropriate inclinations.

Balance Ability to find secure balance on full 3/4 pointe with fully stretched and pulled up legs (1 and 2 feet) in following positions: 1st, 5th, coup de pied and retiré, 45° in arabesque, 45° in 2nd position

Fondu coordination Well established co-ordination and alignment in fondu to stretch (on flat and demi-pointe)

Dynamics,tracking and isolation Ability to clearly show proper knee tracking in frappé while maintaining on both supporting and gesture leg with strong use of quick twitch muscles and secure 3/4 pointe.

Ability to sustain proper alignment in 2nd position en l'air at 90° with a clear understanding of the action of turnout while allowing mobility in the knee joint for both inward and outward action of the lower leg.

Flexibility

Increased flexibility for higher leg positions. Student can perform all splits and proper hamstring flexibility.This is to prevent injury due to higher demands of leg extension and big jumps in level 4.

School of Nashville Exit Skills Level 4 2014-15

Adage/grand Able to perform battement lent and developpé at 90° (minimum) in all directions with strong back and secure/verticle supporting leg. Also, the ability to demonstrate arabesque and attitude poses at 90°.

Secure back with stretched supporting leg while executing grand battement in all directions sideways to barre.

Turning sequences Ability to execute stable turning sequences at the barre.

Center Practice

The above criterion should be able to be transfered to center practice with the mastery of the following vocabulary.

Port de bras Ability to demonstrate proper arm line and smooth transitions with coordinated use of head,eyes and appropriate inclinations in basic, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th port de bras while maintaining secure basic stance

Grand plié Secure pelvic/shoulder girdle alignment, correct leg alignment (knees over 2nd toes) and ability to maintain a strong and secure basic stance.

Basic temps-lié en avant and en arrière with execution of big poses devant, 2nd and derrière Able to demonstrate full transfer of weight in all directions with strongly stretched legs and pelvic control. Ability to maintain strong well turned out, vertically aligned supporting leg while executing big poses. Able to demonstrate strong back and supporting leg in promenade en dehors and en dedans in retiré.

Battement tendu Secure pelvis, basic stance and leg stretch in tendu devant, derrière and a la seconde in all alignments with ability to maintain turnout on both supporting and gesture leg. Also now able to combine other vocabulary with smooth and clear transitional movements while maintaining turnout and correct weight distribution throughout the feet.

Battement Jeté Strong basic stance and supporting leg stability in jetés in 2nd en face with ability to maintain turnout on both supporting and gesture leg.

School of Nashville Ballet Exit Skills Level 4 2014-15

Battement fondu Good co-ordination in fondu to stretch in all directions with proper knee alignment. Strong basic stance and supporting leg stability while maintaining supporting and gesture leg turn out. En face only.

Pirouettes Single/Double pirouettes with clean finish from 2nd to 5th, 5th to 5th and 4th to 5th en dehors and en dedans. A well stretched supporting leg, abdominal support to maintain neutral pelvis, clear demi-plié to relevé retiré coordination with high demi-pointe, clear arm/leg coordination, strongly stretched supporting leg and strong active turnout on both gesture and supporting leg are requirements in the execution of this vocabulary.

Piqué pirouette en dedans Can clearly demonstrate a full transfer of weight onto a stretched leg with high demi-pointe position/able to maintain abdominal support and neutral pelvis/ proper arm leg coordination/ clear retiré derrière position/full revolution with coordinated head spot/ controled transition

Consecutive pirouettes from 5th position 8 consecutive pirouettes with same criterion as pirouettes. This is to set up the alignment, strength and coordination for fouettés in level 4.

Adage Secure battement lent devant, 2nd and derrière performed en face and on alignment at 90°. Demi-grand rond de jambe en dehors and dedans en face at 90°.

Allegro

Elasticity and control of demi-plié on all take offs and landings. Ability to maintain basic stance and turn out, with proper leg alignment, while executing all mandatory allegro vocabulary.

Sautés in 1st and 2nd/changement/echappé battu fermé Control of basic stance/elasticity of demi-plié/strong push off with elevation/fully active and well turned out legs in the air/ controlled landing with proper lower leg alignment

Assemblé /petit assemblé/ double assemblé/assemblé battu (over and under all) control of basic stance/elasticity of demi-plié/secure brush to push off coordination/ elevation/fully active turned out legs in the air/ clarity of beat with sustained turn out (battu) controlled landing with proper lower leg alignment

Sissone simple and ouvert devant, derrière and 2nd Control of basic stance/elasticity of demi-plié/strong push off with elevation/fully active and well turned out legs in the air/ controlled landing with proper lower leg alignment

School of Nashville Ballet Exit Skills Level 4 2014-15

Jeté ordinaire/ over and under Control of basic stance/elasticity of demi-plié/secure brush to push off coordination/ elevation/fully active and well turned out legs in the air/ controlled landing with proper lower leg alignment

Abilty to combine previous years allegro into a petit allegro enchâinment with clarity.

Sissone fermé de côté over and under Control of basic stance/elasticity of demi-plié/strong push off with elevation/ strong opening dynamic of both legs/ defined upwards and sideways transfer of weight/ fully active and well turned out legs in the air/ controlled landing with proper lower leg alignment

Temps-levé with demi-contretemps Secure transfer of weight/strong push off and elevation /ability to maintain leg at 90° / sustained turnout and stretch in arabesque/ correct port de bras, epaulement, port de tête and alignment change in demi-contretemps

Grand jeté en avant Control of basic stance/elasticity of demi-plié/strong brush to push off coordination/elevation strong opening dynamic of both legs/ defined upwards and forward transfer of weight/ fully active and well turned out legs in the air/ controlled landing with proper lower leg alignment

School of Nashville Ballet