LEVEL 1 SYLLABUS LEVEL 1

PRINCIPLES

POSITIONS OF THE HEAD Turned, Raised, Lowered, Inclined

POSITION OF THE HAND

POSITIONS OF THE FEET 1st, 2nd, 3rd

POSITIONS OF THE ARMS 5th Position En Bas, 5th Position En Haut, 1st Position, 2nd Position, Allongé

RUSSIAN 8 POINTES OF THE ROOM

MOVEMENTS OF DANCING Plier Étendre Relever Sauter Tourner

BODY DIRECTIONS En Face

MOVEMENT DIRECTIONS En Avant En Arrière De Côté

STATIONARY DIRECTIONS Devant Derrière À La Seconde En Croix

MUSICALITY Count phrases Identify the 1 Understands & maintains musical phrasing given by teacher Identify when to begin from corner

2 LEVEL 1

EXECUTION REQUIREMENTS Lift, Alignment, Stance, Muscle Engagement

BASIC BALLET ETIQUETTE

WARM-UP

The primary focus of the warm-up should be on the conditioning of the body. This will ensure that students will have the necessary strength and flexibility to execute proper ballet technique without unnecessary tension and strain.

MUSICALITY Clap March

ISOLATIONS Positions of the Head Feet (point and flex) Hands (open and close/finger press) Shoulders (up and down/rolling forward and back) Rotation of legs (turn in and out)

CONDITIONING Abdominals Back Arms

STRETCHING

3 LEVEL 1

BARRE EXERCISES

* Note: All exercises will be done facing the barre with two hands except where noted. It is important for the students to learn how to execute balletic exercises with proper placement, alignment, and stance. You may have your students step away from the barre as a tool when working at the barre. Once students are ready, some exercises may be done in center.

FOOT EXERCISE FOR ARTICULATION OF FEET Tempo: Andante - Allegretto Meter: Duple

Parallel and 1st position

DEMI-PLIÉ Tempo: Adagio Meter: Triple

1st, 2nd, and 3rd position of the feet Execution: Pliés should always be performed in 4 counts (2 counts down, 2 counts up).

BATTEMENT TENDU Tempo: Andante - Allegretto Meter: Duple

1st position of the feet: Devant and Á la Seconde, then Derrière Execution: Students should perform exercises without épaulement. When students are ready, introduce derrière, tendu from 3rd position and a fondu on the supporting leg.

BATTEMENT DÉGAGÉ Tempo: Andante - Allegretto Meter: Duple

1st position of the feet: Devant and Á La Seconde, then Derrière Execution: Students should perform exercises without épaulement. When students are ready, introduce derrière.

4 LEVEL 1

ROND DE JAMBE À TERRE (EN DEHORS & EN DEDANS) Tempo: Waltz Meter: Triple

Demi-Rond de Jambe á Terre Devant to à la seconde, à la seconde to devant Derrière to à la seconde, à la seconde to derrière Execution: Exercises should always be performed from first position. Introduce demi-rond de jambe that passes through the derrière once students have mastered tendu derrière and demi-rond de jambe á terre devant to à la seconde, à la seconde to devant.

TRANSFER OF WEIGHT Tempo: Waltz Meter: Triple

Temps Lié De Côté Preparatory Exercise for Glissade

COU-DE-PIED (COUPÉ) Tempo: March - Moderato Meter: Duple

1st Position (Devant and Derrière) Execution: Once students are ready, introduce proper placement for cou-de-pied turned out. Cou-de-pied should be executed to and from tendu à la seconde only.

RETIRÉ Tempo: Adagio - Andante Meter: Triple

1st position of the feet (Devant only) Execution: Retiré devant should be executed to and from tendu à la seconde only.

RELEVÉ (NOT ELEVÉ) Tempo: Polka Meter: Duple

1st, 2nd, and 3rd position of the feet Execution: Exercise should be performed without plié. Combinations may be given facing the barre, facing away from the barre and by stepping away from the barre when ready.

5 LEVEL 1

ADAGIO Tempo: Adagio Meter: Triple

Battement Relevé Lent Devant and À La Seconde from 1st position of the feet Execution: This should be performed as one continuous movement. Once students are ready, add a hold en l’air. Leg should be 75-90 degrees. Execute devant with two hands on the barre facing away and á la seconde facing the barre.

GRAND BATTEMENT Tempo: March without a pick-up Meter: Duple

Devant and À La Seconde Execution: Execute devant with two hands on the barre facing away and á la seconde facing the barre. This exercise should be performed as such: tendu, lift, tendu, close. Students should learn the proper musicality for grand battement: quick-up, slow down. STATIONARY CENTER EXERCISES

*Note: The following barre exercises may also be performed in center. DEMI-PLIÉ BATTEMENT TENDU BATTEMENT DÉGAGÉ TRANSFER OF WEIGHT COU-DE-PIED (COUPÉ) 6th Position RETIRÉ 6th Position ADAGIO

INTRODUCTORY EXERCISE FOR ARM AND HAND POSITIONS AND PORT DE BRAS Tempo: Adagio Meter: Duple or Triple

Execution: First perform port de bras through 5th en bas to 1st, to second, to allongé, to 5th en bas. Then perform port de bras through 5th en bas to 1st, to 5th en haut, to second, to allongé, to 5th en bas. The Port de Bras exercise should 6 LEVEL 1

be introduced no sooner than the second semester. Students should be able to perform these exercises with the proper shape of the arm and hand. PIROUETTES

FOCUS EXERCISE Tempo: Spanish Waltz Meter: Triple

Seated and Standing in parallel Execution: Begin looking en face, rotate head to the right, hold, rotate back to en face. Repeat to the left. Progress to looking to the right, hold, look left, hold. The main objective of this exercise should be the use of the head and focus.

SPOTTING EXERCISE Tempo: Spanish Waltz Meter: Triple

Standing in parallel Execution: Begin by looking front, do a ¼ turn by shuffling, maintaining focus front. Spot head to the opposite shoulder and complete shuffle to face front. Progress to begin by looking front, do a ½ turn by shuffling, maintaining focus front. Shoulders should be square and head should be straight (no tilting). Then turn head to spot front quickly and shuffle to face front. The main objective of this exercise should be the use of the head and focus. Please note if students cannot maintain a straight head while doing the ½ rotation execute the shuffle to the upstage corner and then progress to ½. ALLEGRO

SAUTÉ PREP Tempo: Polka (120-132) Meter: Duple

6th & 1st position Execution: Students should execute the elements of sauté through relevé, focus on stretched knees.

SAUTÉ (SINGLE FOR STRENGTH & POSITION) Tempo: Polka Meter: Duple

Sauté in 6th and 1st position of the feet

7 LEVEL 1

Execution: Students must be able to execute one sauté at a time with proper starting and finishing positions as well as the proper position in the air. When first introduced please take a full 8 count for each sauté.

RHYTHMIC JUMPING (FOR COORDINATION AND STAMINA) Tempo: Polka Meter: Duple

Consecutive jumps in 6th and 1st position of the feet Execution: Focus on the coordination and rhythm of jumping while still reminding them of the above concept of proper positions. Please note students at this level may not be able to execute all elements combined therefore maintain focus of the coordination and rhythm.

SPRING POINTES Tempo: Allegro Meter: Duple

From 1st position TRAVELING CENTER EXERCISES

BALLET WALKS Tempo: Polonaise Meter: Triple

Execution: Walks should be introduced with straight legs through 1st and tendu en avant. As students are able to walk faster, the knees should soften. Progress to walking on demi pointe through 1st, with a focus on heels forward.

GALLOPS Tempo: Allegretto - Allegro Meter: Triple

De Côté, En Avant, and En Arrière Execution: When students are traveling de côté, feet should arrive in first position en l’air. When students are traveling en avant and en arrière, feet should arrive in sous-sus en l’air. When students are ready, introduce alternating feet.

SKIPS Tempo: Polka Meter: Duple

En Avant and En Arrière

6 LEVEL 1

Execution: Supporting foot does not fully point. When students are ready, introduce en tournant with spot.

POLKA Tempo: Polka Meter: Duple

En Avant Execution: Gallop, Skip alternating sides.

SAUTÉ RETIRÉ Tempo: Big Waltz Meter: 3/4

From 6th position of the feet Arms in soldier position

Execution: Students should jump at their full height with a fully pointed supporting foot. When ready, introduce arms in opposition and head.

RUNS ON DEMI-POINTE Tempo: Coda Meter: Duple

6th Position

TRIPLET STEP Tempo: Polonaise Meter: Triple

6th Position CREATIVE DANCE

CLASSICAL BALLET NARRATIVES

Utilize the narratives from classical ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Swan Lake, etc. as a way to guide students into the exploration of relationship between movement and a story line. Since dance is a non- verbal language, students should utilize pantomime as a way to express themselves. This dance should also allow time for a free dance. REVERENCE

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