Let's Learn Ballet: Pre-School Level

In this ballet and creative movement class, we use our imaginations to discover ballet. This class is structured for dancers who are 3 and 4 years old, and dancers must have turned 3 before the start of the classes. Dancers may repeat this class as the steps are varied. 

Students practice exercises and steps which form the foundation of ballet technique, but these movements are presented using imaginary elements, animals and characters as inspiration. We practice exercises for our feet, legs and arms with a focus on learning to move our bodies in a variety of ways with varying dance qualities, tempos and patterns. As a registered Royal Academy of Dance Ballet teacher, I plan the exercises for this class based on the steps presented in the Preschool level syllabi from the Royal Academy of Dance, the largest ballet teaching organization in the world. Students will mostly dance all together during the class, but will practice dancing one by one at certain times. Students will improve strength, coordination, musicality and creativity, while starting out on their journey into ballet.

Each week our class is structured as detailed below to introduce and practice the following topics in ballet.

1) Introduction

2) Warm - up

3) Exercises for dancers to explore:
          i) Use of space
          ii) Different tempos
          iii) The ways in which different body parts move
          iv) Various movement qualities
          v) Different Jumps
          vi) Artistic Expression
          vii) Creative Movement

4) Reverence (traditional ballet class good-bye)