Pre Pointe: A Ballet Conditioning Class
In this one-time class, students will learn exercises that strengthen feet and ankles for better Ballet training and in preparation for Pointe shoes!
Laura Cohen
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(79)
What's included
1 live meeting
40 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
In this on-time class, students will learn exercises that will strengthen their feet and ankles in preparation for Pointe shoes. Strong feet and ankles create better dancing in students of any styles. So, I usually encourage all my students to take this class for continued practice and maintenance of healthy muscles. Who is this class for? -Dancers wanting to improve their dancing in any style -Dancers looking for injury prevention strategies -Dancers interested in Pointe, but not ready for Pointe shoes **This is not a Pointe class** All exercises for this class will be done in BARE FEET. This will ensure that I can see your feet well while teaching and provide appropriate corrections. If you are interested in Pointe lessons, please send me a message. Teaching Pointe is my specialty. 1) Class will begin with my Pointe Barre warm up done in bare feet. 2) Each week we will rotate our exercises to include: -Perform strengthening feet exercises at the barre and in center -Perform balancing exercises for a strong core -Perform weight placement exercises for strong feet and ankles -Perform core strengthening exercises -Perform turnout exercises for improved leg rotation -Perform theraband exercises for strong feet and ankles 3) Class will end with some light stretching for overall flexibility
Learning Goals
Students taking this course will gain:
-Stronger feet
-Stronger ankles
-Stronger core muscles
-Tools for injury prevention
-Foot flexibility
-Improved Turnout and leg rotation
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Prep for you class! Take note of the things listed below to ensure the best learning experience:
- Class will begin promptly at the designated start time. Be sure to log in a little early to avoid technical issues. In order to provide good teaching practices, the instructor will not be able to help you with individual technology concerns.
- Students should set up for class in an open space. They will need room to move around without bumping into any furniture or large objects. It is also a good idea to remove toys or other clutter from the dancing area. Legos/Barbie Shoes hurt to step upon and books are easy to slip on. So be sure their area is safe to move around in.
- This class can be learned on a soft or hard floor surface (carpet, tile, wood, etc). However, be sure that the floor is not too slick where your child could easily fall.
-When setting up your space, please see the Supply List section of this class for reccomendations on alternatives to a traditional Ballet Barre. They will need something to hold onto, but please see this description to find something that will work safely.
- Students should dress in comfortable clothing that is easy to move in and form fitting to your body. Sweat pants or loose baggy clothing would not be practical. Proper dance attire (leotard, tights, ballet skirt) is also welcome, but not required.
- Students should pull all hair up and away from their face and secure it with a hair tie or other hair accessories.
- Students will use BARE FEET for this class. It is essential for me to see their feet as week work these exercises.
- This class will include warm up, cool down, stretching, and injury prevention. As with any exercise class, parents are encouraged to monitor student activity. Please note that you are solely responsible for your child's safety and well-being. The instructor will not be responsible for any injury in or outside of class time.
- Feel free to keep water nearby for your child. Students will be given short breaks during the lesson, but feel free to take a break at anytime as needed. This is your class time and it should be comfortable for you.
- This list has included a lot of heavy information. Please note that encouragement and praise are the most important part of the learning process. You, as a parent, have the wonderful authority to influence your child's excitement while learning something new. Encourage your child throughout their learning process, and remind them that learning new things can take time/practice. I will encourage this too, but sometimes hearing if from parents can reinforce comfortable learning environments.
Supply List
For the Ballet Barre portion of this class, a traditional Ballet Barre is best, however not everyone has a Ballet Barre at home. Students may use various things in their home for upright support. Some ballet barre alternative examples include cabinet counters and kitchen islands. Be sure that whatever you use to support yourself is secure and safe. Wobbly furniture would not be safe for this use. It must be strong and supported. If using a chair, be sure to place the chair against a wall to provide greater stability and support. Anything that is able to slide on the floor would be unsafe for this use.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined August, 2020
4.8
79reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
My name is Mrs Laura and I’ve been working as an educator and dance instructor for the last 10 years. I was trained classically for over 14 years in many styles including Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz and Tap. I currently work as a private lesson coach for Ballet and Pointe. Teaching Pointe is my favorite subject. With a college degree in Sociology and Education, my unique teaching style emphasizes creating clear, concise patterns for students to learn dance steps quickly and easily. I like to explain my dance steps in ways that reinforce auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning. This alleviates frustration and makes learning fun and exciting. I also believe the words of Aristotle who says, “Education of the mind, without education of the heart, is no education at all.” So, all of my classes are filled with lots of social and emotional support. I want all of my students to walk away from my classes excited, confident and ready to share what they have learned with others. This is what makes learning to dance so fun!Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$10
per classMeets once
40 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
2-4 learners per class
