Adult Ballet Course

Lesson 1 • Feet and Ankle Conditioning

Develops intrinsic foot strength and ankle mobility critical for pointe work and relevé. Lays groundwork for safe progression to more demanding footwork.

Lesson 2 • Core Engagement and Stability

Teaches activation of deep abdominal and back muscles to support upright carriage. Connects core stability to balance and clean technique.

Lesson 3 • Understanding the Ballet Body

Introduces anatomical landmarks relevant to ballet: spine, pelvis, hip sockets, and feet. Builds vocabulary for self-correction throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Turnout: Mechanics and Safe Practice

Explains hip external rotation as the basis of all ballet positions. Students learn to work within their natural range without forcing.

Lesson 1 • Pliés: Foundation of All Movement

Teaches demi-plié and grand plié in all positions as the basis of jumping, landing, and turning. Emphasizes heel placement and knee tracking.

Lesson 2 • Tendus and Dégagés

Develops foot articulation and leg extension through tendu and dégagé exercises. These movements train the working leg while the standing leg stabilizes.

Lesson 3 • Port de Bras: Arm Positions

Covers the classical arm positions and the quality of movement connecting them. Arm carriage is linked to upper-body alignment from the previous chapter.

Lesson 4 • Rond de Jambe and Hip Mobility

Introduces circular leg gestures that develop hip mobility and spatial awareness. Connects turnout mechanics to dynamic movement.

Lesson 1 • Relevés and Sous-Sus at the Barre

Builds calf strength and balance through sustained relevé work. Sous-sus introduces the concept of drawing feet together in fifth.

Lesson 2 • Grands Battements

Introduces large leg swings that develop hip flexibility and dynamic strength. Proper pelvis stability is reinforced throughout.

Lesson 3 • Stretching and Cool-Down at the Barre

Guides structured post-barre stretching targeting hip flexors, hamstrings, and calves. Establishes a safe cool-down habit for adult bodies.

Lesson 4 • Frappés and Petit Battements

Develops sharp, quick footwork and ankle articulation through frappé and petit battement. These exercises prepare the legs for petit allegro.

Lesson 1 • Promenades and Supported Turns

Introduces slow rotation in arabesque and attitude using promenade technique. Prepares students for unsupported pirouette work.

Lesson 2 • Arabesque and Attitude

Introduces two iconic ballet poses requiring back extension, hip alignment, and balance. Students work toward clean lines at 45 and 90 degrees.

Lesson 3 • Tendu and Dégagé in Centre

Transfers barre exercises to centre, requiring greater core engagement and self-correction. Introduces simple port de bras coordination.

Lesson 4 • Développé and Adagio Combinations

Builds slow, controlled leg extensions into full adagio phrases. Develops the sustained strength and artistry central to classical ballet.

Lesson 1 • Multiple Turns and Consistency

Develops the core tension and momentum management needed for double pirouettes. Focuses on consistency over quantity.

Lesson 2 • Pirouette Preparation Positions

Covers fourth and fifth position preparations and the mechanics of pushing into relevé. Correct preparation determines turn quality.

Lesson 3 • Spotting and Head Technique

Isolates the head action that prevents dizziness and maintains orientation during turns. Spotting is drilled before full pirouettes are attempted.

Lesson 4 • Pirouette En Dedans

Introduces the inward pirouette, which requires different weight shift and momentum. Contrasts mechanics with en dehors for clarity.

Lesson 1 • Glissade and Jeté

Introduces travelling steps that link allegro combinations and develop spatial awareness. Glissade serves as preparation for grand allegro.

Lesson 2 • Petit Allegro Combinations

Assembles individual jumps into musical phrases requiring memory, coordination, and stamina. Students perform set combinations across the floor.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Jumping and Landing

Establishes the biomechanics of safe takeoff and landing: plié, push, point, land. Prevents common impact injuries in adult learners.

Lesson 4 • Soubresaut and Changement

Introduces the first jumps in fifth position, focusing on foot articulation and clean fifth in the air. Builds confidence for more complex allegro.

Lesson 1 • Tours en l'Air and Turning Jumps

Introduces single tours en l'air and turning jumps for students with sufficient strength and coordination. Safety progressions are emphasised.

Lesson 2 • Grand Jeté Preparation and Execution

Breaks down the grand jeté into its preparatory run, split in the air, and landing. Builds the hip flexibility and leg strength required.

Lesson 3 • Sauté de Chat and Sissonne

Introduces two versatile grand allegro jumps with distinct mechanics and artistic qualities. Both are common in classical repertoire.

Lesson 4 • Grand Allegro Combination

Assembles all grand allegro elements into a full diagonal or circular combination. Emphasises performance quality, musicality, and spatial awareness.

Lesson 1 • Musicality and Phrasing

Develops sensitivity to musical structure, dynamics, and phrasing as they relate to movement. Transforms technically correct dancing into artistry.

Lesson 2 • Learning and Memorising Choreography

Teaches strategies for breaking down and retaining choreographic sequences. Addresses the unique memory challenges adult learners face.

Lesson 3 • Full Variation Performance and Feedback

Students perform their chosen variation in a studio showing and receive structured feedback. Closes the course with a concrete performance achievement.

Lesson 4 • Stage Presence and Performance Quality

Builds the projection, focus, and intention that distinguish performance from practice. Addresses eye focus, facial expression, and energy.