Adult Beginner Ballet Course

Lesson 1 • Foot Anatomy and Placement

Covers the three-point foot arch and weight distribution across the foot. Correct foot placement is prerequisite for safe turnout and pointe work introduced later.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Ballet Alignment

Introduces the concept of vertical axis alignment from head to heel. Connects proper posture to injury prevention and movement efficiency throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Body Awareness and Proprioception

Develops kinesthetic sense so students can self-correct alignment without a mirror. This internal feedback skill accelerates progress in all subsequent technique chapters.

Lesson 4 • Introduction to Turnout

Explains hip external rotation as the defining feature of ballet stance. Students learn safe, anatomically appropriate turnout limits to prevent knee and hip strain.

Lesson 1 • Barre Etiquette and Setup

Covers proper barre grip, spacing, and studio conduct that ensure safety and learning efficiency. Establishes professional habits carried into every class.

Lesson 2 • Pliés: Demi and Grand

Teaches the foundational bending exercise that warms joints and builds leg strength. Pliés appear in virtually every ballet step as preparation or landing.

Lesson 3 • Tendus and Dégagés

Introduces brushing exercises that develop foot articulation and leg extension. These exercises directly prepare the footwork used in center combinations.

Lesson 4 • Rond de Jambe and Frappé

Develops hip mobility through circular leg gestures and sharp striking exercises. These exercises build the coordination needed for more complex center work.

Lesson 1 • First and Second Position Feet

Introduces the two most foundational foot positions used in every barre exercise. Correct heel and toe alignment here prevents compensatory errors in later positions.

Lesson 2 • Port de Bras: Arm Positions

Teaches the classical arm positions (bras bas through fifth) and their aesthetic line. Arm carriage directly affects balance and artistic expression in all combinations.

Lesson 3 • Third, Fourth, and Fifth Position Feet

Builds on first and second to introduce the crossed positions requiring greater turnout control. Students learn progressive placement to avoid knee torque.

Lesson 4 • Positions in Motion

Applies static positions to slow, controlled transitions that mimic real barre sequences. Students develop the muscle memory needed for continuous barre work.

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Adagio

Introduces slow, sustained center combinations that develop control and artistry. Adagio builds the strength and poise required for all performance work.

Lesson 2 • Balance on One Leg

Teaches retiré and passé balance as the foundation for pirouettes and jumps. Single-leg stability requires integrated core, ankle, and hip control.

Lesson 3 • Spatial Awareness in the Studio

Teaches directional orientation using the classical eight-point stage system. Spatial literacy is essential for learning across-the-floor and group combinations.

Lesson 4 • Center Pliés and Tendus

Repeats barre exercises in center to test and reinforce alignment without support. Exposes and corrects compensations hidden when using the barre.

Lesson 1 • Sous-sus and Échappé

Introduces the springing relevé and opening jump that combine footwork with elevation. These steps bridge barre footwork and center jumping skills.

Lesson 2 • Relevé Technique and Progressions

Builds the calf and foot strength needed to rise cleanly to demi-pointe. Relevé is the foundation of all jumps and turns.

Lesson 3 • Foot Conditioning and Care

Covers strengthening, stretching, and recovery practices specific to ballet foot demands. Proper foot care prevents overuse injuries common in adult beginners.

Lesson 4 • Battement Frappé Refinement

Deepens the striking exercise to develop speed and precision in foot placement. Sharp frappé technique directly improves petit allegro footwork.

Lesson 1 • Spotting Technique

Teaches the head-whipping focus technique that prevents dizziness and maintains direction. Spotting must be automatic before any turning combination is attempted.

Lesson 2 • Common Turn Errors and Fixes

Diagnoses the most frequent pirouette mistakes and provides targeted corrections. Error analysis skills help students self-correct in future practice.

Lesson 3 • Chaîné Turns Across the Floor

Introduces the simplest traveling turn as a vehicle for practicing spotting and weight transfer. Chaînés build turning confidence before stationary pirouettes.

Lesson 4 • Single Pirouette En Dehors

Assembles préparation, retiré balance, and spotting into a complete outward single turn. Students practice the full sequence with musical timing.

Lesson 1 • Changement and Échappé Sauté

Introduces foot-changing jumps that develop coordination between air time and position change. These are the most common petit allegro building blocks.

Lesson 2 • Glissade and Assemblé

Covers the sliding step and the gathering jump that introduce traveling allegro. Glissade and assemblé are foundational linking steps in all allegro combinations.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Safe Jumping

Establishes the biomechanical rules of takeoff, flight, and landing that prevent injury. Every jump in ballet follows these principles regardless of complexity.

Lesson 4 • Sauté and Soubresaut

Teaches the two-foot vertical jump in first and fifth positions as the entry point to allegro. These jumps establish the takeoff and landing pattern for all others.

Lesson 1 • Musicality and Phrasing

Develops the ability to match movement quality and timing to musical structure. Musicality transforms technically correct steps into expressive dance.

Lesson 2 • Épaulement and Artistry

Adds shoulder, head, and gaze nuances that give ballet its distinctive elegance. Épaulement is the primary tool for artistic differentiation at beginner level.

Lesson 3 • Performing a Beginner Combination

Synthesises all course skills into a short performance-ready combination with music. Students experience the full arc from learning to performing a ballet phrase.

Lesson 4 • Across-the-Floor Combinations

Applies individual steps to diagonal and lateral travelling sequences across the studio. Travelling combinations develop spatial confidence and performance projection.