Beginner Class 1st Lesson Notes

Hello...this is a post to help those who weren't able to make it for the first lesson, as well as to refresh the memories of those who made it for the class! Classes are progressive, so absentees have to catch up!

These are the things we learnt during the first lesson...either research about it online or borrow library books, or ask your ballet classmates before the next lesson. If all else fails, you can email or sms me...but spoon feeding ends after one month. Terms are in french...I'll give a literal translation where needed.

Basics
1. Correct posture in ballet
2. Positions of the arms (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, demi seconde, demi bras)

3. Positions of the feet (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)

~Video of Arms and Feet together

4. Port de bras -- carriage of the arms
5. How to point your feet

Barre exercises
1. Demi-plies in 1st and 2nd position
-- demi=half, plie=bend
2. Battements tendus
-- battement=beat, tendu=stretch

Centre exercises
1. Port de bras
2. Rises and Releves in 1st and 2nd position (depending on class progress)
-- It is very important you remember not to sickle, as sickling weakens the ankle joint and displaces your weight distribution on your foot, making it less stable and more prone to sprains!

Credits to: https://learnaboutballet.wordpress.com/tag/sickle/

3. Sautes (jumps) in Parallel and 1st position
-- remember that all jumps should begin and end in a good turned out demi-plie with knees over your toes. make sure that the heel does not leave the floor in your demi-plie position...this is to allow you to stretch out your achilles tendon and prevent any injury from tensing muscles.

Beginner Class 2nd Lesson Notes

Barre Exercises
1. Demi-plies
2. Rises
3. Battement Tendu
4. Battement Glisse
-- glisse = glide

Centre Exercises
1. Port de bra
2. Plies and rises
3. Sautes (jumps) in Parallel, 1st, 2nd and 5th position
--> remember that all jumps should begin and end in a good turned out demi-plie with knees over your toes. make sure that the heel does not leave the floor in your demi-plie position...this is to allow you to stretch out your achilles tendon and prevent any injury from tensing muscles.
4. Reverence

Here are some pictures (thanks to photographer, Chester Tan) of how fingers should look like in a port de bra or any position of the arms:

fingers should be relaxed yet strong with energy flowing out through them.









yup...and here's a youtube link with music for you to practise your sautes!

Beginner Class 3rd Lesson Notes

Barre:
1. Ronds de Jambe a terre en dehor and en dedan
~ ronds de jambe = round of the leg
~ a terre = on the "earth" (which means floor)
~ en dehor = outwards
~ en dedan = inwards
2. Battement Fondu
~ fondu = melt
fondu is similar to a plie, except its like a plie done on one leg.
during this exercise, the working foot is brought up to petit retire position (at ankle bone height)

Terms used for step/body direction:
1. en croix -- in the shape of a cross or crucifix (eg. battement tendu en croix)
2. en face -- facing the audience
3. en croise -- crossed (crossed position facing the corner)
4. en ouvert -- open (open position facing the corner)

Arabesque Positions:
1st, 2nd and 3rd Position. I use RAD classification of arabesque positions...thank goodness or we will have more positions to remember haha!

A term I commonly use during exercises:
"degage"
~ disengage
*note regarding "degage":
- english schools (mainly what i refer to in class) use this term for a movement or step where weight placement is on one supporting leg while the other leg is at a "disengaged" position.
- other schools use the term "degage" for a movement similar to battement tendu, but with the foot slightly lifted off the floor. this is called battement glisse in the english syllabus.

Here's a vid i particularly love which i found in youtube...tendus demystified!!!

Beginner Class 4th Lesson Notes

Last set of notes!

Barre:
1. Reminder for Plie in 4th position!
~ keep your weight equally placed on both feet
~ I personally prefer a smaller 4th position especially for adult beginners so that we remember to keep both our hips square. a wide 4th position is difficult to maintain perfectly when using the turn out muscles has not become a good habit yet.
~ both legs must be equally turned out. pay special attention to the back leg which tends to wander off.
2. Retire devant, derriere and passe
~ retire = withdrawn
~ passe = pass

Centre:
1. Changement
2. Echappe saute
~ echappe = escape

Hair Nets and Bun Kits

YouTube Link:
How to Tie a Ballet Bun









Hair Nets
Invisible Hair Nets keep buns neat (such a tongue twister!)

$1 for 
- 3 invisible hair nets

~This is my favourite kind of hair net. It's thinner than the normal ones you find in hair accessory shops, so it blends into your hair. Good for performances and examinations. Look after the mesh nets by storing them in a sheet of folded paper/tissue so they don't snag!~


Bun kit (A)
$2 for 
- 3 invisible hair nets
- 10 U-shaped bun pins
- 4 flat pins for fringes and strayhair


Bun kit (B)
$3 for 
- 1 normal thick hair net
- 10 U-shaped bun pins
- 4 flat pins for fringes and stray-hair