Janine Clark

Week Seven Ballet Lesson (Teaching Lab)

November 14, 2017
Level: Intermediate
1 hour lesson
High-School age (14-18)

MY Goal for this week:

We will work on performance enhancement, and confidence.

Students focus:
This week focus is on the music and performance while performing the exercises.

Barre -about 30mins

Plie- (beginner- no 4th position)(advanced-same as intermediate) Instrumental version of My

favorite things (1 on playlist)
Starting in 1st position, demi demi grande pile, continue same sequence through 2nd, and 5th
position. In between each position include port da bra. Susu to balance, and soutenu. *Dancers
should be able to do this exercise without help, so walk around the room adjusting students
posture, and technique. Especially in the balance walk around observing students. *Try
explaining it with imagery such as grounding their legs, and lengthening their spines, as if a
piece of string it pulling at the crown of their head. *Introduce the idea of playing with their port
da bra while doing the exercise, change arms up, head focus.

Tendu- (advance-same as intermediate) Instrumental version of Its the Most Wonderful Time of
the Year (2 on playlist)
Starting in 5th position, tendu to the front 4 plain, on 5th tendu back brush back brush forward
and close on 8. To al a scone 4 tendu to al a scone on 5th drop the heel on 6, back to point 7
close 8. Repeat to the back and side again. Slowly slide foot up the front of the leg to passe and
back down to repeat to starting to the back. Reverse the passe. soutine *Remind dancers to
engage their inner thighs while brushing legs back and front.

Degage- (beginner- normal on qua) (advance- develope and anvelope instead of peka)
Instrumental version of Walking in a Winter Wonderland (3 on Playlist)
Starting in 5th position, 3 degage to the front, one develope peka close. Inside foot to the back
repeat outside for al a scone repeat. 4 plain degage to al a scone close in back repeat starting
to the back. Back outside foot, front inside foot, al a scone outside foot. Balance in passe.
*Dancers need to keep their weight on the balls of the their feet, so they can transition between
feet. *Also watch their turnout on the develope and anvelope.
Rond de jambe- (beginner- stop after first section) (advanced- Brush foot through first to extend
devant in plie, releve to passe and extend derriere in plie, reverse coming to the front.)
Instrumental Version of Its Beginning To Look a lot like Christmas (4 on Playlist)
Prepare 7,8. 2 Grande ronde de jambe, 2 plain ronde de jambe, lift working leg en l air devant
Repeat to the back, lift working leg en l air derriere. 2 rond de jambe double rond de jambe lift
working leg en lair devant. Repeat to the back, lift working left en lair derriere. Circular port da
bra inside leg passe. *this exercise has a lot of room for port da bra and expression, show it but
do not throw away a strong and stable lower half.

Frappe- (beginner: no double frappe, only 4 on qua.) (advance: peitie battement in releve)
Carol of The Bells (5 on Playlist)
Prepare 7,8. 2 plain frappe front, double frappe al a scone, 2 plain frappe al a scone, double
frappe back, 2 frappe back, double frappe al a scone, 2 plain frappe al a scone, double frappe
front. Peitie battement 8 counts, peka al a scone, peite battement 8 counts peka al a scone,
balance in coupe derriere. *this is the first time tackling frappe in this class, go over what a
frappe is and the striking motion. If needed cut time in half.

Battement-(beginner:4 Battement on qua)(advanced-2 battement, develope, anvelope)

Instrumental Version of Sleigh Ride (6 on Playlist)
2 battement, develope peka tendu to close, balance in susu
*Watch as dancers perform this exercise and make any corrections before the second time
through.

*5 minutes to stretch

Center- (15 mins)

Adagio- (advance- try adding releves to the extension, multiple pirouette is expected)
Instrumental Version of When Christmas Comes to Town (7 on Playlist)
You have 2 counts of 8 to improvise into the plie
Starting in 5th grande plie down 1,2 extend 3,4. Pase right leg into develope eccarte, release
passe left leg into passe derriere into develope arabesque pile on 7 in arabesque pat da borre.
Left foot should be in front, pat da bask, prepare inside pirouette, close left foot in front. Repeat
to the left. *In this adagio, have students play with suspension, on the developes and pirouette.
As well play with the epaulement and tilting of the head.

Turning combinations- (beginners- can stick with single pirouettes)(advanced-same)

Instrumental Version of Frosty the Snowman (8 on Playlist)
Starting from the back of the room, tambie pat da borre forward passe lower into 5th, repeat
with single turns, and double turns Repeat to left. *Ask students what they should be paying
attention to as they turn (spotting, turnout, strong supporting leg) *Tell beginners and
Intermediates about the string imagery to help them pull on standing leg, be careful they dont
raise their shoulders. *Ask beginners where their pelvis should be in the turn? * Ask dancers to
imagine performing for the London Theater, with the Queen in the audience. Encourage them to
perform it instead of going through the motions (credit to Megan Flynns Friday ballet classes in
Brown)

Allegro:
Warm Up: Small Jumps- 2/4 slow (9 on playlist)
Two jumps in first, two jumps in second, 4 changements in 5th. Repeat 4

Jumps 3- When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney (10 on playlist) (beginner: eliminate
ton de quis, and glissade devant, derriere)
Starting right foot in front, glissade derriere, coupe jete, temps leve temps leve, place
left foot behind pat da borre, back foot ton de quis, right left, left should be in front
glissade devant, derriere, entrechat repeat to the left *Have students converse to talk
about it together, then try with music.

Across the floor: (4 mins)

(beginners- finish after pat da sha)
Instrumental version of Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (11 on Playlist)
Tambe derriere, develope right leg battement. Tambe pat da borre glissade pat da sha. Step
step arabesque left leg. Chasse assemble en tournant. Tambe pat da borre glissade sotesha.

Reverence
Instrumental Version of Ill Be Home for Christmas (12 on Playlist)
Pantomime and slow stretch before bowing to partners.

Resources:
Resources
Miss Victorias outline of lesson plans
Teaching Dance handouts for goals and structure
Inside Ballet Technique: separating anatomical fact from fiction in the ballet class by Valerie
Grieg
http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/