Students will learn specific movement skills that will help them to feel and identify with the music while developing technique and style to perform. The classes will serve to expand and nurture the dancers’ creative talent. Inspirational and classical music provide an enriching and stimulating environment. Classes begin with a devotion and end with a reverence.
Ballet 2
Ballet 2 continues to stress posture, placement, and ballet presence while expanding the students’ ballet vocabulary. The practice exercises introduced at this level for alignment, flexibility, and coordination will develop a strong foundation of physical and cognitive understanding necessary for classical ballet training. Inspirational and classical music provide an enriching and stimulating environment. Class begins with a devotional and ends with a reverence.
Ballet 3
Ballet 3 is a structured ballet class which starts with combinations at the barre developed to strengthen the dancer’s execution of classical ballet technique. The class focuses on correct postural alignment, weight transitions, body positions of ballet, turns, and leaps. Physical strength and stamina will increase through various barre and centre work. This level sets the foundation for Ballet 4.
Ballet 3+ (3 day option)
Ballet 3+ is for the serious Ballet 3 student who would like to challenge themselves with additional higher level technical training. Students will take two days of ballet classes at the Ballet 3 level PLUS one day of class with Ballet 4 each week.
Ballet 4
Through a progressive series of combinations at the barre, students will warm up while working on correct body alignment and turnout. After barre work, students will stretch and move into the center. Centre work includes progressive combinations of small and large jumps and turns through which students continue to work correct placement, posture and turnout.
Ballet 4+ (3 day option)
Ballet 4+ is for the Ballet 4 student who would like to challenge themselves with additional classical ballet technique. Ballet 4+ provides the unique opportunity for your dancer to gain confidence in both technique and performance in Ballet 4 class while being exposed to the more difficult technique of Ballet 5 at the same time. Ballet 4+ students will take two days of Ballet 4 each week PLUS one day of ballet technique with Ballet 5.
Ballet 5 (audition required)
Ballet 5 builds upon the work mastered in Ballet 4. Through a progressive series of combinations at the barre, students will warm up while working on correct body alignment and turnout. After barre work, students will stretch and move into the center. Center work includes progressive combinations of small and large jumps and turns.
Ballet 5+ (3 day option)
Ballet 5+ includes two level 5 classes PLUS an opportunity to take one Ballet 6 class per week. This class is for the dancer in Ballet 5 that needs to be challenged and exposed to the most advanced level of ballet at GAC.
Ballet 6 and Pointe (audition required)
Ballet 6 class builds upon the work mastered in Ballet 5. Through a progressive series of combinations at the barre, students will warm up while working on correct body alignment and turnout. After barre work, students will stretch and move into the center. Center work includes progressive combinations of small and large jumps and turns through which students continue to work on correct placement, posture and turnout. Ballet 6 is offered two classes a week and includes pointe work.
Pointe A (Required if taking Ballet 5)
Pointe Class concentrates on the transference of ballet steps from demi-pointe to pointe and is only introduced when a dancer has developed sufficient strength in the feet and legs necessary for the discipline. Girls must have taken at least two or three years of ballet classes and be at least eleven years of age before going en Pointe. Dancers must have good turnout, proper balance and body alignment and take at least two ballet classes a week. Students are expected to attend all classes. Instructors will advance students to higher Pointe levels based on the student’s ability to efficiently do all strength training exercises at the barre, rise onto pointe effortlessly and articulate through their feet while doing relevé, and execute piqué turns, bourrés, and échappés during center work. (Students must be properly fitted for pointe shoes and all shoes must be approved by the instructor before ribbons or elastics are sewn.)
Pointe B (Required if taking Ballet 5)
Pointe B is a continuation of all the barre and strength training from Pointe A. This level combines additional exercises at the barre and in the center to improve pointe technique. (After purchasing pointe shoes, please have the instructor make sure that it is the best fit before sewing them.)
Pointe C (Required with Ballet 6)
Pointe C is a continuation of all the barre, strength training, and center exercises from Pointe A and Pointe B. Pointe C class begins with warm-up exercises and strength training at the barre. In the center, dancers focus on fast foot work, pirouettes, and combinations that require strength, balance, and coordination.
