Primary Name the positions of the feet and draw the missing position: First / Second / Third Who am I and what position are my feet in? Little Bo Peep / First Position When I act a part in ballet it s called a Demi Character because you don t speak on stage, you use your body language and facial expression to tell the story.
Grade One En Croix means in the shape of a cross. Front / Side / Back / Side. This could be demonstrated with a tendu or grand battement for example.
Grade 2 Demi pointe example in first position Attitude devant example We are standing at the barre. What is the skirt called that the girl is wearing in the picture 1? Tutu What position of the arms are being demonstrated in picture 2?
Bras bas When we are standing correctly we have good Posture What positions of the feet and arms are shown in picture 3? Third When you use your arms in ballet it is called Port de bras
Grade 3
What movements are the dancers demonstrating and what roles are they acting? Picture 1 > Little Red Riding Hood in Attitude Devant. Picture 2 > Big Bad Wolf in 4 th position croisé en pointe What is this exercise called? Picture 1 > Tendu How is the girl s hair groomed? Picture 2 > Ballet bun What clothing is worn? Picture 1&2 > Tutus What body alignment is the boy showing? Picture 2 > Croisé Chassé means to chase. It can be done to move into different positions. This movement is found in other steps Temps lié and temps levé A ballet step named after a cat Pas de chat (Step of the cat)
Grade 4 Example of demi second Arabesque en fondu en l air Bent supporting leg with working leg in the air. Retiré devant > Front Retiré de cote > Side Retiré derriere > Back Concept for spotting of turns > Spotting prevents the dancer from dizziness. 1. Focus your eyes on one spot, at eye level. 2. Turn your body keeping your head level, facing front with eyes fixed on the spot. 3. When your body can t turn any further without moving your head, whip the head around quickly, and fix your eyes back on the spot. 4. Repeat with every turn. Name the poses and body alignments shown. Picture 1 > Second arabesque. Body alignment is efface (open) Picture 2 > Attitude derriere. Body alignment is efface (open) These poses are demonstrated as Adage. Slow movements or music. What are the differences between picture 3 &4? Picture 3 > Second Arabesque position à terre. The working leg is on the ground. Picture 4 > Second Arabesque position en l air. The working leg is in the air. The movement is Grand Battement. A big beat of the leg. Why do you spot when turning? The enhance control and balance. Write the names of ronde de jambe à terre and why it this step is important to a dancers training. Circle of the leg on the ground. It is the preparation for a pirouette turn. It is useful for ronde de jambe en l air. It is a great exercise to practice turn out and rotation. What type of movement us a sissone? A scissor-like jump that is executed fast and with attack. Sissone is performed in Allegro. It can be done big (Grand) or small (petit).
Grade 5 Full plié is a grand plié Work through a deep demi plié with heels on the floor, release heels to go into full plié. Return to a deep demi plié before straightening legs. Good technique includes good posture; lifting though spine; smooth execution, and no sitting in grand plié. Full pointe (en pointe) means standing on the platform of your pointe shoes. Good technique means being square to the floor (having no gaps under the platform). Lifting through the spine; good posture; hip, knee and ankle alignment; straight legs; working through a high demi pointe before going en pointe; don t curl toes in the pointe shoe. Arabesque fondu en l air a deux bras Arabesque with supporting leg bend (fondu). Working leg in the air (l air). 2 arms in front (deux bras). What alignment is demonstrated? Écarté alignment. Écarté means thrown apart. In Adage, what movement would be used to place the leg in this position. Développé. Write in French on point. En pointe What positions and alignments are demonstrated in pictures 1, 2, & 3?
Picture 1 > Fifth en face Picture 2 > Fifth croisé Picture 3 > Fourth croisé What movements develop and strengthen feet and legs for pointe work? Regular ballet classes help to improve muscle control, posture and articulation. Slow controlled rises, controlled articulated tendus and essentially all battement work. Write a paragraph on each of the following: Grand Plié Grand plié must be executed with control. Feet should be turned out, with knees over toes for correct alignment. Hips and upper body should be level. Must work through a deep demi plié, then grand plié, coming back through demi plié (heels on the ground as soon as possible) then straightening knees. Mazurka Folk dance of Poland. Dance resembles the polka. Usually performed to a ¾ or 3/8 beat with accent on second beat. There are many variations. Tarantella Lively folk dance of south Italy usually accompanied by a tambourine. Folk tales say that dancing the Taranella will cure one from Trantism (a disease or hysteria that appeared after a tarantula spider bite). Gavotte A peasants kissing dance that became popular at the 17 th and 18 th century courts of France and England. Usually 2/4 or 4/4 with a moderate tempo.
Grade 6 Warm up - What is it? Movements designed to increase the body temperature and warm up the muscles in the body. Warm up - Why do we do it? Prevent Injury. Warm up When do we do it? Prior to stretching and vigorous dancing Essay Not compulsory but feel free to do your own research. Write in French what is being demonstrated in pictures 1 & 2: Picture 1 > Second arabesque en pointe Picture 2 > Retiré en pointe Name at least 2 steps that the movement in picture 2 would be used in: Développé & pirouette What are the dancers demonstrating and what is it used for? Splits. Preparing for grand jeté. Why is this important to dancers and when should it be done? Flexibility is an important element in dance. Grand jetés are used in grand allegro. Flexibility creates beautiful lines for ballerinas. Flexibility assists in making movements look effortless. Write what you know about good posture and placement of the body and why it s important to a dancer: Good posture involves the whole body. Good posture allows for beautiful aesthetic lines to be created and allows for improved balance. A dance should always be pulled up and lengthening through the spine. A dance should have good special awareness and be conscious of head and neck placement, elongate neck, pus shoulders down, Create long curved port de bra, keep ribs in, lift though kip flexors, work core muscles, level pelvis, pull up legs and knee caps, turn out legs from hip joint and maintain hip knee and ankle alignment. Be aware of foot placement. What are small jumps called: Petit allegro What type of movement is an entrechat A jump in which the dancer crosses (interweaves) feet a number of times while in the air. What type of movement is a grand jeté en avant A grand jeté is achieving splits in the air whilst moving forward.
Intermediate What are the steps being demonstrated by the dancers Picture 1 > Grand jeté en attitude position Picture 2 > Développé Picture 3 > Penché Picture 4 > Ecarté Name 3 movements that are en tournant? Pose turns, pirouettes, chaînés, petit pas de basque en tournant, petit jetés en tournant, jeté entrelace en tournant. What is strength in dance. Where does it come from and how does it affect turning? Muscle strength comes from years of training. A dance requires strong core, back, and limb muscles. Strength assists in good posture, alignment and balance, and will give power when executing multiple turns. Describe what you would look for in a dance quality and how would you achieve this? Performance Show feeling and expression through facial expressions and body movement. Character Stay in character Musicality interpret the music, dancing in time, work with the dynamics of the music. What is your favourite ballet and why? Research and write a personal piece.
Advanced 1 Essay Not compulsory but feel free to do your own research. Picture 1 > Les Sylphide Picture 2 > Don Quixote What poses are grand tours done in? Grand jeté, sauté, retiré, Fifth position Renversé can be done with an arabeseque or attitude When a male and female dance together it is called pas de deux (step of 2).