Dance 105
BEGINNING BALLET

  1. Catalog Entry

DNCE 105. Beginning Ballet
Two credit hours(2).

Four hours technique.

Theory as well as barre and centre practice, including basic adagio and allegro technique. May be taken for a total of 6 semester hours of credit.

  1. Detailed Description of Content of Course

1. Preliminary knowledge

a. Detailed description of body placement
b. Positions of the feet
c. Positions of the arms
d. Position of the body at the barre and the manner of holding it

2. Barre (moderate in tempo and construction)

a. Demi plie (with use of arms)
b. Grand plie (with use of arms)
c. Port de bras (sides, front-back, and circular)
d. Cou-de-pied position (high, low--front and back)
e. Battements tendus

(1) Plie
(2) Simple
(3) Soutenu
(4) Jete and jete balancoire

f. Passe
g. Fondu
h. Frappe
i. Petit battement
j. Battement battu
k. Rond de jambe a terre (en dehors and en dedans)
l. Rond de jambe en l'air (en dehors and en dedans)
m. Adage (simple)
n. Grand battement

3. Centre

All the steps learned at the barre are repeated in various forms in the centre, and additional centre exercises and steps are added. The construction at the beginning is very elementary, but it varies and becomes more complex as the students develop the ability to absorb more complicated exercises on all ballet technique courses: 105, 205, 305, 405, & 401.

a. Connecting steps

(1) Coupe
(2) Pas de bourree

(a) Basic
(b) Dessus-dessous
(c) En tournant (en dehors and en dedans)

(3) Glissade
(4) Pas de couru
(5) Temps lie
(6) Pas de basque

b. Small jumps

(1) Changement de pied (grand and petit)
(2) Echappe (grand and petit)
(3) Jete
(4) Assemble
(5) Temps leve

(a) En cou de pied
(b) En arabesque

(6) Sissonnes

(a) Sissonne simple
(b) Sissonne-tombee
(c) Sissonne-fermee
(d) Sissonne-ouverte
(e) Sissonne-soubresaut

(7) Ballonne
(8) Chasse
(9) Failli (pique, releve, and jump)

c. Poses

(1) 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th arabesques
(2) attitude effacee (en avant or en arriere)
(3) attitude croisee (en avant or en arriere)
(4) A la seconde

d. Turns

(1) Soutenu en tournant (en dehors and en dedans)
(2) Pirouettes en dehors and en dedans (only small pirouettes)
(3) Chaines diagonally
(4) Pirouettes piques diagonally (en dehors and en dedans

e. Epaulement (head, shoulders, and arms)

(1) Croisee
(2) Effacee
(3) Ecarte

f. Big jumps

(1) Grand jete

  1. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

A professional approach in which the fundamental theory and technique of classical ballet is introduced to the adult beginner.

  1. Goals and Objectives of the Course

At the conclusion of the course, the student will:

1. Demonstrate an intellectual and physical understanding of the fundamental principles of Classical Ballet technique.
2. Be able to execute elementary ballet combinations and steps.
3. Possess knowledge of elementary ballet terminology.

  1. Assessment Measures

Assessment measures may include direct observation by the instructor, videotaping for analysis by the instructor and/or student, practical and written exams, and class attendance.

  1. Other Course Information

The student's basic and traditional dance education may be supplemented by such aids as viewing videos of classical ballet, and attending live performances.

Last Date of Revision: January, 1983

  1. Review and Approval

DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
October 1, 1991 Revision Margaret Devaney, Chair
March 24, 1998 Review Margaret Devaney, Chair
September 10, 2001 Review Margaret Devaney, Chair