The class I took was Advanced Beginning Ballet (Ballet II) for adults. The class was small, 8 of us. About 60% of the class usually takes the Intermediate III class (they grew up dancing pointe). I'll have to admit, I was definitely intimidated at the beginning of class - I mean, it's reasonable right? It's always a little nerve wracking at a new studio not knowing how the class' level will feel compared to the comfort of an old studio. I got through it though and was terribly sore afterward. Good sore!
I learned a lot of moves that night!
At the barre:
* petit battement - look at the video below, I don't know how I can make my foot move that fast, maybe it involves a higher level of hip control!
* double frappes to the front and back - we only did double frappes to the side at BalletNova, so watching this video is helpful to find out where the heel is placed during the movement.
In center:
* sissonne (pronounced "see-sone")
* pique turns (I'd shown pique turns in a previous video but we hadn't formally done them)
* chaines turns (pronounced "shuh-nay")
Our floor exercises (I'll try and videotape next week) were:
A) Pique turns x6, with chaines turns to finish
B) From Fifth (right foot front), sissonne to the right, sissonne to left, plié to (back) right leg extended back into a dégagé, plié to (front) left foot dégagé, plié fifth, assemblé. Repeat opposite side.
C) Inside turns - From Fifth left foot in front en croix (to the corner), chassé to passé (right foot) on relevé close Fifth, plié. Chassé to a 1 1/2 pirouette to finish en croix to the opposite corner, repeat other side. I miss outside turns, it always seems like it's easier to balance that way.
For reference:
Sissonne:
Chaines Turns:
Pique Turns:
Petit Battement (en pointe, obvies):
That's all for this week!
