TAYB Ballet Syllabus

THOMAS ARMOUR YOUTH BALLET
BALLET SYLLABUS AND CURRICULUM
Principles of Movement
I. Body Actions
Movements which travel through space
• Walk
• leap
• Skip: rare by 3 years, more
• Run
• gallop: natural by 2 2 years
natural by 6 or 7
Movements that take you up in the air
• Jump: transfer of weight from 2 feet to 2 feet
• Hop: transfer of weight from one foot to the same foot
Movements that most often stay in one place
• Shake
• Twist
• Fall
• Bend
• Turn
• Swing and sway (risky free
• Stretch
• Rise and sink
risky fall and rebound to a
• Push and pull
• Balance
suspension)
II. Space, Energy and Time
Space Factors
• Direction-forward, backward, sideways, up and
• Pathway
down
• Level- high and low
• Size- large and small movements
• Focus-where the eyes look
Energy Factors
• Tension and relaxation
• Weight: strong or light
• Flow: bound or free
Time Factors
• Pulse: underlying beat
• Rhythm
• Speed: tempo
• Phrasing: longer sequences of movement that have
• Duration: the length of time a movement lasts
a sense of completion
CREATIVE MOVEMENT I (3 YEARS OLD)
1. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Eager to please...Sunny and agreeable...imagination flourishes
• Enjoy being near other children and are beginning to interact with them in cooperative play.
• Friendly, giving, susceptible to praise...beginning of manners
• Beginning to develop the new skill of taking turns. This is difficult for many and may need adult help to master at
times.
• Sense of humor: love slapstick ..love nonsense rhymes, being clowns, wild silly motor activities.
• Imaginary companions often appear... common age for fears (noises..dark...animals..etc)
• At 3 2 yrs., may go through difficult stage of obstinacy, testing and rebelling. Avoid confrontations. Use praise and
positive reinforcement.
• May be difficult to leave Mother (transitional objects such as blankets or stuffed animals may be helpful
2. MOTOR SKILLS
• No longer top heavy, like the 2 year old. Can walk with arms at side with grace and sureness.
• Love to run, gallop and dance to music. They especially like silly and absurd movements.
• Best to keep structure at a minimum.
• Basic rolling and bouncing skills
• Balance becomes more centralized rather than the wide stance of a 2 year old
• Suggested activities: Following a leader, low balance beam (2X4 on the floor), playing with balls, simple clapping
games
CREATIVE MOVEMENT II (4 years old)
1. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• Exuberant, enthusiastic, adventurous, bold, A out of bounds@, silly, eager, fun.
• Difficult to sit down and behave.
• Interests: monsters, dinosaurs, superheroes, movie and book heroes.
• Like 3 year olds, they love silly humor. Wonderful sense of drama.
• Outgoing, boastful, but usually polite
• May be jealous of children seen as favored by adults. (May try to exclude another child to preserve their status with a
friend).
Sharing becoming easier...accept negotiations....less solitary or parallel play. Cooperative play grows with sharing of
ideas.
• Emotions are extreme.....love and hate with intensity....bossy and boastful
• Enjoy feeling helpful and important in daily activities.
• Limits need be reasonable, clear and consistent. State clearly what is acceptable and not acceptable. (Hurting with
words..hitting..pinching etc.) Short time away from the group may be necessary. May use swear words.
• Aggressive, rebellious behavior is expresses through words (name calling)
• Violence often present in their imagination and stories.......connected to fears, feelings of vulnerability and lack of
power. Identity with a superhero helps to conquer those fears.
• Flourishing imagination..love of adventure..anything new....surprises
• Great sense of dramatic play...love use of props, dress-up and fantasy
2. MOTOR SKILLS:
• A very physical age...expansive in movement....run fast..climb high...gallop, jump and hop.
• Often labeled a hyperactive, this is normal level of activity.
• Difficult to sit still for long periods of time. They don’t like to wait to move.so it is difficult to do nothing until it is their
turn.
• Enjoy circle games, chases and monster play.
• Enjoy: Throwing and catching balls....activities with bean bags...parachutes....hoops and ropes.
• Enjoy use of the loudest rhythm instruments.
• Enjoy creating large shapes (string on floor)
3. LANGUAGE:
• Very verbal and loud in their exchange. (Use indoor voice)
• Enjoy silliness in expression....love exaggerations (enormous...gigantic...)
• Love secrets
•
Age of AWhy? Incessant questioning. (Sometimes used as a ploy to keep the attention of an adult
Creative Movement II (4 year olds)
STRETCH (10- 15 minutes)
Flamingos (high retire in parallel)
Echappes
Pencil points/ fish hooks
Port de bras with scarf (temps lie)
RHYTHM
Toe party
Dutch girl (transfer of weight with
Basic clapping
Rope pull (abdominal strengthening)
flexed feet)
Rhythm sticks
Grass growing
Parachute
MUSIC
Butterflies
DIAGONAL
“Rhythms on Parade”
Rainbows
Princess walks
Stuff It In The Closet
Ants
Skipping
Old MacDonald
Splits
Pony gallops
“Kids In Action”
Super ballerina
Bunny hop
The Way We Do It
Swimming ballerina
Frogs
Bop ‘Til You Drop
Snakes
Butterflies
Woodpecker
Fish bowls
Elephants
Tap Sticks
Rocking chairs
Bees
“Sammy”
Sleeping snails
JUMPS
Touch
Seeds growing
Hop scotch
Sammy
CENTER
Jump rope
Shake Something
Positions of the arms
Big puddle jump
•
PRE-BALLET I (5 YEARS OLD)
1. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• More composed and together than the wild 4 year old...calm serene...wants to be good...sunny disposition...loves to be
read to...likes to talk and be talked to and learn new facts.
• Likes to help...loves praise
• Loves to share ideas
• May go through a difficult period at 5 2 years (disobedient...over-demanding and explosive...may dawdle and be less
coordinated...taking things that belong to others ..lying) They are extremely fond of teachers and so respond to
patience, understanding and empathetic listening. A short time away from the group may be helpful if a child is having
trouble controlling herself.
• Cooperative play is the norm for this age group. They like to assign roles, share ideas... and set the scene.
2. MOTOR SKILLS:
• Poised and more controlled body movements.
• All kinds of movement and dance appeal to them.
Many can master skipping.
• Ball throwing develops. Catching a ball improves
• Short sequences of dance steps may be learned.
• Enjoy rhythm instruments
3. LANGUAGE:
• Enjoy discussions and sharing news about family and friends. Love show and tell. Enjoy poetry.
Pre- Ballet I (5 year old)
Line up on line, sitting like ballerinas
Stand and walk to center in a train
CENTER WARM- UP
Arm exercises (feet in parallel):
Shrug shoulders
Giraffe necks
“Yes” and “No” with head
Paint circles with nose, shoulders
Paint small and big circles with fingertips
Chickie wings
Big bird wings
Robot birds
Puppets
Stop and Go hands
Flip- flop
Ballerina basketballs (straight arms)
Scissors (straight arms)
Ostrich (to strengthen back)
Leg Exercises (in parallel):
Plies
Push and Pull (tendus)
Baby flamingos
Big flamingos
Elevators up and down
Test the water (fondu right and left)
Releves
Balance
STRETCHES
All Exercises from 4 yo., PLUS:
Paint Circles with toes
Bicycle legs
Draw bridges (both legs up and down)
Positions of the arms
Port de Bras with scarves
Dutch girl
4 Game
Simple folk dances
DIAGONAL
Princess walks
Penguin walk
Demi- pointe run
Skipping
Polka
Skating
Sliding (chasse)
Gallops
JUMPS
Sauttes
Echappes
Jump rope
Hop scotch
Parallel jetes (one foot to another)
Big Puddle Jump
RHYTHM
Clapping
Slapping knees
Pounding
Paddy Cake
Stamping feet
Tapping heels/ toes
MUSIC
All music from 4 yo.
PLUS:
Roller coaster
The Bear Hunt
(both from “Kids in Action)
CENTER
PRE-BALLET II (6 YEARS OLD)
1.GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• Industrious...beginning to compete with each other. Very different from 3,4 and 5 year olds.
• Rate of growth slows, but physical skills are developing are developing rapidly. Gaining mastery is a dominant theme.
• Yearning for competence
• Ability to acquire new skills linked closely to self esteem.
• Uneven physical growth creates unevenness in skills. Some are very coordinated and gain new skills easily, while others
are awkward and clumsy. Important to help each child gain skills and find an activity in which she can excel.
• Like to perform...talent shows...dramatic skits
• The role of the adult is less central to the child. They turn to each other for gratification. The teacher’s role shifts from
nurturer and entertainer to facilitator and supporter
• Peer group is most important. Children will do anything to gain acceptance of other children. Helping the child to feel like
an important part of the group should be a focus for the teacher.
• Often rule bound...concept of justice is inflexible...Keep rules simple, fair, consistent and enforceable. They enjoy games
with rules and being a part of making up the rules.
Children are becoming competitive. Comparing their work or skills against others. They like to win. Like to compete
against themselves and set personal records.
• Fairness is a major preoccupation. They are on the lookout for any unequal treatment.
2. MOTOR SKILLS:
• Building skills of all types....sports...hula hoops...jump rope...
• Motor skills developing..jacks...macrame...drawing
• Able to pay attention for longer periods of time during instruction. (But still considerably less than a 7 year old)
•
Pre- ballet II (6 year olds)
Line up on line, sitting like “Ballerinas”
CENTER WARM- UP
All exercises from 5 year olds
STRETCH
All exercises from 5 year olds
BARRE
Plies in 1st and 2nd
Tendus side, add front when ready
Degages side, add front when ready
CENTER
All exercises from 5 year olds
DIAGONAL
All exercises from 5 year olds, PLUS:
Connecting different patterns together to
create enchainements
JUMPS
All exercises from 5 year olds
RHYTHM
All exercises from 5 year olds
Standing and walking to center in a train
Pique
Demi ronde de jambe (front to side)
Retire to coupe
Mime for 3- 6 year olds
FEELINGS
How would you walk, move arms,
Tired
sit, lie down, or move your face if
Happy
you were:
Surprised
Sad
Confused
Mad
In pain
Scared
In love
Impatient
SENSES
Taste: sour, sweet, spicy, bland, salty, bitter
Smell: flowers, garbage, dinner, the beach, lemon, perfume
Touch: hot, cold, soft, hard, sharp, scratchy,
FOOD
Drinking: from a cup, with a straw, etc.
HYGIENE
Washing hands, hair, bathing
Brushing teeth
CLOTHING
Dressing
Tying shoes
GAMES
Follow the Leader: walking, jogging, jumping, galloping,
shaking, swinging, twisting, bending.and small
Releve in parallel and in first
Port de bras
Creating different patterns on floor
Bored
Disgusted
Nervous
Sleepy
Frustrated
rough, wet, dry, bumpy, smooth
Sight: too bright, too dark
Eating: ice cream cone, spaghetti, soup, banana,
Combing hair
Hanging clothes to dry
Ironing
Alternate slow and fast, heavy and light, large Mirror Game
Simon Says
ELEMENTARY I
BARRE, 30 min.
9 10
11
12
1 2 3
4 5 CENTER
Plies, 1st and 2nd
Conditioning
Add 5th
From barre
Grand Plies
Por de bras
Tendus 4 counts en
croix
Sautes in 1st
Degages 4 counts en
croix
Echappe
Piques
Soubresauts
Rond de Jambes, 4
counts
Changements
Frappes, 4 counts en
croix
Glissades
Grand Battements, 4
counts each
Pas de bourree
Cambres front, side WR
Assembles, 4
counts
Sur la coup de pied,
front only
Bourree
High reitire
Skips in high retire
Eleve
Gallops
Releve
Chassee
9
10
11
12
1 2 3
4
5
Grand Jete
Reverance
ELEMENTARY II
BARRE, 30 min.
9 10
11
12
1 2 3
4 5
CENTER
Plies in 1st, 2nd, 5th
Conditioning
Add port de bras
Croise devant
Tendus en croix,
2 counts each
Efface devant
Add port de bras
Port de bras
Battements tendu
soutenu simple
Pas de bourree from
battement
Degages en croix, 2
counts each
Soutenu releve
Add port de bras
Pas de bourree from
coupe derriere
Pique
Sautes
Fondu
Echappes
Sur la coup de pied
from 5th
Soubresauts and
changements
Temps lie
Glissade from 5th, 2
9 10
11
12
1 2
3
4
5
counts
Rond de jambe
in 2 counts
Assemble from 5th,
2 counts
Add head
Jete from 5th, 2
counts
Pique to 5th releve
en croix
Ballet walks and
runs
Developpe en croix,
4 counts each
Skipping in high
retire
Add head
Chasse
Arabesque a terre
and en l'air
Grand battements en
croix, 3 counts each
Sous-sus
Soutenu en tournant en
dehors
Balance in 1st, 2nd, 5th
and sous-sus
Releves
2 to 2 to 2
Releves
2 to 2 to 1
Balance in high retire flat
Balance in sur la coup de
pied flat
ELEMENTARY III
BARRE, 30 min.
9 10
st
nd
th
11
12
1 2 3
4 5
CENTER
Plies in 1 , 2 , and 5
with head and port de
bras
Conditioning
Plies in 4th
All barre exercises
Tendus en croix in 1 or
more counts with head
and port de bras
Croise devant
Degages en croix in 1 or
more counts with head
and port de bras
A la quatrieme
devant
Pique
Ecarte
Coupe
Efface
Sur la coup de pied
A la seconde
Fondu
A la quatrieme
derriere
Releves
Croise derriere
High retire
Epaule
Chasse
1st, 2nd, 3rd
Arabesques
en l’air
9 10
11
12
1 2
3
4
5
Temps lie
Developpe d’adage
Sous- sus
Balance
(side only)
Soutenu
Pas de bourree with
coup de pied
All cambres
Sissone tombe, pas
de bourree
Port de bras
Chasse temps lie
(with grand jete)
Pas de cheval
Sissone ferme
Rond de jambe a terre
Chasse
Add Rond de jambes en
l’air, 45 degrees
Skipping
Preparation arm for rond
de jambes
Grand Jete
Rond de jambe in 1 count
Reverance
Frappes en croix, 2
counts each
Preparation for frappes
Double frappe
Developpe en croix, 4
counts each
Add port de bras with
head
Grand Battements in 2
counts each
Add port de bras and
head
Balance in high retire en
demi-pointe
Balance in sur la coup de
pied en demi- pointe
Balance arabesque en flat
Battement fondu releve
en croix
Releves
2 to 1 to 2
Releves
1 to 1 to 1
Pique arabesque
Stretching,
front and side only
ELEMENTARY IV
BARRE, 30 min.
Plies in 1st, 2nd, and 5th
with port de bras and
head
9 10
11
12
1 2 3
4 5
CENTER
Conditioning
9 10
11
12
1 2
3
4
5
Add 4th
All barre exercises
Tendus en croix in 1
count with port de bras
All positions of the
body
Add tendus pour la
batterie
Add Failli
Degages en croix in 1
count with port de bras
Balance: add en
avant, en arriere
Add releve
Pique soutenu en
dedans
Add cloche
Pique passe (en
avant, en arriere, de
cote)
Pique
Add turn
Coupe
Pique arabesque
Sur la coup de pied
Chasse, releve
arabesque
Fondu
Sissone tombe with
coupe
Releves
Tombe pas de
bourree to 4th
passe releve
Add Retire releve
Pirouettes en dehors
from 5th and 4th
Plies in 1st, 2nd, and 5th
with port de bras and
head
Waltz step
Add 4th
Waltz turn
Tendus en croix in 1
count with port de bras
Bourree
Add tendus pour la
batterie
Conditioning
Degages en croix in 1
count with port de bras
All barre exercises
Add releve
All positions of the
body
Add cloche
Add Failli
Pique
Balance: add en
avant, en arriere
Coupe
Saute in 1st and 2nd
Sur la coup de pied
Soubresaut and
changement
Fondu
Echappe with port
de bras
Releves
Add battu
Add Retire releve
Royale
Battement passe
Entrechat quatre
Chasse
Jete in 1 count,
devant and derriere
Temps lie
Add temps leve
Soutenu
Assemble in 1 count
Battement passe
Add en avant and en
arriere
Chasse
Sissone simple,
assemble
Temps lie
Glissade, jete,
assemble,
changement
Soutenu
Pas de chat
Battement passe
Sissone ferme
Chasse
Add ouverte
Sous- sus
Pique turns en
dedans
All cambres
Chaine turns
Port de bras
Chasse temps lie
(combine with grand
jete)
Pas de cheval
Glissades to 4th
(combine with grand
jete)
Rond de jambe with
preparation
Grand jete
Rond de jambes a terre
and en l’air
Reverance
Frappes brushed and
pointed, with preparation
Doubles frappes en croix
Add petit battements
Add battu
Pique to fifth
Pique to 1 foot (coupe,
arabesque, high retire)
Fondu releve
Developpes en croix
Add releve
Add Promenade, flat only
INTERMEDIATE I
BARRE, 30 min.
9 10
11
12
1 2 3
4 5
CENTER
All barre exercises from
the previous year
Conditioning
Begin point in January.
See point syllabus
All barre exercises
Promenade in retire
Demi fouette
9 10
11
12
1 2
3
4
5
Pirouette en dedans
from 4th and 5th
Pirouette en dehors
with degage through
2nd or straight up
Pas de bourree
Add de tourne
Soutenu en dedans
Add en dehors
Emboite
en avant, en arriere
and detourne
Pas de basque
Plie, releve in
arabesque
Demi-contretemps
Glissade precipite
Pas couru
Ballone
Saute arabesque
Saute retire passe
Jete battu
Assemble battu
Assemble en
tournant
Saute fouette
Jete entrelace
(tour jete)
Tombe, pas de
bourree, glissade,
grand jete
Saut de chat
Reverance
INTERMEDIATE II
BARRE, 30 min.
9 10
11
12
1 2 3
4 5
CENTER
All barre exercises from
the previous year
All steps from the
previous year
Add preparation for
fouette turns
Promenade in
arabesque
Add battement
developpes
Promenade in
attitude
Add penche
Developpe d’adage
on demi-pointe
Chasse en tournant
Double assemble
9 10
11
12
1 2
3
4
5
Assemble porte
(traveling)
Ballone compose
(with chasse)
Temps de cuisse
Saut de basque
Soutenu passe
Pique turns en
dehors
Brise
Cabriole ouverte
devant and derriere
Grand jete en avant
finishing in attitude
Arabesque turns
(begin with 1/4
turns, then ! turns)
Reverance
INTERMEDIATE III/IV
BARRE, 30 min.
9 10
11
12
1 2 3
4 5
CENTER
All exercises from the
previous year
Conditioning
Add flic-flac
(No turn)
All center exercises
from the previous
year
Pas de bourree
couru
Ballotte
Pas de cheval saute
and releve
Pique developpe
Pique ballone
Balance en tournant
Pirouettes finishing
in an ouverte
position (arabesque,
attitude, a la
seconde, etc.)
Pirouettes a la
seconde
Pirouettes in
arabesque
Pirouettes in attitude
Tombe, coupe jete
Fouettes
Pas de chat Russe
Grand jete ferme
9 10
11
12
1 2
3
4
5
POINTE I
BARRE, 30 min.
9 10
11
12
1 2 3
4 5
CENTER
Rolling up and down with
straight knees in parallel, 1st
and 2nd
All barre exercises
Slow rising releves,
descending through the
demi-pointes
Combinations
9 10
11
12
1 2
3
4
5
Springing releves in 1st, 2nd,
4th and 5th positions
Quick releves from 3/4
pointe to full pointe
Echappe a la seconde and a
la quatrieme
Sous-sus
Combine echappe and soussus
Pique en avant and en
arriere
Pique, fondu en avant, en
arriere and de cote
Emboite and deboite
Passe releve devant and
derriere
Assembles dessus and
dessous
Glissade sur les pointes en
avant and en arriere
Pique, fondu, pas de
bourree
Pas de bourree sur la place
Pas de bourree couru
Plie sur les pointes
POINTE II
BARRE, 30 min.
9 10
11
12
1 2 3
4 5
CENTER
All exercises from the
previous year
All barre exercises
Battement soutenu
Walking sur les
pointes
Coupe, petit fouette
Running sur les
pointes
Ballone sur les pointes
Pirouette en dehors
from 4th position
Sissone ferme
Pique turns
Sissone ouverte
Chaine turns
Releves on one foot in
any given position
Combinations
Pirouette en dehors
9 10
11
12
1 2
3
4
5