JUNIOR BALLET
INTELLIGENT DANCE TRAINING
PRE PRIMARY: 5 - 6 years
An introduction to many sorts of wonderful dance skills, including children’s first classical ballet concepts; improvisation; social skills (making friends skills); and a little body conditioning; to delightful children’s classic Psalty’s Kids Praise 2 music.
Mime story: life skills - taking initiative to make friends, thinking of a ‘game’ for two
PRE PRIMARY: 6 - 8 years
Introduction to first core awareness and engaging the muscles to support it; a number of classical ballet foundational concepts introduced in imaginative exercises and fun steps; character step; basic flexibility exercise.
Mime story: life skills—enjoying play, listening, being respectful and helpful to parent.
GRADE 1: 7 - 9 years
Building second stage of core alignment awareness and strength; developed classical concepts; ‘fun’ character movement and steps. Expressive didactic movement introduced.
Mime story: life skills - negative thoughts and their outcome; ‘good thoughts’ and their outcome.
GRADE 2: 8 - 10 years
NB. This grade can also be used to train youth and adults who have had no dance background.
Almost all foundational postural alignment and classical ballet concepts are introduced in embryo form in Grade 2;
First ‘unseen’ enchainment introduced; ‘safe’ flexibility and leg strengthening exercise introduced. Mime theme: Lost and Found
Mime story: life skills - keeping friendships, contrasting attitudes which destroy or build friendship.
GRADE 3: 9 - 11 years
More complex classical ballet steps built upon foundation of correct and strengthened body alignment. Now leg strengthening can begin (on aligned and strengthened body). First balance exercise without barre introduced.
Mime story: life skills - healing our hurts, asking forgiveness after being hurtful, forgiveness and reconciliation of friendship.
This skating ‘story’ can be adapted for adults.
