31 December 2020

Are you trying new things in the new year? Don’t forget to put adult ballet classes on your list with The School of Ballet Arizona and get your body moving!

Adult students in class at The School of Ballet Arizona, taught by Gail Passey-Reed. Photo by Brianne Bland Photography.

If you’ve signed up for the class, or are just curious, here are some fundamentals that you’ll learn at your adult beginner ballet class:

• Basic Foot Positions – In ballet, there are five positions of the feet. If you watch an advanced ballet dancer, you’ll probably notice perfect 90-degree turnout. Your teacher will explain how this is achieved and why it is important in ballet.

• Basic Arm Positions – Just like the feet, there are basic arm positions in ballet. Specific postures are achieved with a lot of practice and help from a teacher.

• Fundamentals of a Technique Class – From the basic timeline of a technique class, i.e. barre work and moving across the floor, to basic combinations, you will be feeling confident in no time.

• Dance Terminology – Some ballet terms are not easy to pronounce at first. Your teacher will demonstrate each term and verbalize the correct pronunciation.

Kay Price, a teacher at The School of Ballet Arizona, says that she hopes to make each dancer feel comfortable in her class.

“Before the class begins I will introduce myself to a new student and ask them their background and what their goals might be. During the class, I will offer up various modifications to accommodate different abilities/levels.”

Kay explains that sometimes there can be as many as three variations of the same combination at different tempos to match the abilities in class.

“I want the students to feel a sense of accomplishment from each class they attend. In my instruction, to relieve frustrations, I make sure to mention that what looks to be unorganized movement at first will, over time, become more organized in the way the student feels in executing the movement and in the way it will look.”

Challenge yourself with open classes for adults at The School of Ballet Arizona. Check the schedule for more information or to sign up for class. See you on the dance floor!