Hi everyone! Please, remember that classes will be held every two weeks, please, check the VIS section each 2 weeks. You are required to reply to classes, even a thank you, whatever it may be. Please, if there are any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me personally. If you are having trouble with PMing, my e mail address is graceful_ballerina_25@yahoo.ca. Don’t do these classes in substitution of real ballet classes. Please, always listen to your teacher. Classes will get harder as the weeks role by, I would just like to start off simple. Also, if you have any suggestions, please PM or reply to this! Thank you and enjoy.

Definitions for this lesson:
Plie Bent, bending. A bending of the knee or knees. This is an exercise to render the joints and muscles soft and pliable and the tendons flexible and elastic, and to develop a sense of balance. There are two principal pliés: grand plié or full bending of the knees (the knees should be bent until the thighs are horizontal) and demi-plié or half-bending of the knees. Pliés are done at the bar and in the centre in all five positions of the feet. The third position is usually omitted. When a grand plié is executed in either the first, third or fourth position croisé (feet in the fifth position but separated by the space of one foot) or the fifth position, the heels always rise off the ground and are lowered again as the knees straighten. The bending movement should be gradual and free from jerks, and the knees should be at least half-bent before the heels are allowed to rise. The body should rise at the same speed at which it descended, pressing the heels into the floor. In the grand plié in the second position or the fourth position ouverte (feet in the first position but separated by the space of one foot) the heels do not rise off the ground. All demi-pliés are done without lifting the heels from the ground. In all pliés the legs must be well turned out from the hips, the knees open and well over the toes, and the weight of the body evenly distributed on both feet, with the whole foot grasping the floor.
Flexing of feet Bring your toes to your tibia (The bone of your lower leg)
Pointing of feet Extend your ankle, push your heel to the back of the tibia.
Tendu Pointing of the feet with the toes touching the floor.
Releve Raised. A raising of the body on the points or demi-pointes, point or demi-pointe. There are two ways to relevé. In the French School, relevé is done with a smooth, continuous rise while the Cecchetti method and the Russian School use a little spring. Relevé may be done in the first, second, fourth or fifth position, en attitude, en arabesque, devant, derrière, en tournant, passé en avant, passé en arrière and so on.
Grande Battement Large battement. An exercise in which the working leg is raised from the hip into the air and brought down again, the accent being on the downward movement, both knees straight. This must be done with apparent ease, the rest of the body remaining quiet. The function of grands battements is to loosen the hip joints and turn out the legs from the hips. Grands battements can be taken devant, derrière and à la seconde.
Changement Changing of the feet. (Ex. Right foot front in fifth, changement, the left foot will be in front.) Always land in a plie.
Echaper Escaping or slipping movement. An échappé is a level opening of both feet from a closed to an open position. There are two kinds of échappés: échappé sauté, which is done with a spring from the fifth position and finishes in a demi-plié in the open position, and échappé sur les pointes, or demi-pointes, which is done with a relevé and has straight knees when in the open position. In each case échappés are done to the second or fourth position, both feet traveling an equal distance from the original center of gravity.

Barre Work

Plies: Remember, turn out from the hips, tailbone down, suck in the abdominal muscles

Feet in first arm in second. Prepare, breathe. Demi p.lie (2 counts) stretch (2 counts). Arm goes down into first, demi plie (2 counts) stretch (2 counts) Arm goes into second, grande plie (2 counts) stretch (2 counts) Arm goes into first, grande plie (2 counts) stretch (2 counts). Repeat on the other side.

Flexing the feet

Flexes will be preformed with two counts each
Face the bar, feet in first. Begin with right foot.
Tendu front, flex the foot(2), point the foot(2)tendu, close.
Tendu to second, flex the foot(2), point the foot(2), tendu, close.
Tendu to the back, flex the foot(2), point the foot(2), tendu, close.
Tendu to second, flex the foot(2), point the foot(2), tendu, close.
Tendu front, flex the foot(2), point the foot(2)tendu, close.

Repeat with left foot

Releve’s: Remember, push yourself up through the floor, and keep your abdominal muscles in.

Feet in fifth. Please do 10 releve’s, going up take 2 counts, going down take 2 counts. Once you are finished the 10 releve’s, balance in the releve for 8 counts.

Grande Battement
Feet in fifth, keep the hands in second throughout the exercise.
Grande battement to the front, tendu, close.
Grande battement to the side, tendu close.
Grande battement to the back, tendu, close.
Grande battement to the side, tendu, close.

Repeat on the other side

Center Work
I would like everyone to work on balance in center work. You will be repeating the grande battement exercise in the center.

Feet in fifth, keep the hands in second throughout the exercise.
Grande battement to the front, tendu, close.
Grande battement to the side, tendu close.
Grande battement to the back, tendu, close.
Grande battement to the side, tendu, close.

Jumps
I love jumps, therefore, each center work area will have many many jumps. They are good to condition your body. Remember: When jumping, your feet should be pointed in the air
ALWAYS LAND A JUMP IN A PLIE TO AVOID SHIN SPLINTS
Feet in fifth, arms in first.
Chagement, echaper changement, echaper…
Repeat for 32 counts.

Great class everyone, hope to see you in 2 weeks.

Woah! Two classes in one day. Great class!!! Thanks a lot!

Great class!! I like the center work!!

ballerinaa xXx

Awesome class.
Thank you especially for posting those definitions. As a restarted of 6years, they are very useful!

Thanks...