Hey everyone,

It's that time of the week again - Beginner/Intermediate Ballet time!! (Lame, I know)
Basic vocab you will need to know for this week:
Devant - in front
Derriere - behind
Retire - also known as passe

Barre

Ellie's Plies
- Concentrate on perfect technique and not sickling/rolling you ankles


Begin in first, BOTH arms brasbas
Simple port de bras to second, one hand onto barre, for 2 counts
Demi plie, arm to brasbas, for 2 counts
Demi plie, simple port de bras to second, for 2 counts
Grand plie, arm through brasbas, and first to second, for 6 counts
Tebdu to second and lower, for two counts
Repeat in second, fourth, and fifth.
On very last tendu in fifth, close in first and lower arms to brasbas
Turn and repeat on other side


Battement Tendu and Grand Battement
- You've done this exercise once before
- Really work through your feet and the floor on the tendus

Begin in fifth position, arm bras bas
Basic port de bras to second
Tendu devant and close, for 2 counts (1 count out, 1 count in)
Tendu devant and close, for 2 counts
Grand devant front, for 2 counts (counting: 1 – kick leg up, and – lower leg to ground, 2 – close to fifth)
Tendu side and close derriere, for 2 counts
Tendu side and close in devant, for 2 counts
Grand battement side and close derriere, for 2 counts
Repeat at back, then on the side again
Finish nicely.
Turn and repeat on other side

Basic Balancing
- This was created for a private class, but it is good practice for everyone

Begin fifth, right foot devant, arms brasbas
Rise, brnging front foot across into tight fifth, arm to first, for 2 counts
Find your balance, for 6 counts
Take other hand off barre to meet in first, hold, for 8 counts
Lower heels, put hand back on barre, open other arm through second to brasbas, for 4 counts
Tendu to second and lower, for 4 counts
Repeat in second, tendu back into fifth
Rise, bringing front foot up to retire, arm to first, for 2 counts
Find balance, for 6 counts
Take other hand to first, hold, for 8 counts
Lower heels, put hand back on barre, open other arm through second to brasbas, for 8 counts
Repeat in other side

Have A Quick Stretch

Centre

Basic Arabesques
- Focus on balance, but really try to push that leg just a little bit higher too

Begin in fifth with your right foot devant, arms bras bas.
Tendu your left foot derriere, raising your arms to first, for 2 counts
Raise leg to arabesque, take your arms to 1st arabesque (right arm forward), hold for as long as you can
Lower your leg and arms to starting position
Repeat 2 more times
Repeat on other side

Chasses
- Once again, you've done this exercise before
- Really push through the floor and maximise the turnout as you chasse

Begin in fifth, arms brasbas, right foot devant
Chasse devant and close, arms to first, for 2 counts
Chasse sideways (right) and close, arms open to second, for 2 counts (right foot still front)
Chasse derriere and close, arms close to first, for 2 counts
Chasse sideways (left - back foot leading), and close, arms open to second, then lower to brasbas when the feet close, for 2 counts

Experts: Reverse the exercise (chasse derriere, then left etc.)

Echappe Saute and Changements
- Use as much plie as possible, making sure to press the knees out when you plie before springing up again

Begin in fifth, right foot devant, arms brasbas
Saute, arms to first, for 2 counts
Echappe saute to second, arms to second, for 2 counts
Saute back to fifth, left foot devant, arms to brasbas, for 2 counts
Changement, arms where they are, for 1 counts
Changement, arms where they are, for 1 counts
Saute, arms to first, for 2 counts
Echappe saute to second, arms to second, for 2 counts
Saute back to fifth, right foot devant, arms to brasbas, for 2 counts
Changement, arms where they are, for 1 counts
Changement, arms where they are, for 1 counts
Repeat exercise 3 times (for a total of four times)

And That's Class

Sorry about most of the exercises being ones you've done before. It's difficult to keep writing new ones!! It's good to revisit them though, and make sure that you've really got them, that your working the turnout and using perfect technique.

Just a quick question for everyone - Is the way I set out my exercises easy to understand? I was thinking about this last night, because just cause I can understand it, it doesn't really mean everyone else can.

Thanks,
Mellii

Great class. Thank you! I find the exercises easy to understand. You explain it simply, which is great. Thanks!

Oops, I forgot to reply to this class last week! Thanks !

Sorry for lack of attendance, internet has been down a lot recently!
Thanks for class xx