Tony Williams Dance Center Ballet Syllabus 2024-25
Created by: Anthony Williams, Elizabeth Mochizuki & Amanda Walker
Creative Dance 3-4 Year Olds
45 mins per week | Supplement: None required
This is an introduction to the world of dance. Much of this class will focus on engaging students in listening, following directions, respecting the dance studio and faculty members and nurturing a love of dance as a proper form of recreation that involves rules, which is also fun. Fun, music and games are used to casually introduce dance elements to these very young students. While all dance is “fun” this is a focused endeavor and should be treated seriously. During the first class a parent may wish to walk the child into the room to meet the teacher and to detach. After the first 15 minutes all parents should please exit the room. We have found that lingering chaperones prevent the child from attaching fully to their dance teacher which causes year-long issues. We usually keep the blinds closed in beginning classes for the following reasons: a) students continuously peer out to see if a chaperone is watching them which distracts from the class activities, b) students who see a parent want to leave class causing further distraction, c) students whose families are not watching them begin wondering why their parent isn’t watching if other parents are watching. While we attempt to make all of our classroom procedures public and out-in-the-open please follow our advice on protocol for watching/leaving students during class so that they can learn as much as possible in the short time provided. All Creative Dance classes with registrations over 8 students will require a Teacher’s Assistant. All Creative Dance classes with registrations over 16 students will require 1 faculty member and two TA’s for the safety of your child.
WARM UP (On Floor)
Warm up in circle – Includes various games/isolations ending with a song/dance staying in circle
Teachers will incorporate group games and fun adventures for the children that are rooted in movement.
Stretching and Strengthening in circle – Again these are fun exercises, this time can also be used to help them get used to raising their hands if they want to contribute
CENTER
Teachers may incorporate some simple steps from any number of dance disciplines: ballet, jazz, hip hop, etc.
Students will practice a variety of gross motor dance skills to fun music.
Classes will end with an opportunity for children to creatively express themselves, possibly incorporating steps learned in class. Activities may include dancing with props and games such as freeze dance.
Last are curtsies/ bows on the diagonal and stickers for good dancers, this is the first step toward establishing reverence for the ballet communal space.
Ballet/Tap/Jazz 5-6 Year Olds
1 hour per week | Supplement: None required
At the teacher’s discretion, students will learn beginning elements of ballet, tap, and jazz throughout the year. Classes will continue to use fun and creative exercises while also introducing the basic vocabulary in this transition class. You may continue to include fun and playful music into class. Start with a warm up sitting in a circle on the floor. Center work should work on making straight lines, and introducing 2 lines with attention to spacing. While all dance is “fun” this is a focused endeavor and should be treated seriously. During the first class a parent may wish to walk the child into the room to meet the teacher and to detach. After the first 15 minutes all parents should please exit the room. We have found that lingering chaperones prevent the child from attaching fully to their dance teacher which causes year-long issues. We usually keep the blinds closed in beginning classes for the following reasons: a) students continuously peer out to see if a chaperone is watching them which distracts from the class activities, b) students who see a parent want to leave class causing further distraction, c) students whose families are not watching them begin wondering why their parent isn’t watching if other parents are watching. While we attempt to make all of our classroom procedures public and out-in-the-open please follow our advice on protocol for watching/leaving students during class so that they can learn as much as possible in the short time provided. All Ballet/Tap/Jazz classes with registrations over 8 students will require a Teacher’s Assistant. All Ballet/Tap/Jazz classes with registrations over 16 students will require 1 faculty member and two TA’s for the safety of your child.
BALLET LEXICON (Teachers will cover some/all of these steps in addition to beginning Jazz and/or Tap steps)
BARRE not yet
Warm Up (on Floor)
Isolations: move different parts of the body
Foot articulation: pointe and flex, later pointe ball flex ball
Rotation: Parallel and turned out
Abdominal strength exercises (i.e. rolling up to seated, reaching long rolling into a ball, etc)
Stretch on floor (i.e. Butterfly, Straddle, Mermaid, etc.)
Center
Arm swings: front and back or side and side or circles or figure 8
5 positions of the feet and arms
Pliés and Relevés: 6th and 1st
Tendus, side and front
Port de Bras (5th en bas, 1st and 2nd)
Sauté, 1st and 2nd positions
Échappé, from 1st
Movement Concepts (shape, level, size, quality or energy, speed, space)
Across the Floor
Ballet runs in relevé
Ballet walks: Stepping on a turned out flat foot, while the toes pointed when off the floor (walk, walk, walk, pointe)
Stork/flamingo walks (skip position)
Marches
Skips
Gallops and chasse, front and side
Run and Leap
*note for Beginning Ballet I and up: new steps in the lexicon underlined*
Beginning Ballet I 7-9 Year Olds or by placement
1 hour per week | Supplement: Lyrical C/D is highly encouraged as a supplement to this dance level.
Continue to use fun and creative exercises while also introducing the basic vocabulary in this transition class. You may continue to include fun and playful music into class. Two hands on the barre. Keep it simple! Progress to one hand by second half of year for some exercises. Work in 45 degrees 1st position. Do several slow repetitions. Do not combine steps. Emphasize proper posture and placement. Explain French terms. Begin all exercises at Barre with 4 count arm preparation. Finish all exercises with balance (when appropriate). Reverence at end of class. Emphasize classroom etiquette, holding the barre properly, making neat classroom lines in the center, no talking, etc.
BARRE
Positions: Detailed discussion of positions and how to find turn out
Plies: Demi plies facing barre, 1st , 2nd only, 3rd when ready
Tendus: Side only, then add front, also turn in/out, pt/flex. Break down tendu by brushing into ½ pointe to full pointe every time. In 4 counts, then 2. Introduce temps lie when ready
Tendu Degages: Side only, then add front. Go through the pointe tendu. Add pique
Ronds de Jambes par terre: In 1st. Front and Side only. Stop in each position.
Fondus: Not yet.
Ronds de Jambes en l’air: Not yet.
Frappes: Just cou-de-pied practice if appropriate based on the group
Developpes: Retire Passe (foot in front of knee) turned in from 6th position, open to pointe tendu front and side when ready
Battement Releve Lent: Face the barre, front only, through the pointe tendu
Petit Battement: Not yet.
Grand Battement: Face the barre, through the pointe tendu, front only 45 degrees or lower when ready, floor exercise front and back only
Stretches: On floor only
Releves/Eleves: 1st position and 6th position
Port de bras: Side to side, no cambre forward or back yet.
CENTER
Port de bras/Small Adagio:
Stretching/Strengthening
Port de bras (1st , 2nd, 5th en bas and en haute)
Arabesque arms (1st)
Center Barre Exercises:
Demi plie
Tendu
Allegro:
Sautes in 1st, 2nd position (with ¼ turn spotting exercises when ready)
Echappe from 1st only
Glissade (break it down, teach at barre, from 1st)
Pas de chat from 1st
Marching
Diagonal or working straight across the floor:
Temps leve sauté, only if ready, keep low
Chasse a la seconde and gallops, from 6th and 1st
Polka
Grand jete: run and leap only
Skips
Triplets
1,2,3,hop
Beginning Ballet II 8-10 Year Olds or by placement
1 hour per week | Requirement: If you haven’t taken Lyrical C/D yet, it is now required in order to advance into Intermediate levels. Hip Hop or Tap is strongly encouraged.
Review previous year’s vocabulary. Exercises are now done en croix facing the barre from 1st position, then from 3rd/ 5th position, and finally with 1 hand on the barre after second half of the year. Keep it simple! Only one exercise at a time. Do not combine combinations. Do several slow repetitions. Continue to focus on proper placement and alignment. Explain French terms. Begin all exercises at Barre with 4 count arm preparation. Finish exercises with balance or port de bras where appropriate. Reverence at end of class. Emphasize classroom etiquette, holding the barre properly, making neat classroom lines in the center, proper use of the diagonal, no talking, etc.
BARRE
Positions: Detailed discussion of positions and how to find turn out
Plies: Demi-plies facing barre, (1st, 2nd, 3rd/5th only)
Tendus: in 1st, 3rd when ready, Side and front, then back. En Croix, double, tendu plie, passé par terre. pt/flex/, temps lie
Tendu Degages: in 1st, Side and front, back when ready. En Croix, go through the pointe tendu. Also pique.
Ronds de Jambes par terre: Stop in each position, add preparation. Front and side only, full by end of year.
Fondus: Not yet, can do tendu in plie as fondu exercise
Ronds de Jambes en l’air: Not yet.
Frappes: Alternate sur la cou-de- pied front and back to pointe tendu side, accent even. Use flex foot preparation, very slowly to degage height
Developpes: Retire Passe (foot in front of knee), Open to tendu front and side, back when ready
Battement Releve Lent: Face barre/Back to barre for releve lent front and back, through the pointe tendu
Petit Battement: Not yet.
Grand Battement: As floor exercise front and back only, 2 hands on the barre, through the pointe tendu, arabesque facing the barre and devant facing away from the barre
Stretches: Splits on the floor
Releves/Eleves/Balancing: 1st position, 2nd, 5th, releves – work 2 to 1 foot, balancing flat: wrap, cou de pied, retire
Port de bras: Side to side
Other: arabesque, introduce sous-sus, pas de bouree
CENTER
Port de bras/Small Adagio:
Stretching/Strengthening
Epaulement
Port de bras (1st, 2nd, 5th en bas and en haute)
Temps lie a la seconde
Arabesque (1st) know arms, add legs
Center Barre Exercises:
Demi Plie
Tendu from 1st, alternating tendus in 3rd
Releve in 6th, 1st, and spotting exercises
Grand Adagio/Linking steps/Pirouettes:
Pas de bourree in 6th, 3rd
Balance in 6th, 1st if ready
Glissade in 1st
Allegro:
Saute in 1st, 2nd, soubresaut, quarter turns in 2nd and 1st
Changement in 3rd
Echappe from 3rd, from 5th when ready
Pas de chat from 1st
Emboite (spring points on ground)
Diagonal:
Temps leve sauté in cou de pied and degage devant and low arabesque
Chasse a la seconde and en avant
Polka
Grand jete (Leaps more so than Jetes)
Skips
Marching
Triplets
1,2,3 Hop
Pas Couru
Chaine turns (hands on hips, feet in 2nd, head over shoulder)
Polonaise
Beginning Ballet III 9-11 Year Olds or by placement
1.25 hours per week
Supplement: Must also be enrolled in one supplement: Jazz or Lyrical is required at this level unless you have taken both in prior years.
Continue working on last year’s vocabulary. start year facing barre, progress to 1 hand on barre for simple exercises: other hand on waist progressing to arm in 2nd, can use port de bras for plies only by end of year. Teach some new steps facing barre. Keep it simple! You may combine some exercises but still do slow repetitions, especially for any new steps. Vary tempo to keep minds sharp. Use en croix. Students are still primarily working on muscle memory, proper placement and alignment. Do not increase complexity or tempo until students can do the steps well. Begin all exercises at Barre with 4 count arm preparation. Finish exercises with balance or port de bras where appropriate. Reverence at end of class. Emphasize classroom etiquette, holding the barre properly, making neat classroom lines in the center, proper use of the diagonal, no talking, etc.
BARRE
Positions: Address torso/core alignment to concepts of rotating legs from top down to feet emphasizing plie with knees over middle toes
Plies: Demi all positions, add 4th, and add grand plie except in 4th
Tendus: in 1st and 5th, En Croix, also turn in/out, double, pt/flex, tendu plie, passé par terre, cou de pied, pas de cheval, battement soutenu
Tendu Degages: in 5th, En Croix. Go through the pointe tendu, in 2 counts by end of year. Also pique, en cloche, envelope,
Ronds de Jambes par terre: include prep, stop in each position, and slow circles w/out stopping,
Fondus: to tendu, then to 45 degrees
Ronds de Jambes en l’air: practice facing barre, lift leg, into cou de pied, out, down, then with taps at 45 degrees, then as D shape en de hors and en de dans
Frappes: to tendu en croix, to 45 degrees if ready, still wrapped position, Add flexed foot preparation and brushing floor to side, slow tempo only.
Developpes: Through cou de pied and Retire Passe, foot in front of the knee to tendu en croix
Battement Releve Lent: En Croix, through the pointe tendu
Petit Battement: Slow and even – out 1, back 2, out 3, front 4, working up to back 1, front 2, practice sur le cou de pied
Grand Battement: En Croix, tendu, throw, tendu, close
Stretches: no barre stretch yet, continue splits on the floor
Releves/Eleves: work 2 to 1 foot, also 1st, 2nd, 5th
Balancing: releve: 1st, 2nd, 5th, flat: wrap, cou de pied, retire, facing barre on releve: wrap, cou de pied, retire,
Port de bras: Side to side, cambre forward, introduce back with 2 hands on the barre
Other: detourne, pique sous sus from 5th plie to 5th plie, ½ and ¾ turns at barre, full turn facing barre by end of year/2nd year in level, spotting,
CENTER
Port de bras/Small Adagio:
Stretching/Strengthening
Croise, En Face, Efface, Ecarte positions
Epaulement
Port de bras
Arabesque 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Temps lie a la seconde, en avant
Promenades in cou de pied,
Center Barre Exercises:
Demi Plie
Tendu from 5th. pique to 5th
Soutenu
Tendu Degage
Rond de jambe par terre
Releve in 6th and 1st
Grand Adagio/Linking steps/Pirouettes:
Pas de bouree in 5th
Balance turned out, and to cou de pied
Glissade in 5th
Polonaise
Releve quarter turns in cou de pied working up to full turn from 5th in cou de pied
Allegro:
Saute in all positions, ½ turns in 1st and 2nd
Changement and as ¼ turns
Echappe
Soubresaut
Assemble side
Pas de chat from 5th
Petit Jete
Diagonal:
Temps leve sauté in cou de pied, retire, arabesque, devant
Chasse en avant from 5th
Polka
Grand jete, slow down mechanics
Pas Couru
Chaine turns in releve 1st
Pique sous sus
Ballet walks
Ballet-Focused Preparatory Track Begins Here
For those wishing to continue ballet in a less active ballet training manner, you may consider remaining in the Beginning Ballet weekly class program until aged out. Intermediate to Advanced Ballet is a true focus on the art of dance and should be considered a dedicated endeavor. Intermediate I students are required to attend both classes per week.
Intermediate Ballet I
3 hours per week (Two 1.5 hour classes), Additional Requirements: Pre pointe | AND Variations, Conditioning or Modern (must take one this year, one your second year).
Combinations can be combined, but keep the complexity to a minimum. Don’t try to make it tricky. Many repetitions works best. Vary tempo to keep minds sharp. Begin all exercises at barre with one hand or facing the barre with 4 count arm preparation. Add some simple port de bras at barre, slowly add on epaulement. Finish all exercises with balance (one one foot facing barre, low balances with one hand on barre by end of year/2nd year in level), turn, port de bras, etc. Students are still primarily learning muscle memory, proper placement and alignment. Do not increase complexity or tempo until students can master the steps. Reverence at end of class. Emphasize classroom etiquette, holding the barre properly, making neat classroom lines in the center, proper use the diagonal, no talking, etc.
BARRE
All barre vocabulary can be used this year.
Positions: Address torso/core alignment to concepts of rotating legs from top down to feet, emphasizing plie with knees over middle toes
Plie: All demi and grande 1st, 2nd, 3rd/5th , no 4th grand plie
Tendu: En croix, all combinations, including assemble soutenu
Tendu Degages: En croix, all combinations including double pique, pas de cheval
Ronds de jambe par terre: with preparation, in plie, off the ground 45 degrees, with pose in tendu front before RDJ en de dans
Fondus: to the pointe, 45 degrees, in 2 counts, double fondus
Ronds de jambe en l’air: Slowly facing the barre, En dehor and En de dans, 45 degrees,
Frappes: 45 degrees front, side, back, introduce brushing off floor front and back as well as side, double, flexed foot and wrap
Developpe: En croix through cou de pied and retire passé to 45 degrees
Battement Releve Lent: En croix
Petit Battement: increase tempo to back +, front 1, back +, front 2, add accents
Grand Battement: En croix. thru tendu, add brushing
Stretches: Leg on barre, attitude devant stretch on barre & cambre side a la seconde at barre only, also heel stretch front, side, arabesque stretch
Releves/Eleves: All positions, work 2 to 1 foot and on one foot
Port de bras: front, back, side, Russian port de bras facing barre, cambre side, down, side back, when ready, grand port de bras
Balancing: one hand on barre: 1st, 2nd, 5th, facing barre on releve: wrap, cou de pied, retire, degage 45 degrees front, side, back
Other: detourne, attitude, spotting, releve fouette ¼ turn, soutenu en tournant ½ turn, ½ and ¾ turns at barre, full turn with one hand on barre by end of year/2nd year in level, pique to demi-pointe
CENTER
Port de bras/Small Adagio:
Stretching/Strengthening
Croise, En Face, Efface, Ecarte positions
Epaulement
Port de bras
Temps lie a la seconde, en avant, en arrierre
Arabesque 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, to 45 degrees
Promenades in cou de pied, retire, up to 45 degree arabesques
45 degree grand ronds de jambes
ballet walks en arriere
Developpe and Releve Lent 45 degrees
Center Barre Exercises:
Most barre exercises can be done in center
Demi Plie in all positions and grand plie in 2nd
Tendu
Battement Degage
pique to 5th en croix
eleve and releve in all foot positions
Rond de jambe
Fondu to tendu
Frappe to tendu
petit battements
grand battements a la seconde
Grand Adagio/Linking steps/Pirouettes:
Releve retire from 4th no turn, working up to single pirouettes en dehors, en dedans
Retire passé with releve quarter turns working up to full turn from 5th in retire
Pirouette en de hors in cou de pied from 2nd
Pas de basque in place, traveling on diagonal
Pas de bourree
Balance en avant, en arriere, and a la seconde, with ¼ turns
Glissade
Sous Sous
tombe pas de bouree to 5th
waltz turn
pique arabesque
Allegro:
Sautes
Changement and with ½ turns
Echappe to 4th and 2nd
Soubresaut
Royale
Entrechat quatre
Glissade jete, assemble
assemble devant, derriere, and change dessus and dessous
petit jete dessous and dessus
glissade change
pas de chat
Sissonne simple to cou de pied, then ferme a la seconde and en avant to 1st arabesque
Emboite to cou de pied, attitude derriere, and travelling en avant in attitude
Diagonal:
Temps leves (arabesque, cou de pied, etc.), study en arriere
Polka en tournant
Chasse study en arriere
Grand jete in 1st arabesque
Pas Couru
Chaine turns
Prepare for Pique turns only, add pique turns by end of year – 3 no turn, 1 turn, alternate, etc.
Soutenu turns
ballet walks and runs
Intermediate Ballet 2
3 hours per week (One 1.5 hour class, plus one 1.5 hour class combined this year with Int III and Adv on Wed. and/or Thursday – students welcome but not required to take all 3 classes), Optional additional mixed level ballet class on Monday, | Additional Requirements: Beginning Pointe (Two classes: 45 min on Tuesday plus 45 min of pointe with Int III/Adv on Wed. and/or Thurs, students welcome but not required to take all 3 pointe classes) | AND Variations, Lyrical or Modern.
Combine steps, increase complexity, vary tempos. Introduce advanced vocabulary. Begin all exercises at Barre with 4 count arm preparation. Finish all exercises with balance, turn, port de bras, etc. By now, students should use proper port de bras and epaulement for all steps. Reverence at end of class. Emphasize classroom etiquette, holding the barre properly, making neat classroom lines in the center, proper use the diagonal, no talking, etc.
Barre
BARRE
All fundamental barre vocabulary has been taught as of last year.
Positions: Address torso/core alignment to concepts of rotating legs from top down to feet, emphasizing plie with knees over middle toes, plus use of body directions at barre
Plie: All demi and grande
Tendu: En croix, all combinations, may use inside leg at barre to work on shifting weight
Tendu Degages: En croix, all combinations, may use inside leg at barre to work on shifting weight
Ronds de jambe par terre: with preparation, in plie, off the ground, Petit grand and Grande ronds de jambes at 45 and 90 degrees and in attitude, also passe la jambe at 45 and 90 degrees, add arms when giving 4 consecutive RDJ
Fondus: add 90 degree fondus, work on doubles up to tempo with arms
Ronds de jambe en l’air: Add 90 degrees, add doubles
Frappes: Introduce brushing off floor front and back, do doubles, wrap and flexed foot, on releve when ready
Developpes: En croix through cou de pied and retire passe to 90 degrees
Battement Releve Lent: En Croix, and releve fouette ½ turn
Petit Battement: increase tempo – encourage them to get up to tempo, add accents, battement serre, on releve when ready, petit battement par terre
Grand Battement: W/out stopping in pointe tendu, introduce cloche, turn in/out, GB with flexed foot, GB with plie, GB with pique
Stretches: Leg on barre, facing perpendicular to barre, attitude stretch, plus stretches from lower levels
Releves/Eleves: All positions
Balancing: All simple balances with 1 hand on barre, attitude and high arabesque facing barre
Port de bras: All, including Russian port de bras with one hand, grand port de bras in lunge 4th, tendu cambres
Other: ½ turns at barre, ¾ turns at barre, soutenu ½ turn, soutenu entournant full turn
CENTER
Port de bras/Small Adagio:
Stretching/Strengthening
Croise, En Face, Efface, Ecarte positions
Epaulement
Port de bras including: grand port de bras from 5th, 4th lunge, tendu thru demi plie in 4th, and tendu thru deep lunge (6th)
Temps lie
All Arabesques, plus attitudes to 90 degrees
Developpe to 90 degrees
pas de basque par terre en avant
45 degree grand rond de jambe, 90 degree grand rond in attitude promenade at 90 degrees
Center Barre Exercises:
Most barre exercises can be done in center –
Demi plie, grand plie except in 4th, tendu, degage, ronds de jambe par terre, ronds de jambe en l’air to 45 degrees, fondu to 45 degrees, frappe to 45 degrees, grand battements en croix, petit battements,
eleves/releves on one foot, pique to 5th en croix