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| Ballet Class - Barre Only
Every ballet class usually begins at the barre, which helps dancers develop strength and balance. A barre is a long railing which can either be attached to the wall or be free-standing. Before starting the lesson, dancers begin by warming up. The warm-up conditions the body and prepares the muscles for the strain of the work-out. It usually includes demi pliés, tendues, and ports de bras.
The plié action is the bending of the knees, usually first position in the warm up, (first position has the feet turned out side by side so the heels are touching); the tendue action is pointing and stretching of the feet, usually accompanied by straightening the leg, and the ports de bras is moving the arms and the body with the arms through a series of back bends to warm up the back and arms.
Classes begin with plies in the case there is no warm-up. Beginner dancers will only do demi pliés in the first position, which refers to the knees being bent about half way, so that the heels do not lift off the floor. As a dancer progresses in his or her expertise, he or she will incorporate both demi and grand, (complete bending of the knees), pliés in four of the five positions. Eventually the plié exercise will expand to include other elements such as ports de bras, for example.
Following plies, the class proceeds with tendues; this refers to the stretching and pointing of the foot. It helps to develop the dancers’ point for aesthetic value, and to improve the dancer’s musculature of the leg. There may be two tendue exercises, the first a slower one to work on the technique of the tendue, (moving each part of the foot separately, going "through" the foot), followed by a quicker one, to challenge the dancer’s memory and grasp of the movement.
The movements increase in difficulty as the class progresses, with each move designed to work a certain muscle or body part. Some of the exercises include:
- The dégagé, which is like tendue but faster and involving the foot lifting off the floor
- Frappé, the action of "striking" the floor with the foot
- Ronds de jambe à terre, moving the leg in a semicircle on the floor to warm up the hips
- Fondue which involves the straightening and bending of both legs, with the working leg frequently raised in the air
- Adage, which always involves holding the working leg in the air for a period of time to strengthen the muscles of the stomach, back, and legs
- The barre finishes with grand battements, which are big, forceful kicks performed by the dancers
Dress Code for Women
Any style or colour leotard, pink or black tights, pink ballet slippers. Simple ballet skirts or cover-ups may be worn. T-shirts are permitted and may wear jazz pants.
Dress Code for Men
Black footless tights, T-shirt, socks, and ballet slippers with elastics. May wear black shorts or jazz pants instead of tights.
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