| Dance Lesson |
Subject: Communication Skills |
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1. Topic-
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2. Content-
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Ballet Positions - 1 through 6
Positions to pirouette |
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3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
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1. Give history (actual and personal) of ballet
2. Teach the basic positions, and explain how those positions develop
the foundation of ballet.
3. Use the knowledge to teach how to pirouette. Teach what a pirouette
is (a turn), how they may vary, and how to do a basic one. |
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4. Objectives-
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1. Go slowly and clearly.
2. Demonstrate how to hold your arms.
3. Explain how to keep good turnout. |
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5. Materials and Aids-
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6. Procedures/Methods-
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A. Introduction-
1. Ballet is a classical type of dance - most structural type of
dance. In ballet, everything is aimed towards perfection.
2. This type of dance emerged in the 1400s during the Italian renaissance.
It was a type of performance to entertain royalty. Unlike today, ballet
was originally dominated by men. Over the years, it has evolved to
become more contemporary - rules have been stretched and broken to
make it more modern. Pointe shoes have also evolved over the years
to be more supportive and less painful. Pointe shoes are shoes with
a flat top and shank to allow someone to stand on their toes. I don't
have them today, but I do use pointe shoes, and have been using them
since I was about 11.
3. Ballet is an important part of my life, I've been dancing ever
since I was five. I started dancing more seriously at the Walnut Hill
School starting in fifth grade, and still dance there now, five to
six days a week. |
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B. Development-
1. Posture - back straight but arched, shoulders down but not pinched.
Ribs in to keep a straight line.
2. Legs turned out. Not from the feet, turn out starts in the hips.
3. Arms stretched out, break, flip the arms, then flip the wrists.
This general structure and curve is present in all positions of the
arms. |
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C. Practice-
1. First position feet together toes apart. Legs straight - knees
not bent. Arms low.
2. Second position feet slightly wider than hips width apart, still
turned out. Arms in second position stretched out.
3. Third position - heel placed at middle of other foot. Arms at middle.
4. Fourth position - toes lined up with heel, heel lined up with toes.
Directly in front of each other, not too close, not too far apart.
Arms the same, although there are other positions.
5. Fifth position, one of the most common. Fourth position but moved
in. Turned out, heel at the toes of other foot. Third position slightly
shifted. Arms en haut, up high.
6. Not used often. Usually always turned out, sixth position only
position not turned out. Feet together, parallel. Arms down. |
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D. Independent Practice-
1. To turn, start from fourth of fifth position.
2. Can tendu to get there, or start straight from that position. Plier,
then turn and bring pointed toe up to knee. Arms go from one out one
in, to both in.
3. Head spots. |
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E. Accommodations (Differentiated Instruction)-
1. Keep back straight and arms in their position.
2. Use closed arm to open then close, giving you force.
3. Keep knee turned out. Focus on a spot on the room, get around as
far as you can, then turn your head. |
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F. Checking for understanding-
1. If you're having difficulty, go from starting position to passa
position without turning to check to make sure you're on balance.
Hips or shoulders might be off.
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G. Closure-
1. Now that you know the basic six positions, you have the foundation
of ballet, and can do thousands of steps just from these positions.
2. We also applied these positions to a movement, and learned how
to turn. |
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