Photo Credit: Empire Photography
CLASSES
The Ballet School
BALLET CLASSES
The Ballet School at Infinity Dance provides dancers with a solid base from which to grow in an informed, technical environment. We focus on understanding how dance shapes and forms the body. And, how it releases tension. This allows dancers to move efficiently.
Dancers are trained to approach varying dance styles.
The faculty draws on the Vagonova, Ceccetti, and French traditions, as well as knowledge gained from years of study in the American dance world where these traditions are blended to produce dancers who are unaffected by a particular style.
Our Ballet Classes
Showstars Mini & Junior Ballet
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Ages 5-7 and 7-9
The Pre-Ballet Program fosters musicality, body awareness, and movement potential in a format that encourages individual artistry. Inspired by the work of Rudolf Von Laban and Irmgard Bartinieff, the class explores the elements of dance; Body, Space, Force, and Time, through creative exercises that are movement focused rather than story focused. The knowledge gained in these classes prepares the student for the attention to detail required in the study of formal ballet training. Research shows that children who begin training with informed creative movement classes are more successful when placed in a traditional technique class.
Ballet basics
Ages 5-10
This level emphasizes correct postural alignment, principles of turn-out, balance, control, and elementary barre exercises. Center work consists of a repetition of barre work, carriage of the arms, and positions of the body in relationship to the eight points of focus of the stage.
Ballet I
Ages 9-11
Prerequisite: Ballet Basics
Building on the foundation set by Basic Ballet, barre work exercises become more complex and of a longer duration to train muscle memory and increase flexibility. Special emphasis is placed on the dancer’s ability to connect and link steps for fluid movement, memorize patterns, and move through space while maintaining proper alignment. At this level we encourage the dancer to examine the combinations and plan ahead for self-correction. This level is typically repeated.
Ballet Ii
Prerequisite: Ballet I
At this level, there is a marked developmental leap, both in the technical aspects of class and in the seriousness with which training is taken by the dancer. This is the age when the young dancer begins to evaluate past experiences in dance and to question whether or not a career would be desirable. Training intensifies to match this period of self-evaluation. All past work is repeated in more complex combinations increasing strength, endurance, stamina and ability to link steps together in a fluid manner. Understanding of motivation, movement goals, imagery, and presentation are stressed in order to develop better artistic expression. Pre-pointe is introduced at this level. This level is typically repeated. Evaluation for full pointe work is conducted at the end of the 2nd year.
Ballet IiI/IV
Prerequisite: Ballet II
From this level forward the plasticity, coordination and smooth connection of movements of the arms, legs, feet, head, and body is the primary developmental goal. Rhythmic patterns are emphasized and attention is given to aiding the dancer’s ability to “tune in” to muscular feelings. Emphasis is placed on greater stability and complexity in the study of adagio and developing the smooth, graceful and subtle qualities in movement. Study of turning in open positions is part of the daily routine at this level, as is the study of battu, petite allegro, and grand allegro. Regular and repeated reference will be made to facilitate the dancer’s understanding of movement goals and ability to “self correct”.
pointe
Prerequisite: Ballet IV
All students at Infinity Dance will be evaluated by the Program Director and dance medicine specialist before they graduate to full pointe work. Pointe classes are offered separately from regular technique classes in order to safely build the strength required for full pointe work. Pointe Levels may be repeated based on the specific needs of each dancer.
