Ballet
(7 years & up)
The foundation of all forms of dance, Ballet promotes proper body alignment, strength, balance and coordination. It is highly recommended for all students at Wilmington Dance Academy. Class consists of barre exercises, center work, and across the floor combinations. Ballet terminology is taught and each level becomes more complex in steps, speed, and strengthening technique. The grace, beauty, and discipline in ballet are carried through all styles of dance.
(1 hour to 1-1/2 hour class)
Pre-Pointe
Requirements:
1 ballet class per week and 11 years old by the end of the school year or permission of teacher.
The Perfect Pointe Book by Lisa Howell
Therabands & Pinky Ball
REQUIRED: The Perfect Pointe Parent's Manual by Lisa Howell
In this class students will build their core strength and mobility through hips while continuing work on feet, ankles and calves. 10-15 minutes of barre work will be followed by 10-15 minutes of material from textbook. Students may be referred to a local physical therapist that specialize in dance training to assist in addressing areas of weakness. Student should anticipate 30-40 minutes of homework 5-6 days per week from this class until student has gone up onto pointe, then continuing with 15-20 minutes of maintenance exercises daily. Upon successful completion of the program, including mastery of proper technique and adequate strength, and at the discretion of the director, students may expect to advance to pointe.
Pointe
(11 years & up)
Dancing en pointe, is a major goal in a ballerina's dance life. It requires tremendous strength of the legs, feet, and core. Once a student has had time to achieve the form, strength, and proper alignment taught in pre-pointe classes, they may advance to Pointe at the discretion of the director. Proper technique is required to be able to properly rise on the toes without risks of injury. Before a student is advanced to pointe she must be at least 11 years old and have the proper strength.
Pointe work is hard work and very demanding on the feet. At a beginner level students will have a half hour added on to their regular ballet class to work barre strengthening exercises. This will ensure that the entire body, especially the feet and ankles, are properly warmed up. Students will be taught the correct way to put the pointe shoes on their feet and tie them to their ankles. Choosing to dance en pointe is a decision that should be taken seriously. It is a commitment of time and an investment in several pairs of properly fitted pointe shoes per season.
Intermediate through advanced level students are required to be taking two pointe classes along with their weekly ballet class. This is to ensure proper strengthening of the feet and ankles; one class will always be a required technique class while the other will be used for working choreography.