Ballet is an inspiring dance form that can help children stay active and build strength in their bodies. While attending actual ballet classes is ideal, home-based videos may prove beneficial for those unable to attend classes or needing additional practice.
All you need for ballet barre practice is an open space and something suitable to act as a ballet barre, such as a counter or chair.
Basics
Ballet is an artful form of dance that requires skill, technique, and grace to master. While other forms of dance tend to feature fluid and organic movements that emphasize classic music and storytelling techniques, ballet relies heavily on structured movements with classical music composition as its backbone.
Ballet can be difficult, but learning the fundamentals at home with dedication and proper technique is doable. Step one should be to find an open space where you can practice basic positions and moves before finding an object to use as your barre, such as a counter chair wall etc. Once comfortable with these essential moves then more advanced moves may be added on.
There are various ballet workout videos online to get your started with ballet exercise. Some are free while more costly videos offer live instruction from professional dancers. Misty Copeland’s MasterClass costs approximately $12 a month and gives access to four adult ballet classes.
Beginners should start with mastering five basic foot and arm positions such as arabesque, second position and third position – which form the fundamentals of ballet – such as arabesque, second position and third position. Once these are mastered you should move onto more complex moves such as pirouette. A pirouette involves rotating while in retired position; to perform one simply assume fourth position then plies before releveing to demi-pointe while turning your body so your back leg transitions into retire and your front leg goes into adagio respectively.
Ballet dancers also use two basic movements called the plie and tendu as essential moves for keeping balance: To plie, bend your knees until they are as wide apart as your big toes; this strengthens quadriceps muscles while aiding balance. A tendu, on the other hand, involves stretching one or both legs while doing a plie simultaneously to strengthen knees and thighs.
Though ballet can be practiced at home, taking an introductory ballet class and having an instructor correct your movements to avoid injuries is highly recommended. Even if you already have experience dancing other forms of dance, beginning ballet requires much more training than other types.
Dressing
Ballet is an intense art form that requires immense dedication. If you’re beginning or progressing toward pointe, seeking guidance and correction from an experienced ballet teacher is critical to avoid injury. Online classes offer another excellent option; pay special attention when using video call services to ensure your instructor can see and hear you correctly!
As part of your preparation, it is crucial that you wear clothing that allows for unrestricted movement. Furthermore, ensure you have access to reliable internet connection as well as a large flat space to practice on. Furthermore, having wall mirrors allows you to check and correct your form accordingly.
Before beginning ballet lessons, it’s wise to warm up by stretching. Stretching helps prevent injuries and increase flexibility; simple home stretches such as forward bends or wide-leg stretches are effective solutions. Also consider doing straddle splits which provide excellent lower back and leg workouts.
There are five basic ballet positions for the feet, each using different amounts of turnout or outward rotation at the hip joint. Here, you can find images for each foot position and practice matching it to your own body – dancers have spent years honing these techniques so it may take a bit of practice before your feet match up with those seen here!
Not only must you learn the correct foot positions, but you must also develop a solid port de bras, or arm position. Arm movements should complement each of the foot positions for an unified effect. Begin practicing each of the foot positions alongside their respective arm position – make sure your arms remain as straight as possible when doing this!
Once you’ve mastered foot and arm positions, it’s time to incorporate them into your center practice. At first, repeat barre exercises like tendus, developpee or fondu. As your practice advances, more complex movements such as spins or jumps may emerge.
Equipment
Ballet can be an intricate art form to master, and requires hard work and commitment from dancers. Therefore, ballet dancers need all of the equipment necessary to ensure they can make it through classes and rehearsals successfully. While most items can be purchased from dancewear stores directly, online shopping provides another convenient solution for parents without enough time or ability to take their dancer to physical stores for supplies.
Ballet dancers require several key pieces of equipment, including a ballet barre, stretch bands and turn boards. These tools allow students to practice and perfect their ballet moves and routines on their own without the assistance of an instructor.
Dancers will also need their own ballet shoes that fit them comfortably, ideally professionally fitted either at a dancewear store or by their teacher. Loose-fitting shoes may cause injury and prevent dancers from getting an understanding of what floor feels best to them.
Serious ballet students should invest in an appropriate ballet bag. It should be large enough to store all of their dancewear, including extra tights and an extra pair of pointe shoes, and be waterproof so as to keep their clothes clean and dry during classes. Hair ties or bobby pins may also come in handy for keeping hair out of their face or obstructing dancing movements.
For those new to ballet or who lack access to their own studio, video dance tutorials may be beneficial in helping them follow along at home. There are various options available ranging from free YouTube videos and paid classes via Zoom apps; just make sure that when taking live classes online that your computer/phone has all of the appropriate settings so that you can see and hear your instructor clearly.
Music
Ballet is an exquisite form of dance that requires hard work and practice to master. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic closing studios for practice purposes, aspiring ballerinas may be left without somewhere to practice their moves and improve their technique. But that doesn’t have to be an impediment – with some equipment and space at home your child could create their own at-home dance environment that helps move closer toward reaching their dream of becoming professional ballerina.
Music is essential to all forms of dance, including ballet. Many popular ballet pieces were composed specifically for this art form, making it easier for you to find music to use while practicing your routines at home. Classical or piano-based pieces may help keep your mind focused on movement and routine.
As part of your ballet at-home routines, there are various apps you can download onto your phone to aid with ballet exercises at home. One such app is Ballet Lite; this free application was designed specifically to provide ballet enthusiasts with an accessible reference tool for learning positions and movements of ballet dance. With its user-friendly design and straightforward navigation capabilities, Ballet Lite makes learning ballet positions and movements a breeze; though there may be some inconveniences such as not allowing download and storage capabilities.
Misty Copeland’s MasterClass, an extensive 17-part ballet course, can also help. With lessons on power, plies and tendus from one of the world’s premier ballerinas such as Misty herself – along with multiple classes and tutorials available via app – Misty’s MasterClass provides all you need to improve your technique with an exceptional teacher!
Another effective way of practicing ballet at home is with a dance journal. By setting personal goals, tracking progress, and self-correcting yourself over time, this journal can also allow you to set and meet them more easily. Furthermore, videoing yourself may also show where there may be room for improvement in performance.