How does a Ballet class go?

Question:You have probably read in my other questions that I am a 19 year old guy going to start Ballet for the first time and don't know anything other than that I want to try it, so I was wondering what do you do in a regular ballet class. Like what is the order of operations (sorry about using a math term), but how do they start and what all do you do, is there like any classroom teaching of like what you will be doing before you do it? Please give as many answers as you can. Thanks

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: You have probably read in my other questions that I am a 19 year old guy going to start Ballet for the first time and don't know anything other than that I want to try it, so I was wondering what do you do in a regular ballet class. Like what is the order of operations (sorry about using a math term), but how do they start and what all do you do, is there like any classroom teaching of like what you will be doing before you do it? Please give as many answers as you can. Thanks

ok here it is step by step...i'll try to expain as best as i can.

normally you begin by stretching...this you shouldn't worry about at all, it's basic...

then is normally barre work, which means your at the barre (just the bar by the mirror, you'll see when you get to class) plies are basics at the bar, you just bend you knees and stretch. i would recomend searching around on youtube to see classes.

then its usuall across the floors or center work. across the floors are normally leaps, moving turns, and im not gonna get to complicated haha.

then center work is stationary turns or small combonations of different steps...

these are the basics...and again, search on you tube and you will understand a lot more of the terms and get a better look into the classes.

relax and breathe also haha. u sound very nervous...don't be, no one expects you to kno whats going on your first day, and you'll learn. you only have to go through the first day once...so make the best of it and have fun! =)

In a regular class first you probably warm yourself up before everyone starts. You can do slow leg swings, a few light stretches, or even just run around a bit. Anything to get your body warm and moving.
Next you do barre. The teacher will give you steps, which you will have to memorize and do. You'll do each on the rights first, and then the left. A barre can last from 20 minutes to a whole hour depending on the teacher and how quickly students can pick it up. For a beginner you'll start very slowly, and she'll probably help you along during the actual combination. The steps that you will actually do usually start with plies and tendus. Then you do a few faster combinations, another few slow ones, and end with grande battements, which are basically big kicks.
Then it on to center. Here you'll start in the middle with everyone to get your balance and such, and then start going across the room turning and jumping.
Keep in mind your class won't be exactly like this, this is just an example of the way a class at my studio goes.
Good luck!

well when i did ballet i remember starting with basic training by doing Plié in all positions and stretching of course and the teacher would teach us something new. Then we would all dance together or in groups. I really enjoyed it. Hope you do too and that i helped you!

so here is a link to some ballet terms to help you understand what those words are...
http://www.learntodance.com/online%20bal...

You start with a warm-up, sometimes lead by the teacher or most of the time on your own, then you go to the barre and do plies, tondus, degashes, ron de shames, frapes, developes or fondues, and then grande batmas (sp on all, I have never taken French or seen most of these terms on paper). Then you go to the center and do a tundu step, an adagio, a moving step, things across the floor, and then class is over. That's how class at my studio goes.

A ballet class starts with exercises at the barre, which is just a long rail attached to the wall. It's there so you can rest your hand on it gently - don't hang on for dear life! - so you don't have to worry about keeping your balance while you do the exercises.

The next phase is exercises in the centre of the floor, with nothing to hang on to. Here, you have to worry about two things - doing the steps AND not falling over - so it's harder. The adagio section is where you do slow balances and arabesques. The allegro section is lots of jumping and leaping.

Usually, there will be a section where you all start in the corner and practice travelling steps. Because these steps travel fast, it's dangerous to do them altogether, so you'll usually do these in groups of two or three people.

Finally, there will be a section where you learn some simple choreography (basically linking a few steps together to make a class).

Do a bit of stretching when you finish, so you don't feel sore the next day.

hey you know my dance gurus: prithvi and ree might help you? catch them at www.rockaroundtheclock.biz

happy dancing!

Usually, a ballet class starts with stretching, especially in the lower extremities.

Then, you go to do "barre" work (in French, it means "bar"), where you do slow stretches with your arms, and stretch the knees and legs to make them more supple. The movement of the arms, especially when they are moving, is called "port de bras", or "carriage of the arms. "

Here are the common French ballet terms at the barre....

rond-de-jambe--"round[ing] of the leg"---you move your free eg in a full circle, but keeping it straight. Circle can be CW or CCW.

tendu--"held"---the free leg is on the left, right, or back or front of the supporting leg, pointed straight

passe---"passed"--the free leg bends so that its foot touches the supporting leg's knee

releve--"relifted"---you go up on feet on "les pointes" (or "toes"), either halfway or the full way

demi-plie---"half-piled"---you bend your knees outward but not too much, but don't bend your back

grand-pile"--greatly piled"---you bend your knees outward even strongly so they are to the floor, but don't bend your back..upper body is still straight
pile---(from "piler"---to pile up)

Then, the last part of the class is usually "adage" work (slow movements, in French), or "allegro" work (fast movements).

Examples of adage movements:

pas-de-bourree---side-cross-side movement

arabesque--"in the style of Arabia"---you stretch your free leg back and straight and "releve" your supporting leg

pas-de-basque---"step of the Basque country" forward-side-close, a common waltz step

Examples of "allegro" steps are mainly the jumps, like

tour-de-jete ("turn of thrown part")---first free leg kicks forward, and then the supporting leg kicks immediately back afterwards in a jump, turning yourself 1/2 to R or to L upon
landing on your supporting foot; the free foot ends in an arabesque

temps-leve ("time lifted")--usually a simple jump in 2nd position (feet shoulder width apart), and ending with the feet landing the same way.

changement de pieds ("change of foot")---Starting in a crossed position, you jump and you land ending with feet in their opposite crossed position.

Hope all of that helps.

People are giving you great responses. But since dance is a visual medium, it must be seen to be appreciated. You should certainly check out the web site of American Ballet Theatre's Ballet Dictionary, which offers video clips of most of the usual ballet movements.
http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/...

I don't understand why you aren't just calling the studio and asking to observe classes until you can start, but you can also go to your library and see if they have any instructional videos on ballet classes. If you feel like buying some of your own, I personally recommend Judy Rice's DVD, "An Elementary Ballet Class."
http://www.behindbarres.com/pointe-shoe-...

But you're bound to find many others on the internet. You can ask the studio or ask at "Ballet Talk for Dancers" for other recommendations.