Classes

Ballet classes in Bushey, Watford, and Hemel Hempstead

Nursery for 3+ years

An introduction to basic ballet foundation steps, skipping, marching, pony gallops, jumping, walking and running on demi pointe, flexing and pointing the feet sitting on the floor. Soft or sharp hands. Using pretend roll play, imagery, ballet books, fairy wings, scarves, wands, ribbon sticks, other props and dressing-up costumes. Basic stretching. Nursery rhymes, fairy tales or stories to music. Basic rhythm using instruments and clapping. Improvisation to music.

Pre-primary for 4+ years

Building on basic ballet foundation steps from nursery with more structured movements using a beginning and end to the music also learning to line up ready to dance. Dancing in pairs. Awareness of space and others in that space with diagonal alignment within the studio. Positions of the feet. Use of parallel arms and feet. Basic ballet arms and port de bras. Limbering, stretching and talking about posture awareness. Introducing arabesque and new rhythms. Balancing and hopping. Being able to stop as well as go. Working on control of movements. Improvisations to music using props and dressing up costumes. End of term group dances and recitals.

Grade 1 for 7+ years

Introduction to grade 1

Practising to achieve strengthening ballet technique and coordination with awareness of posture at times. An extensive break down of set exercises - plies, battements tendus, transfer of weight, jumps, classical walks, springs, spring pointes plus petit jetes, port de bras, grand skips, assembles. Continued limbering and stretching. Solo classical dance and solo character dance. Reverence.

Examination for grade 1

Continued strengthening ballet technique and coordination with awareness of posture at times. Set exercises - plies, battements tendus, transfer of weight, jumps, classical walks, springs, spring pointes plus petit jetes, port de bras, grand skips, assembles. Continued limbering and stretching. Solo classical dance and solo character dance. Reverence. Examination age 7, 8 9 or 10 years of age.

Grade 2 for 8+ years

Examination for grade 2

Progressing and strengthening ballet technique. Traditional barre exercises, centre work shown with arm coordination, developing left and right side coordination, jumping, grand allegro, dancing in patterns and with partners. Solo classical dance and solo character dance. Reverence. Examination age 8, 9, 10 + years of age.

Grade 3 for 9+ years

Examination for grade 3
Classical ballet technique and exercises developing to a higher understanding. Posture awareness being maintained mostly during an exercise. Technical exercises are more elaborate and form the basis of a mature ballet class. Solo classical dance and solo character dance. Reverence. Examination age 9, 10, 11 + years of age.

Grade 4 for 11+ years

Examination for grade 4

Traditional structured technical barre and centre with an introduction to pirouettes. Solo classical dance and character dance. Reverence.

Examination age 11, 12 + years of age.

Grade 5 for 12+ years

Examination for grade 5

Technical ballet barre and centre. Single and double pirouettes, allegro and grand allegro. Solo classical dance and solo character dance. Reverence.

Examination age 12, 13, 14 + years of age.

Grade 6 for 13+ years

Examination for Grade 6

Romantic style of classical ballet, very traditional, old school French style set as enchainments at the barre and centre. Beautifully choreographed dance steps with a feeling of performance set to traditional classical music from famous ballets. A choice of a classical, free movement or character dance. Reverence.

Examination age 13 to 18 + years of age

Grade 7 for 14+ years

Examination for Grade 7

Grade 8 for 15+ years

Examination for Grade 8

A traditional classical ballet barre. A group Polonaise. Four advanced, beautifully choreographed solo dances including a traditional Russian character dance. A strong feeling of performance set to traditional classical music from famous ballets. Reverence. Examination age 15 to 18 + years of age.

Intermediate foundation for 13+ years

Vocational examination

These examinations are for students wanting to take a higher level of examination with the possibility either to dance professionally or to advance on to the next level with the idea of becoming a ballet teacher.

Examination age 13 to 18 + years of age.

Intermediate for 13+ years

Vocational examination

Examination age 13 to 18 + years of age.

Pointe work for 12+years

Classes for pointe work are offered as non-syllabus pointe work exercises. Pointe work starts in the vocational exams, therefore these classes are based on additional learning and practise either as a fun class or to supplement and support the main vocational class adding strength for the student.

Character dancing All R.A.D Grades

Character is part of the examination grades syllabus from grade 1 to grade 8.

Character dances have been added to the grades to enhance the students' knowledge and to preserve the heritage of national dances from traditional classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker.

Character is a theatrical form of national dance in the style of a court dance or a country harvest style dance. National dances include: Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Italian Tarantella and Spanish.

To find out more about our timetable, look no further and contact Jacqueline Harman School of Ballet today.

Fun packed high energy ballet classes with props and dressing up costumes.

Call Jacqueline Harman School of Ballet on

01923 673 425

07850 832 423