Classical Ballet is the foundation of all dance

1. Posture:

Correct dance posture, pelvis placement and alignment is the foundation of all technique. It is the very first thing we work on an continue to work on in every ballet class. All correct technique stems from correct posture. With the onset of digital learning and the increase in mobiles phone technology, upper back and posture issues are rife. Students begin learning how to have good posture in ballet class starting as young as 3 years old and if they maintain their classes it’s something they carry through to adulthood.

2. Foot strength:

In ballet class is the first place you learn how to pointe and stretch your feet and during the years you work hard on improving your foot strength through articulation. Our focus at JOKSOD is to work on the correct alignment of the foot in all positions including demi pointe to facilitate correct technique. This enables dancers to increase their abilities in turns and leaps no matter the genre of dance as correct articulation of the feet is the foundation for these movements.

3. Beauty of line:

At JOKSOD we work on this right from the beginning with  co-ordination through our beautiful port de bras and teach the understanding of how beautiful lines can enhance all positions and movements. How you present yourself as a dancer is so important and you can see the difference in dancers that have been taught how to use their upper and lower body to show the beauty of line. True artistry and grace begins with understanding the importance of this.

4. Musicality:

The best dancers can feel the music through their body as they move and not just go through the motion of the steps. This is a difficult skill to master and it begins in the ballet class with beautiful classical music that aims to enhance every movement and every step.

5. Injury prevention:

This is a huge part of our philosophy at JOKSOD as we pride ourselves on ensuring we look after young bodies by teaching the correct support to facilitate different movements. Too often young children are encouraged to over stretch and hyper extend their movements which can lead to serious injury. Classical Ballet class provides a learning opportunity in how to use your muscles correctly and placement of movement that focuses on injury prevention.

6. Balance:

There is a reason that Classical Ballet has a mix of barre and centre work and this is to work on strength and technique with a support to then apply into the more free flowing exercises in the centre and onto a performance. And the most important of these skills is balance, which is what we work mostly on at the barre in ballet class. Improving and strengthening balance in classical ballet supports so many movements in all forms of dance, from jumps and turns and even portraying still movements.

7. Body alignment:

We have recently incorporated a new technique-based class called ‘Progressive Ballet Technique’ in our timetable, which is a fantastic class that works on alignment. This is so important for dancers to keep your body aligned in the correct way for each movement and it begins in ballet class. This not only prevents injury but also works on the muscle memory to ensure a true movement that can build and grow safely. Along with PBT we also do Pilates class to complement our weekly ballet classes and this is also encouraged for core strengthening, muscle release along with alignment.

8. Agility:

This is how to move quickly and easily as a dancer and is particular important when dancing as a group that needs to be in sync. Being agile is being able to switch, change directions and move in a different way but making it look effortless. This all begins in classical ballet as you are taught how to plie and transfer your weight in exercises, by understanding where to place your weight when dancing ensures you are executing each step to the best of your ability. A plie is the starting point of all movement of dance and once mastered immediately increases your agility.

9. Conditioning:

Many dancers will know that strength and conditioning classes for dancers have a basis of ballet movements as this is where it all begins. To increase your strength as a dancer and condition your body to work professionally, a ballet class is the best place to do this.

10. Discipline:

Ballet class helps dancers to develop self discipline of the body in term of how you move and the correct placement but it also develops critical thinking skills that support the growth and improvement in your dancing. This skill also translates well into school life and adulthood.