Suzi teaching developpe
May 2012
Our emphasis throughout SBI is individual attention through small classes, technical improvement and the joy of dancing. We’ve specifically chosen teachers with experience teaching adults of all levels.
Which Level?
It’s important that people in a class together have about the same ability level. This prevents injuries, ensures the class moves at an appropriate speed for students, reduces the burden on teachers and ensures that you get the best possible experience as a dancer.
With this in mind, we initially include you in the class you nominate on your enrolment form and then make sure that the classes are well balanced by having a grading class and then keeping an eye on everyone as we progress through the first day. As such, you can't make the wrong choice, so just note down the level that feels right after reading the below.
Which Level?
It’s important that people in a class together have about the same ability level. This prevents injuries, ensures the class moves at an appropriate speed for students, reduces the burden on teachers and ensures that you get the best possible experience as a dancer.
With this in mind, we initially include you in the class you nominate on your enrolment form and then make sure that the classes are well balanced by having a grading class and then keeping an eye on everyone as we progress through the first day. As such, you can't make the wrong choice, so just note down the level that feels right after reading the below.
Absolute Beginners - building the foundation, or a pirouette by Friday!
This is for people who have either never done ballet or who remember their ballet days only as distant memories. Exercises use repetition and a focus on technique, allowing you the time to focus on get one movement correct before moving on to the next one. There is lots of time for questions throughout class. There are no sudden leaps to difficult steps or other surprises. The intention here is to give you a feel for what ballet is about, conquer a few moves, and improve over the intensive. A common target for this level is to be able to turn a pirouette by your last day with us.
Elementary - linking steps, or Tendu, pas de bourrée, glissade, assemblé!
If you know your tendu from your plié and your croisé from your croissant but are a little intimidated by (or are not really sure what is) grand allegro, then this is your level. Doing one or two ballet classes a week for a couple of years will place you solidly in the middle of this level. This class consolidates technique, focussing on linking steps together cleanly and expanding your ballet repertoire. Classes move faster than the Absolute Beginner level and may include options for introductory pre-pointe or simple variations. By the end of a week in this class you may be dancing a small piece of repertoire to some of the most beautiful and inspiring music in ballet.
Intermediate to Advanced - variations and detail, or Don Q or Le Corsaire pas de deux?
If you took all the French in the last paragraph in your stride and were wondering where epaulement, fouetté rond de jambe en tournant and smiling until your ears hurt comes into it, then this is the level for you. As a rough guide, four years or more recent dancing experience should put you in this class. Exercises within this class will usually have two variations and more or less difficult options. Double pirouettes and complex enchainements with change of direction will be the norm, with a focus on precise positioning and refinement of the tiny details that convey the expression of the choreography. This class is as much about the poetry of the movement as it is the technical aspects. While the goals of each class differ from one SBI to the next (as determined by the students and teacher that comprise it), it is intended that progress through the week results in a deeper understanding of ballet performance. You might even wish to do one!
Please let us and your teachers, know if you are carrying any injuries.