What a fabulous three weeks of the new year we have had! Everyone has adapted to the virtual classes brilliantly and on a personal note, we have loved creating the new lesson plans to suit this world and to have that regular connection each week I feel has been great for both them and for us.

Introducing visual aids

We strongly believe in using visual aids as class material to spark curiosity and maximise learning retention. Matched with imagery to something the students are already familiar with gives our dancers confidence as they start to understand the mechanics behind the skill.

The ballet alphabet

Utilising critical thinking methods provides opportunities for meaningful learning that will stay with students for the long term.

The approach this month has been the ballet alphabet and so far we have worked on the following letters:

• A = Adage, slow controlled movements. We put together a beautiful piece of choreography using set skills from grade 4 through to Intermediate ballet. We also brought in a strength training section to assist with the physical demands of these steps.
• B = Ballet positions, there are 5 positions of the feet and 7 positions of the arms and we have been encouraging this class to keep exploring their use of ports de bras to dress exercises they have been learning within the lesson.
• C = Circular, and Core. Both ronds de jambe and core exercises were brought in here.
• D = Diagonal, en. This is where the dancers perform sequences of steps which travel diagonally downstage.

2021 show choreography

We have also started new choreography which is for our 2021 production of 'A Night of Musicals'. This year we will be filming the show in two parts to allow the exam work to continue throughout the calendar year. Filming of the theatre craft routines will take place in June 2021 as we work to create another DVD spectacle.