Gayle Kassing - Beginning ballet

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kassing, Gayle.

Beginning ballet / Gayle Kassing.

p. cm. -- (Interactive dance series)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Ballet--Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title.

GV1787.K285 2013

792.8--dc23

2012022050ISBN-10: 1-4504-0249-6 (print)

ISBN-13: 978-1-4504-0249-1 (print)

Copyright 2013 by Human Kinetics, Inc.

All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, and in any information storage and retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

The web addresses cited in this text were current as of January 22, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

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Graphic Artist: Kathleen Boudreau-Fuoss

Cover Designer: Keith Blomberg

Photographer (interior and cover): Bernard Wolff, unless otherwise noted; photo on p. 138 Jose Luis Villegas/Sacramento Bee/ZUMA Press

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Illustrations: Human Kinetics

Printer: Versa Press

We thank Parkland Theatre in Champaign, Illinois, for assistance in providing the location for the photo shoot for this book. We also thank Twist and Shout Dance and Cheer in Mahomet, Illinois, for providing equipment for the photo shoot.

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The paper in this book is certified under a sustainable forestry program.

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E5318

Ballet began as a source of amusement for royalty. Today it has evolved into a source of delight for children, an alternative form of training for athletes and performing artists, and a passion for millions of dancers and spectators. Ballet instruction for all ages and interest levels has proliferated through community dance studios and arts programs, professional training schools, and high school and higher education courses.

A beginning ballet class requires both physical and mental participation. In courses such as English literature or Western civilization, you sit in class, listen to the teacher, take notes, work on projects, read the text, prepare outside assignments for class, and take tests. In ballet class, the teacher presents a series of exercises and combinations, and then you execute them. Throughout the class, you mentally take notes to learn the sequence of movements that comprise an exercise or combination. The teacher gives feedback on how to sharpen or refine your performance, and you remember that feedback in order to apply it the next time you execute the movement.

In a single ballet class students practice a variety of exercises, steps, and combinations. Throughout a course, the number of exercises, steps, and combinations increases and they become more complicated and difficult. It is often a challenge to understand the elements and technique requirements of each exercise or step that is presented in only one part of a class. Beyond learning the sequence of movements of an exercise or step, you must recognize and execute it and all its parts, then connect it to its French name. Compounding this situation, you must comprehend how these exercises, positions, poses, steps, and combinations relate to each other as part of beginning ballet technique. To alleviate confusion, you need both written and visual resources to support learning ballet technique and about ballet as an art form.

Beginning Ballet is a comprehensive book for students enrolled in a high school or college beginning ballet course. It may be taught in a fine arts, physical education, or dance program as either a general education course or an introductory course for dance majors or minors. The book prepares you for participating mentally and physically in a beginning ballet class. It presents the fundamentals of ballet technique and movement principles, introduces barre exercises and center steps, and provides a concise history of ballet artists and significant ballets to support you as an audience member. Learning ballet and learning about ballet are the first steps in understanding and appreciating it as a form of movement and as a performing art.

Chapter 1 introduces you to ballet as an art form and to the structure of the ballet class. It covers the changing ballet traditions and how ballet has proliferated in community and academic settings that afford you options if you wish to continue your ballet studies. Chapter 2 prepares you for taking ballet class, selecting proper dance wear and shoes for class, understanding expectations of participants, and class etiquette. Chapter 3 addresses dance safety, basic anatomy, injury prevention, and awareness of proper nutrition and hydration. Chapter 4 explains basic foot and arm positions, classical body positions, and poses of ballet. Chapter 5 describes principles of movement in ballet, how music supports the dance, and structure and design of basic ballet exercises and combinations. It provides strategies for learning ballet technique and preparing for performance testing in class. Chapter 6 illustrates the exercises that you study at the barre. Chapter 7 explores beginning ballet steps learned in the center part of class. In chapters 6 and 7 sequential photos illustrate the key positions in each exercise. Chapter 8 gives a brief historical survey of ballet, focusing on prominent world contributors, styles, and prominent works. The chapter provides strategies for viewing and reporting on ballet performances, which contribute to developing aesthetic values about ballet as a performing art.

The book contains a glossary of beginning ballet terminology, sidebars, and special elements such as self-check activities and historical tidbits to extend your ballet learning.

The web resource that accompanies this book offers supplemental, interactive instruction. Visit www.HumanKinetics.com/BeginningBallet1E to check it out. This resource provides you with added opportunities to practice the dance steps explained in this book.

When you participate in a ballet class, you join a tradition shared by all ballet dancers worldwide. Participating in beginning ballet can help you to

• develop new movement and dance skills and strengths,