Introduction to Teaching Boys and Young Men Traditional Classical Ballet

Introduction to Teaching Boys and Young Men Traditional Classical Ballet by Janice Barringer

This class is designed as an introduction to teaching traditional ballet to boys and young men. It prepares students to meet the expectations encountered at ballet company auditions and to understand what is traditionally done and expected in classical ballets.

This class is not geared for contemporary ballet. Although contemporary dance within ballet is popular, ballet students are still trained classically. From that foundation, they may then move into many different styles of choreography.

When boys reach the professional level, they are expected to excel in two types of steps: pirouettes and grand elevation. Although girls are also trained in these steps, there are small differences in execution and expectations.

In Pirouettes, boys—and especially professional male dancers—are traditionally expected to perform more turns than the ladies. For boys, greater emphasis is placed on a deep plié in the preparation for the turn, as well as powerful arms initiating the turn and being held in place for the duration of the turn.

Video Length - 57 Minutes

Topics and Technical Focus Include:

Classical presentation and épaulement
Port de bras and traditional révérence
Audition and professional expectations for boys and young men
Pirouettes (including arabesque and attitude)
Jumps and elevation, including sautillé and tour en l’air
Beats and batterie, including battu and entrechats

How this information for this class was gathered
The material is drawn from the Vaganova and Royal Academy of Dance syllabi, the ABT Curriculum, observations at major ballet schools around the world, and discussions with teachers at those prestigious institutions. It is also informed by Janice Barringer’s own experience over many years.

The digital download includes: 
⚠️ Please download to a computer, not a mobile device.