Plies

     Plies are ideal for preparing your body at the start of class.  Stand facing the barre with your legs stretched, your shoulders and hips level, and your body lifted.  Bend your knees and try to increase the turnout in the upper part of your legs.  Without taking your heels off the ground, go as far as your ankles will allow.  To continue to bend your knees until your thighs are parallel with the floor.  Coming up, replace your heels as soon as you can without force them.

Pirouettes

     Pirouettes turn end dehor and en dedans.  Basic pirouettes usually begin in fourth, fifth, or second position.  Stand in fifth croise your arms in preparatory position, and your head turned to look over your shoulder.  Demi-plie, lift your arms slightly, and look into your hands.  Spring into retire pos.  Your arms in first, to face the other corner.  Find your center of balance, or axis, and hold it strongly.  Land the turn in fourth,  fifth, or second position.

Grand Allegro

     When your muscles have developed strength and resilence in simple jumps, you can attempt the larger jumps of grand allegro.  These jumps are exciting, but also very demanding.  You must be thoroughly prepared and completely warmed up before attempting them.  In ballet, teh way you enter a jump, hold it in the air, and complete it must all be artistic and precise.  Enthusiasm, intelligence, and sensitivity will help you transform the merely physical and gymnastic into air.

Arabesques

     One of the most beautiful poses in ballet is the arabesques.  To start with, you will learn on arabesques parterre to find the correct placement of your arms, legs. and body.  The toes of your extended leg stay on the ground.  Make sure there is no weight resting on them.  Keep your body well-lifted and try not to lean forward and your right arm to the side.  This is called an arabesque croisee because your legs appear crossed to the audience.  As you get stronger you will lift your leg higher to ninety degrees.

Echappee

     Start in fifth position in a demi-plie ready to spring into air.  Open your legs directly to second position in the air.  Fix second position in the air, keeping your legs taut and your toes pointed.  Try to increase your turnout.  Keep your arms flexible but properly placed-simple and low.  Land again in fifth in a soft but steady and elastic-demi-plie.  Stretch your legs to finish.

Pas de Chat

     This movement imitates the jump of the cat.  There are several different forms of pas de chat, and they all need exact  coordination of the body, arms, and legs.  Prepare your arms and then demi-plie in fifth position.  Quickly lift your back foot to cou de pied derriere, then spring lightly upward and forward inot the air, arms in front of you.  At the end of the jump, close into demi-plie in fifth position, with your arms and head completing the picture.