Surf City Stars Dance Academy

Ballet Steps                             Level:  Beginning Jazz

Five Ballet Positions (for ages 5-6 & above)

Five Ballet Positions with arm placement, (for ages 5-6 & above)

Demi plie’

Grand plie- in first and second positions only

Tendu (from first position to front and side only)- start encouraging the “proper” use of turnout from the hips

Eleve’ (executed from first & second position only).

This exercise starts strengthening the leg muscles to prepare for steps executed in releve’.

A releve’ starts and ends with a demi plie’.  A rise & lower / eleve’ starts and ends with straight legs

Helps dancers understand what the concept of a full releve’ is/encourage straight legs and

full extension from the knee.

Chasse’ (from first position): facing the mirror

Expect proper preparation with fully extended foot / arms extended in second

Arabesque Preparation (facing the barre’)- Extend leg to tendu in the back and raise

Purpose is to simulate a “straight” leg in a right or left leap

Teach proper body placement and execution of passe’ and coupe’

Jazz  Warm-Up/Conditioning

Isolations (hips, head, etc.)

Cross Lateral stretches (left arm to right leg and vice versa)

Reaching over the top

Lunges and straighten: to increase felxibility and build strength

Hold plank for 10 counts/ change to hold tricep push-up position for 10 counts

Explanation of different arm and hand placements

Jazz hands, dance hands/ballet hands, arms in “high V”, arms in an “L”,arms in a “T” etc.

Flat back stretch

Strengthens abdominal muscles

Stetches leg muscles

Explanation of the difference between ballet arms (rounded) & jazz arms (straight lines)

Straddle on the floor

Straddle on wall (for ages 6 and above)- suggested for 2^nd year beginning jazz students

Sit and reach (with legs extended straight in front of body, knees touching)

Butterfly stretch

Abdominal Crunches (must explain the proper technique), for ages 8 & above only

Arm circles (work to increase strength and help dancers develop an understanding of body awareness and a

bility to use muscles to “place” arms rather than have them hang in space.

Splits (from the knee)

Start teaching how to do the splits from the knee first. Walking hands forward so that frot leg is

completely straight.

Once dancers have enough strength and flexibility- move to practicing splits with both legs straight

Explanation of how to count music

Rhythm drills and games

Foot exercises

Start with feet flexed.  Point ½ way, all the way, curl the toes (monkey toes), and then return to a

flexed feet position

Educating dancers about how to turn out and use their turnoue from the hips

Jazz Steps

Jazz walks “tipping” (Facing Mirror)

Arms in Jazz First and Second

Step touch

Pivot Turn (add arms when ready)

Kick bum runs (for ages 8 & below only)

Step dig and/or step touch

3-step turn

Grapevine / Jazz Square

Chaine’ turn preparation (not mastered on releve’ yet)

Kicks to the front arms (in Jazz Second)

Run,run right leaps/left leaps (understanding the idea of transferring the weight)

Tuck jumps (in the center for ages 8 & below)

Pirouette Preparation Straight Arms (with passe’, half turn, once mastered– full turn)

Eagle jumps (making the shape of an “x” in air

Chasse’ Step with arms in jazz second

Add arms in opposition (“L) once mastered with arms in jazz second

Lindy Step

Chasse’ step (R), ball change (L)

Repeat to the left

Kick ball change

Kick ball change pencil turn ( a good preparation for pirouette turns)

Spotting drills

Dance class etiquette

Showmanship

Explanation of the purpose of why dancers do showmanship

The feeling of different types of music (scary, fun/upbeat, sad)  [Especially important for the dancers age 8 & younger.             Can also be explained for the older dancers]

Ballet Steps                                               Level:   Jazz One

Mastering proper technique, body placement of all stepts listed in prior syllabus

Tendu en croix “in a cross”- (front, side, back, side)

Soute’ (first position and second position).

Passe’ position on releve’ (to the side of the knee, or at the back of the knee– either should be turned out)

Once body position is correct, have dancers rehearse passe’ on releve’

Explanation of sickled foot (6 and above)

Developés from fifth devant and a la seconde

Developé en croix from first position

Focusing on straight legs and pointed toes

Working to get leg at 90 degree angle

Pas de bourree’

Tombe’ pas de bourree’

Explanation of not leading with the heel

Explanation of arm placement (arms through first to second- not in a direction downward to the floor)

Jazz Warm-Up/Conditioning

Change warm-up “routine” so dancers don’t get lazy or too comfortable

Explanation of how to count music

Stretching exercises to master better turn-out and flexibility such as straddle sitting up and pressing against the

wall, assisted leg hold, frog stretch

Strengthen exercises to increase strength in the upper body, calves, and thighs such as lunges around the room,

arm circles, and calf raises

Needle

Seal/Cat bridge

5-10 push ups

Leg lifts on floor: any variation so as to increase strength in dancer’s legs

Tricep holds

Abdominal Crunches

Balance exercises on flat foot such as: developé in center or passe’

Jazz  Steps

Jazz walks “tipping” with pivot turn or adding arms on both sides

Step touch adding arms

Chaine’ turn in releve’ and now completing turns (be sure to teach the proper preparation)

Kicks across the floor (hip level or above)

Step Kick Step Kick Step Kick Hold Hold Hold

Chasse’ Right and Left Leaps arms in “L” (try mastering)

Pirouette single turn

Working on double

Pas de bourre

Pas de bourre Tuck Jump

Pique’ preparation

Working on turn

Ball change any direction

Right and Left Split Jumps

Dutchmans / Toetouches

Proper technique of high chainé and low chainé

Floorwork

Jazz spiral

Straddle roll

Kicks with pointed feet and extended legs on floor (from knee or sitting position)

Encourage a fluid transition from floorwork to the upright position (using center/core to get up)

Showmanship

Continued work on helping dancers get comfortable with using facial expressions

Continued work to make showmanship a natural addition to performance and choreography

Ballet Steps                                                 Level:   Jazz Two

All dancers enrolled in Jazz 2 should be taking a minimum of (1) ballet class / week.

All previous steps listed in prior syllabi

Developpé and releve’ en croix

Demi rond de jambe’ on láir

Degage en croix

Echappé

Attitude derriere’ and devant (holding- not turns)

Assemblé

Rond de jambe on láir (preparation for turns in seconde’)

Jazz Warm-Up/Conditioning

More conditioning exercises to encourage proper arm placement

Usually at this stage dancers are becoming aware of their body placement and this is the time to give them

drills and exercises to really strengthen their arms, legs, and core

Balancing exercises on relevé

Plié relevé on one leg

Needle stretch

Leg holds to side (with turned out hip and arm placed in high fifth)

Once this is mastered, go from turned out position to a tilt position (arm reaching to floor) while emphasizing

the importance of hip turn out

Jazz  Steps

Tombe’ pas de bourre’ into right or left leaps: no leading with heel and proper arm placement

(arms pass through  low fifth to first, to jazz second)

Fan kick illusion

Tilt leg holds

Explanation of hips being turned out in all leg holds and kicks

Working on middle leaps

No rocking horse effect

Proper arm placement

Turn out of both legs

Working for a strong split

Faster chainés in succession (arms in first)

High kicks with proper technique on relevé / no hinging from the core

High chainé- low chainé split jump (preparation for turning jete’)

High chainé- low chainé axle

Double pirouette (with high releve’)

Working on triple pirouette

Diversifying pirouette preparations

Introduce double pique’ or inside pirouette

Drag turn (plié or relevé)

Floorwork

Chassé slide to the floor

Mastering jazz spiral and straddle roll

Rolling splits

Continuing to work for a fluid transition from floorwork to upright choreography

Getting up from the floor with pointed feet

Different variations of kicks on the floor and/or leg holds while on floor

Showmanship

Working to help dancers understand natural facial expressions to be added to a specific routine

(what would be appropriate for lyrical as opposed to jazz)

Encouraging dancers to make showmanship a part of the dance- without teacher prompting