Program
Ballet Curriculum
Class evaluations are a part of the Pioneer Valley Ballet training program to note progression and determine class level and placement for the following school year. During the week of May 26th, the Artistic Directors will observe and evaluate students in the Ballet I – Advanced classes. Evaluations will not happen in either the Creative Movement or Pre-Ballet classes. During this evaluation, students will be given dance combinations which are based on work they have accomplished over the course of the year. The Artistic Directors will observe and evaluate each student’s overall progress. Parents will receive a copy of the 2008-2009 evaluations and class placement for the 2009-2010 school year when the fall ballet schedule is mailed.
Pre-Ballet I & II
In these levels children will develop poise and musicality in a fun and creative environment. The instructor will introduce children to a creative yet disciplined classroom structure that challenges their curious minds while introducing age-appropriate dance material. The students will express themselves physically through exercises intended to increase their coordination, strength, flexibility, and their awareness of spatial concepts while beginning their understanding of classical ballet. The strong emphasis on musicality and rhythmic timing will increase their ability to listen to and dance with the music.
Beginning Ballet I, II & III
These levels more formally offer children a challenging and disciplined classroom structure that is appropriately geared to their growing emotional and physical maturity. The students will build their knowledge of the basic structure of a ballet class with a growing vocabulary and develop proper placement of the torso, hips and legs without exceeding thier anatomical limitations. They will develop a coordination of their arms and heads with a concentration on smooth transitions troughout the excercises and an emphasis on epaulment. As they progress through the levels, the difficulty and sophistication of the classwork will increase accordingly. In addition to their dance education, students will learn about musicality, ballet terminology, and general stage and theater craft. Recently, students in the Student Division have performed in various Pioneer Valley Ballet Company productions such as The Nutcracker, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Northampton’s First Night celebrations, and presentations at the Eric Carle Museum.
Intermediate Ballet & Advanced Ballet
As students progress through the Upper Division, the technique classes aim to develop in each student a mature, professional approach towards the study of classical ballet. Barre and center exercises will increase in both difficulty and artistry, in order to challenge the students’ increasing mental, expressive, and physical capabilities. A more mature sense of musicality and quality of movement will be emphasized and suppleness and smooth graceful movements will be developed along with coordination of the head, arms, legs and body and the use of epaulment. The students will develop strong classical lines and solid anatomical placement, as well as virtuoso jumps and beats. In addition, these levels emphasize the development of the student's awareness of choreographic concepts and aims to train a dancer who is a quick study and able to embrace any choreographic style. As students develop and demonstrate strength, stability, and proper placement of the body and legs, most students will begin pointe work in Level IV. As the students become increasingly able to interpret music and movement, Modern Dance is added to the curriculum. Pilates, an excellent strengthening system that has been popular with dancers for decades, is also an recommended part of the Intermediate and Advanced Levels’ class schedule. Advanced students will also learn variations from the ballet repertoire. All students in the Upper Division are eligible for inclusion in Pioneer Valley Ballet Company or PVB II, and perform in PVB’s annual Nutcracker, Spring Performance, and First Night, as well as in other performance opportunities.
