Curriculum ...

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Elite Program                                

The San Gorgonio Ballet Elite Program is a highly motivated professional dance program for serious dancers with aspirations to pursue a professional career in classical ballet.

Elite students are admitted into the program by audition or invitation once a certain level of accomplishment has been achieved.

Students in the Elite Program are assigned a class schedule by the Artistic Director and are required to take all assigned classes to remain in the program. Illness or emergency is the only acceptable absence. Because the Elite Program is a serious program for dancers desiring a professional career in dance, Elite students are expected to keep up their homework on their own time. School homework is not an acceptable excuse for absence. Sports and other outside activities that can cause injury or conflict with classical training are highly discouraged. Eight absences are allowed per year. Excessive absence will result in dismissal from the Elite Program.

The Elite Program is only available for students at Level III and above.

Technique      

Technique classes consist of a Barre, Centre, and Across the Floor. Providing proper warming of muscles, understanding the proper body placement and posture, and the skills of executing the very basic to highly advanced movements.



Tech I

This class is designed for beginning youth with a minimum of six to twelve months of previous training. They learn the very basics of a technique class. Body Placement, positions, connecting steps, jumps, terminology, and musicality.

Tech I-II

This class is designed for students transitioning from Level I to Level II. This is not a combination of levels class. Students work on familiar movements while preparing for new steps they will find in Level II.

Tech II

Requirements to enter this level are that students have a basic understanding of body placement and execute this during the very basic of movements. Students must take two technique classes a week. Students may be considered to begin the Pre Pointe class and begin the Stretch and Strength class.

Tech III

To enter this level students must have retained and executed consistent placement and have an understanding of technique and execution during most movements. Students are required to take three-four Technique classes, one – two Pointe classes as well as the Stretch and Strength class and Pirouette class per week.

Tech IV

Students will be required to take Technique class five to six times per week, Pointe class four times per week, and Stretch and Strength one to two times per week. With the addition of Pirouette, Variations, and Partnering classes. Students must have abilities to retain short to long combinations and execute each movement with muscle strength and strong technique.

Tech V

Level V is the highest in our curriculum. This requires students to have accomplished the proper memory, strength, and technique necessary in Classical Ballet. Throughout this study, students are working at a pre-professional level preparing to transfer into the professional world of ballet. Students will be required to take Technique and Pointe class six times per week and the Stretch and Strength one to two times per week. With the addition of Pirouette, Variations, and Partnering classes.



Pre Pointe

This class prepares a young female student to work en pointe. They will work on specially designed exercises at the Barre, Centre, and Across the Floor in soft shoes (Ballet Shoes)  developing the proper strength and control that is required to dance en pointe. This class requires the students to have at least two years of classical training, have arrived at Level II, and have a basic understanding of body placement and execute this during the very basics of movements. Male students may take this class to improve their feet' strength and flexibility.  Students will need evaluation and approval by the Artistic Director.



Pointe

Pointe class is a specially designed class of Barre, Centre and Across the Floor to progress from Intermediate levels to Advanced levels. Retaining the strength and control to execute all dance movements en pointe. This class also requires evaluation and approval by the Artistic Director.



Stretch and Strength

This class is structured towards providing additional training and developing the strength and flexibility that a Classical Dancer needs. It begins with floor and standing exercises focusing on all individual areas of the body. Then, it moves on to stretches focusing on all the same areas of the body.  This class is also open to those with no previous training, 8 years of age or older.

Adult Program

We offer a beginner class for adults who are just starting and those with some experience in ballet. This class provides what any technique class would provide, barre for proper warming of muscles, the study of positions, movements, strengthening exercises, and musicality. Then we take what was worked on at the barre into the center floor and work for balance, development of control, and stamina. Students are also offered our stretch and strength class to take weekly which works on floor and standing exercises and stretches focusing on muscle strength and flexibility for all areas of the body.

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Recreational Children's Program

This program offers at an introductory level, classes for ages 3 to 8 years old. Introducing basic ballet steps stretches, and exercises building balance and coordination. Students also learn to connect dance steps to music, later understanding musicality and rhythm. 

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Introductory Ballet Class I (4-5 years old)

This class is structured to provide a unique and fun way to learn the basics of ballet, set to storybook ballet themes such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and many more. The children will dance with props while learning basic ballet steps, stretches, and exercises to develop balance and coordination. They will also learn a basic understanding of rhythm and music. This class will prepare a child to independently progress into a more structured training environment, such as Introductory Ballet II and LEvel I Ballet. and Beginning Ballet. Mom or Dad can also participate to have quality time with their child while learning and exercising as well.

Introductory Ballet Class II (6-8 years old)

This class gives the young child an opportunity to transition from Parent and Me to study ballet independently, preparing them for Level I which is a more structured environment learning more challenging movements as well as terminolegy. This class consists of a Barre work exercises, learning body position and strength. Center Floor and across-the-floor movements learning patterns and formations. These students also have the chance to express themselves in "Free Dance", improvisation, and creative dancing time to be independent while also learning to put steps together in a choreographic way.

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