Dance: Ballet (DB)

First course in the progressive series of classes for the student of ballet. With a focus on anatomical awareness and personal expression, students learn barre work, basic center work including simple jumps and turns, musicality, and terminology.

A technique class for dancers with some experience. While continuing to explore anatomical awareness, students study more detailed barre work, center work including turns, adagio, small and large jumps, terminology, musicality, and theory.

A pointe technique class for women who are concurrently enrolled in DB 211 or DB 311. Students study specialized pointe exercises with a focus on coordination and strength. Dancers should have had at least one previous year of pointe study. Prerequisites/

A technique class for accomplished dancers who are motivated to work at a more advanced level. Students study a full range of ballet technique, theory, and terminology as they continue to develop musicality, artistry, and anatomically sound practices. In-class work may be supplemented with reflections, viewings, and reading assignments which serve to contextualize ballet in relation to culture more broadly.

Intermediate-advanced level contemporary ballet technique class. Students should have the ability to execute intermediate vocabulary of ballet movement with technical accuracy.  In addition, students will explore the ways in which previously learned movements can be contemporized through issues of off-centeredness, rhythmic variation, and changes in tempo. Each class will consist of barre work and center floor work that will continue the student's development of strength, flexibility, and coordination. This course is only for dancers capable of the III or IV level in Ballet and/or Modern dance.

A rigorous technique class for accomplished ballet dancers who are motivated to work with consistent effort, concentration, and assimilation of details. Dancers work to develop dynamic musical phrasing, artistic expression, and anatomically sound alignment with increasingly challenging movement material. In-class work may be supplemented with reflections, viewings, and reading assignments which serve to contextualize ballet in relation to culture more broadly.  

The study of classical ballet partnering for both men and women who work together as couples. Dancers learn skills for balance, turns, and lifts, as well as traditional classical deportment and contemporary style. Women must be capable of advanced pointe work.

Dancers move from studio to stage as they participate in the creative act of constructing or learning a new work in preparation for performance. With an emphasis on hybridizing ballet and other contemporary dance techniques students develop interpretive, collaborative, artistic, and professional skills as they work toward performing. 

A performance course for ballet dancers. Students experience the rehearsal and coaching process as they prepare an excerpt from ballet repertoire or participate in the creation of an original contemporary ballet. Students develop interpretive, collaborative, artistic, and professional skills as they work toward performing.