Supplementary Lessons
POINTE
Every young dancer looks forward to getting their very first pair of pointe shoes. Reaching this momentous milestone happens after a lot of hard work in class to ensure a student’s technique is strong enough to manage the added demands placed upon the body when on pointe.
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Our pointe classes begin with simple body conditioning exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in the legs and feet ready for pointe work. During these classes, students are carefully coached through exercises at the barre to improve their classical ballet technique and are encouraged to use proper articulation of the feet in pointe shoes. As students progress the number of exercises increases and students begin to move away from the support of the barre.
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The emphasis in these classes is on encouraging students to feel as at home in their pointe shoes as they are in their soft ballet slippers. This will help them to have the confidence to dance at ease in the centre.
Our pointe classes are offered at four levels and correspond with the Royal Academy of Dance's Vocational Syllabus.
Progressing Ballet Technique
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon for students to understand the depth of training muscle memory in achieving their personal best. One of the important elements used in the PBT method is muscle memory which helps to improve students' understanding of core stability, weight placement and alignment. Each exercise in the PBT program has been developed with care and guidance by Marie Walton-Mahon along with a team of physiotherapists.
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Our PBT classes are taught by a certified teacher. We begin teaching PBT to pupils in Grade 1 to help support their weekly ballet class and dance technique.
Partnering Classes
Our partnering classes are delivered by industry professionals with on-stage experience in classical partnering and aim to help our students understand the physicality and technique required when working with a partner.
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Classes begin with basic strengthening work followed by hands on practical exercises to build strength, skill & trust.
