Course Title
Ballet I-IV (Brandeis HS only)
Fall Semester | ||||
| Unit Title | Foundational Technique & Alignment | Ballet History, Famous Ballets & Figures | Barre and Center Work | Artistry, Repertoire & Performance |
| Time | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 6-8 weeks |
| Understandings | Students will demonstrate proper studio etiquette and rehearsal expectations.
Students will identify and apply safe body alignment principles including neutral pelvis and turnout from the hips.
Students will execute warm-ups with correct posture and core engagement.
Students will execute exercises with a focus on foot strengthening, ankle stability, and flexibility.
Students will define and demonstrate basic ballet vocabulary (plié, tendu, relevé, dégagé, rond de jambe) | Students will explore the origins of ballet in the Italian Renaissance and French court.
Students will study various ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Nutcracker as well as choreographers of the period.
Students will connect ballet technique to its historical development.
Students will analyze stylistic differences between ballet eras. | Students will perform barre exercises such as plié, tendu, dégagé, rond de jambe, fondu, frappé, développé, and grand battement in combinations demonstrating correct alignment, turnout, control, and foot articulation.
Students will perform basic center combinations incorporating port be bras.
Students will execute across-the-floor combinations moving in time with counts and phrasing. | Students will learn and perform excerpts from classical ballet repertoire.
Students will incorporate expressive qualities into movement.
Students will apply musical phrasing to enhance performance quality.
Students will rehearse and refine choreography for performance readiness.
Students will demonstrate memorization and spatial awareness during performance. |
| TEKS | 1(A),1(B),1(C),3(D) | 4(A),4(B),4(D),5(A) | 3(A),3(D) | 3(A),3(B),3(C),5(B) |
Spring Semester | ||||
| Unit Title | Classical V Contemporary | Technique Refinement | Improvisation & Composition | Artistry, Repertoire & Performance |
| Time | 3 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 6-8 weeks |
| Understandings | Students will explore neoclassic and contemporary ballet pieces.
Students will explore the choreography of Fokine, Diaghilev, and Balanchine.
Students will compare and contrast technique, movement qualities, structure and narrative of these styles. | Students will execute more advanced combinations at the barre and in the center.
Students will apply epaulement appropriately within combinations.
Students will perform multiple pirouettes from 4th and 5th positions will proper spotting technique.
Students will demonstrate sustained balances at the barre and in the center.
Students will demonstrate dynamic contrast in allegro combinations. | Students will explore improvisation as a tool for generating movement. Students will improvise stationary and traveling movement.
Students will explore movement by manipulating body, space, time, and energy in response to given prompts.
Students will create original choreography demonstrating technique, musicality, dynamics and artistic intent.. | Students will integrate emotional expression in combinations and choreography.
Students will learn and perform both classical and contemporary choreography.
Students will rehearse and refine choreography for performance.
Students will apply constructive feedback to improve technical execution and artistry.
Students will reflect and evaluate personal growth in technique and artistry. |
| TEKS | 1(C), 4(A),4(B),4(D),5(A) | 3(A),3(B),3(D) | 2(A),2(B),2(C),2(D),4(C) | 3(A),3(B),3(C),5(B) |
Note: Timelines are approximate. Unit duration is determined by student performance and may be modified to ensure instructional alignment.