Ballet is history’s most treasured classical dance genre. Classical ballet inspires magic and wonder, and its ethereal traditions are still carried out today. This form of dance has thrived and evolved since the fifteenth century through a variety of interpretations; from Russian, to French, Italian, and American techniques. In its cultural wealth, Ballet also serves as the unmatched base of dance technique. For centuries, ballet conditioning has proven to expand and ignite the human body’s potential to reach great physical capacities through movement. With ballet training, dancers can safely develop their human anatomy into a strong, versatile, and efficient vessel of movement arts. As the genre evolves today, the world of dance is generating contemporary ballet interpretations. Contemporary ballet has shown to provide audiences with an unorthodox exploration of dance physicality, that stems from the technical structures of ballet. At Dancer’s Edge we train for ballet under the Cecchetti method. There are four beginning grades and four professional grades all regimented and planned. Cecchetti is based on techniques developed by Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti. He studied many different styles of ballet and took elements of each to fuse into his own system. His method trains dancers to think about ballet as an exact science. By combining different steps into predetermined routines, it ensures that every part of the body is worked evenly. Cecchetti students are taught to think about the movement of their appendages as one unit in relation to their full body
creating seamless transitions between positions. It is a rigorous technique focusing on quick feet, crisp lines, and natural turnout based on a natural range of motion. This method and its high standards are preserved by the nonprofit Cecchetti Council of America.
Pre-ballet is a crucial component to any pre-school age dancer’s curriculum, just as ballet itself is a fundamental tool for adult dancers. Pre-ballet exposes young dancers to simply explore the basic mechanics of dance movement, as opposed to the complex training of experienced dancers in pursuit of technical advancement. Not only is the physicality of ballet introduced, but the spirit of performance is discovered as well. There is a major emphasis on creativity, character, imagination, self-expression, emotion and simply exploring the freedom and joy felt naturally through movement in space. The wonder of classical children’s stories which have sparked our imaginations for centuries, are the source of many iconic ballet productions. Classics such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and Cinderella are some of many examples of iconic stories which have captured this child-like inspiration throughout centuries. At Dancer’s Edge we invite young students to discover the magic creative dance has to offer through the classic and inspiring facets of ballet for 3 and 4yr olds.