For those above the age of 8, the training begins with around 20-40 minutes at the barre, going through a series of exercises designed to warm up the bodies and build muscle while working on posture and alignment. This is to prepare the students for center work. Once in the center, we do variations of what we did at the barre, as well as working on pirouettes, and allegro. Center work lasts between 30 and 50 minutes (depending on the length of the class).
For young children, ballet classes start in a circle on the floor doing foot warm ups and stretching, and then continue in the center facing the mirror doing basic introductory exercises. We finish with practicing rhythm and jumping.
The objective of these classes are to introduce beginner students with the verbal and physical language used in a traditional ballet class, and to familiarize them with the classical structure of the way a ballet class is carried out. In more advanced students we work on refining technique, and attempting more intricate combinations along with musicality.
These classes take place at various studios in Brussels from Wednesdays to Fridays.