What is ballet class like?

Every ballet class is different, but they all have the same general components. Here is a rough breakdown of what I do in my ballet classes.


We start with barre warm-ups. The barre is a rail you hold on to with one hand while practicing ballet steps. Some things we work on are degages, grand battements, ronde de jambes, fondues, and tondus. Barre work helps to master ballet steps and positions so you can perform them without holding on to anything. In a 90 minute ballet class, barre work usually lasts about 45 minutes.


Next we work on center combinations. This is just practicing ballet steps without holding on to anything. We work on anything we do at the barre, as well as jumps and spins.


Lastly we work on across the floor combinations. We work on big jumps and turns, like tour jetes, grand jetes, pique turns, and chaine turns.


We get a 5 minute break halfway through class for water and bathroom breaks.