Classical Ballet For Beginners - Spring Term 2026

Classical Ballet

Course Introduction:

The Classical Ballet Basic Training course is based on the authoritative textbooks of the Beijing Dance Academy, combined with international ballet teaching standards. It is designed to help students systematically master the fundamentals of classical ballet. The course covers basic postures, movement techniques, and physical training, focusing on improving flexibility, coordination, strength, and balance.

Supported by the theoretical and practical framework provided by the Beijing Dance Academy textbooks, this course ensures a high-quality dance training experience and lays a solid foundation for advanced ballet studies in the future.

Course Objectives:

Using the Beijing Dance Academy textbook as a guide, the course adopts a scientific and systematic structure. It covers everything from basic standing postures, arm positions, and foot placements to more complex movement combinations, enabling students to gradually master the core techniques of ballet. By integrating classic training methods with practical instruction from the teacher, the course ensures that students can steadily improve their skills within a standardized teaching model.

Target Audience:

This course is suitable for beginners as well as dancers looking to reinforce their fundamentals. Through floor exercises, barre training, center practice, and basic dance combinations, participants will enhance their posture control and expressiveness. Each session is accompanied by music to develop students’ sense of rhythm and artistic expression.

Teaching Content:

• Floor Muscle Exercises
• Barre Combinations: Plie, Battement tendu, Battement jete, Rond de jambe, Battement fondu, Battement frappe, Adagio, Grand battement jete, and more.
• Center Combinations: Port de bras, Temps lie, Battement tendu, Rond de jambe, Battement fondu, Pirouette, Grand battement jete, and basic dance steps.
• Jumping Combinations: Saute, Echappe, Assemble, Pas jete, Sissonne fermee, Sissonne ouverte, Grand jete, Pas de chat, and others.

Course content will be adjusted according to the students’ ballet proficiency.

This course is 9 sessions.

Do note there will be no class on reading week 16th February 2026.

Time: 16.00-17.00

Location: Richard Hoggart Building, Room 253

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Host or Publisher Goldsmiths Confucius Institute for Dance and Performance, University of London