Welcome to Move & Groove 1 guided by Melissa McCabe. This class is designed to help younger dancers connect with their muscles to improve their alignment and strengthen their technique. Although we will be covering multiple aspects of classical technique, we will be dedicating the majority of the class to footwork and allegro.

We will begin with Run & Balance to help dancers find their centre and check their weight alignment, focusing on keeping the core engaged and the hips stacked. In the exercise Balance with Spot Training, we will work on the coordination and spotting technique needed for pirouettes, challenging the dancer’s stability while boosting their stamina.

To develop the power and precision needed for dynamic allegro work, we will perform the exercises Curl and Fly and Feet and Beat. The former exercise will focus on core strength and alignment in jumps, promoting the activation of the deep rotators, gluteus medius and hamstrings to push off and land safely. The latter exercise will address a step often difficult for younger dancers: beats. This exercise trains the engagement of the adductors to support their alignment, helping dancers feel the muscular activation needed to prevent common issues including ankle pronation.

Tips

Encourage dancers not to force their turnout 

Remind dancers to keep the elbows soft when weight-bearing — avoid locking into the wrists.

Check for level hips.