Welcome to Move and Groove 5 directed by Coni Belgareto. Today’s class is designed to teach dancers the fundamentals of classical training including: hip placement, foot articulation and coordination. Please note that all of the exercises can be intensified by increasing the number of repetitions, provided the dancer can execute the movement confidently.

The first exercise in this class is Hip Warm-Up which uses the yellow mini-loop band to activate the adductors, abductors and deep rotators as well as the core. We will then move on to Bridge and Paddle Feet, working on the articulation of the spine and the engagement of the glutes and hamstrings to support the dancer’s alignment.

Our second-to-last exercise will be: Projection in Arabesque. Here, dancers will focus on opening the sternum and raising their eyeline to increase the expressivity of their port de bras. Remind dancers to keep their core strong and to keep the gaze shooting over the fingertips as they move through the different alignments.

A common favourite exercise amongst dancers in the sub-junior division is Sky Rockets. This will be our final exercise. Sky Rockets trains the mechanics of jumping in a fun and effective manner, using the Fusion Ball to promote the engagement of the core to support the spine.

Tips

Cue the shoulders melting into the floor in Bridge and Paddle Feet.

Use the image of an apple under the chin to help dancers keep their neck long and free.

Remind dancers not to force their turnout against the wall.