Below is an outline of learning objectives, strategies, and skills for teachings to use when teaching beginner ballet to 3-5 year olds.

1. Learning Objectives:
2. Teaching Strategies:
3. Skills Overview:

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain a further understanding of proper ballet technique (i.e., turning out, arm placement, etc.)
2. Improve coordination, balance, strength and flexibility 
3. Enhance ballet vocabulary using proper terminology 
4. Gain confidence in one’s performance and movement
5. Develop self-discipline and a strong work ethic 
6. Improve on fluidity and execution of beginner movements
7. Learn to memorize choreography 
8. Inspire creativity and expression through movement 

Teaching Strategies:

1. At this age kids start to improve really fast! This can create a large range of skill in your classes.
   1. I prefer to structure my exercises around the average skill of the class, then I’ll offer easier or more difficult variations to the students on different levels. 
2. Repeat and explain terminology several times when you are first introducing a skill
   1. Make it into a quiz at the end of class to ensure retention! And offer stickers as a reward for getting it right.
3. Make some exercises into a casual competition!
   1. For example, we do a balance competition in releve and in posse (on flat) and whoever can hold it the longest gets a sticker. 
   2. I haven’t had any issues with friendly-competitions causing upset, knock on wood. 
4. In general this age group loves creative movement and any opportunity to express themselves, so I always allow 5 minutes at the end of class for a “free dance” session.
   1. I switch between a few different songs of various rhythms so students can work on finding the beat 
   2. This is really helpful for developing their confidence in dance and self-expression! 
   3. We have LED lights at our studio, and I turn those on for our free dance session and the students get REALLY into their movement. I absolutely love watching them get lost in the song. 

Skills Overview:

1. Barre:
   1. Feet and arm positions: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (or 5th, depending on what method you teach) 
   2. Demi plies in 1st, 2nd and 3rd 
   3. Tendus 
   4. Degages 
   5. Piques 
   6. Rond de jambe 
   7. Eschappe  
   8. Releve 
   9. Eleve 
   10. Arabesque 
   11. Posse 
2. Across the floor / en centre:
   1. Changements 
   2. Pas de bourree 
   3. Pas de chat 
   4. Chasse 
   5. Chaine 
   6. Sautes
      1. 1st, 2nd 3rd positions 
      2. Saute arabesque 
      3. Saute posse 
   7. Glissades 
   8. Jetes 

For a full list of beginner ballet terminology for 6-8 year olds, click here.