Introduction & Syllabus
Our second preschool ballet lesson plan focuses on teaching tendus and piques. Remember, each week we are introducing 1-2 new foundational ballet skills, while still building on and reviewing the prior week’s skill focus.
Note: The stretching and warmup section is nearly identical to week one. This is on purpose because we want to establish some consistency and memory building between weeks. They are very young, so knowing what to expect at the start of class can help ease anxiety.
Teaching Tendus and Piques in Preschool Ballet
Always start the skill breakdown by defining terminology one at a time:
- Tendu means to stretch
- Have class repeat several times: “Tendu, Stretch! Tendu, Stretch!”
- Stop to explain: Stretching means being long and straight
- Pique means to prick
- Have class repeat several times: “Pique, Prick! Pique, Prick!”
- Stop to explain: What does “prick” mean? Like if you get a needle at the doctor, or if you get poked by a spikey plant!
Tendu: Stand in first position with your hands on your hips. Demonstrate a tendu to the front and side, explaining how your foot stays connected to the floor the entire time, like you a drawing a straight line with your toe.
- Have class practice 4 tendus to the front, closing in first each time. Then repeat to the side
- I explain that first position is like my “stop sign” – I have to stop in first in between each tendu or it doesn’t count! (For older students I say “pit stop,” but these babies have no clue what that is)
- Hold off on going to the back for now- that requires a lot of balance and core strength they might not have yet. We will add that in later in the semester.
Piques: Stand in first, hands on hips. Demonstrate pique to the front, pricking the floor and rebounding 1-2 inches off the floor.
- Go back and forth showing the difference between a tendu and pique, make sure students see the difference in the two moves.
- Practice 4 tendus to the front, followed by 4 piques. Then repeat the same thing to the side.
After you have broken down the skill and practiced as a group, put on some music and repeat the tendu/pique sequence!
Detailed Preschool Ballet Lesson Plan & PDF
| Activity | Description | Notes |
| Attendance/Question | What is your favorite animal? | |
| Butterfly | Pick a place to fly to | |
| Nose to toes. “Smell your stinky toes” | ||
| Try to pull in feet slightly closer and bend forward again. | ||
| Pike / legs out in front. | Practice switching arms from 5th to demi second. Changing tempos to quick and slow | |
| Flex and point feet. Bonus: Practice “Barbie” feet AKA demi-pointe | ||
| Stretch forward. Flex feet and try to grab toes, pulling heels off the ground. | ||
| Straddle | Reach towards each foot and “rainbow to the other side” | You can “make a pizza” in your straddle, ask kids for toppings, spread the sauce, put it in the oven, then enjoy 🙂 |
| Reach towards the middle, without rolling in toes/hips | ||
| Flex and point feet | ||
| Cobra / Child’s Pose | Press up on hands “like a mermaid” | |
| Bend knees and reach feet to head – Hold for 8 counts | ||
| Lean back into child’s pose, hold for 8 | ||
| Pliés | 8 pliés in 1st > rise to relevé with arms in high 5th | Explain there should be a diamond in between their legs when they plié. |
| 8 pliés in 2nd > rise to relevé w/ arms in high 5th | ||
| Repeat pliés with relevé turn (arms in high 5th) | ||
| Tendus & Piques | 4 tendus to the front (start w/ hands on hips) | Explain terminology! Tendu = TO STRETCH Pique = TO PRICK See full skill breakdown above |
| 4 piques to the front | ||
| Repeat to the side. Then repeat left side | ||
| Port de Bras | Start with arms in 1st, then rise to 5th | Refer to post called “Teaching Port de Bras to Toddlers: The Balloon Analogy” |
| Our balloon “pops” and our arms float down to demi. Repeat 3 more times and reverse | ||
| Tip Toe walks | Changing paces from fast to slow. Focus on staying on relevé | |
| Have them change directions, Try to tip toe walk backwards! | ||
| Add in different arms (high 5th, “butterfly arms” etc.) | ||
| Skips / Passé Hops | Hands on hips: Skips across the floor, bringing your second foot up to passé. | If they can’t get the skip down, have them try high passe walks! Each step you bring your knee up to passe, mimicking a skip. |
| Sautés | Lay out dots hopscotch-style | Keep hands on hips for now |
| Dancers jump to 2nd and first, following the dots | ||
| Hands on hips, focus on feet jumping out and in | ||
| Chasses | Face the mirror, start in 1st position | Have them go all the way down and back in one turn to reduce time spent setting up a line on the other side! |
| Tendu to 2nd position and chasse all the way across the floor, and back | ||
| Arabesques | Set out 3-4 dots across the floor | Focus on the tendu! That is our focus skill this week. |
| Have students ballet walk to each dot, they land in 1st on the dot. | ||
| Tendu to arabesque, reaching arms to the opposite side of the room. Find balance with foot on the ground and hold. | ||
| “Party Freeze Dance” | Introduce rules for freeze dance: No screaming, running, gymnastics, etc. | If you have LED lights in the studio, turn them on if you think the class can handle it! |
| “Party Freeze Song” can be found on Spotify/Apple Music | ||
| Song tells kids when to hop, turn, skip, dance, and freeze. |
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