This is week #2 in my beginner jazz dance curriculum (for week #1, click here). This lesson plan builds on week 1 which introduces and prepares dancers for battements by working on tendus and degages. Before a dancer can do a strong battement, they need to have solid degages where they are engaging the floor with their foot, lengthening behind the knee, and keeping their upper body straight.
Teaching Battements
Start at the barre with a review of degages. Once the students demonstrate they are brushing through the floor with straight legs and pointed toes, you can have them move on to a 90 degree battement with their arms in second. Have them go en croix, moving from the front, to second, to an arabesque.
For the first week of doing battements, I have them do forward battements across the floor, alternating right and left legs. I recommend adding across the floor battements to the side and back later.
Things to watch for:
- Proper technique > height of the leg!
- Aligned hips, not lifting or tilting to the side to get the leg higher
- Brushing through the floor as the move from a degage to a 90 degree battement.
- Straight supporting knee. Students tend to buckle to try and get their leg higher.
Teaching Chasses
Here is how I teach chasses for the first time:
- Explain that chasse means “to chase,” and have the class repeat that out loud several times.
- Do a visual demonstration to explain how your back leg chases your front leg, and they meet in the air.
- Have the class practice as a group, facing the mirror (keep hands glued to hips)
- Line up the class across the floor, have them go one at a time, first facing the mirror (in second position). Repeat left side
- Chasse facing your leg, to the front, across the floor. Repeat left side.
| Activity | Description | Notes |
| Cardio | 4×8 jumping jacks; 4×8 high knees; 4×8 “butt kicks” | Keep energy high with an upbeat track. |
| Plié & Relevé | 4×8 Slow pliés and relevés in Parallel 1st and 2nd | Focus on ankle alignment; no “wobbling.” |
| Hamstrings & Core | Seated pike stretch; Straddle reach; Plank hold (24 counts) | Pull the belly button to the spine. |
| Battements | Tendus and degages en croix, R and L | Brushing through the floor, straight knees & pointed toes before you can move on to battements! |
| Facing the barre, in parallel first, brush grand battement to the back. Alternate right and left side | Watch knees of both supporting and working legs – Make sure they stay straight! | |
| Active Stretch | Laying on back: Scissors kicks(controlled leg lowers/lifts) | Keep the lower back pressed into the floor. |
| Battements to the Front | Battement to the front (alternating R and L) | Hands on hips; check for squared hips |
| Battements to the Side | Battement in second | Focus on keeping the supporting heel down. |
| Battements | Step-kick (battements) across the floor (right and left, to the front) | |
| Chasses (facing the mirror) | Explain that chasses involve chasing your front foot, and they meet in the air. Practice altogether before going across the floor | Kids can pick these up pretty quickly! So I typically skip the center floor practice and just introduce it as they go across the floor |
| Keep hands on hips. Repeat left side | ||
| Combination | Short combination (4-8 eight counts) incorporating battements to the front, back, and/ or side. Other skills: pivots, chasses, pirouette prep, jazz walks | Encourage faces |
| Review the word of the day: Battement. |
