Introduction to my Preschool Ballet Curriculum
Welcome dance teachers! If you are looking for inspiration or guidance for your preschool ballet dance classes, you are in the right spot!
I developed these preschool ballet lesson plans after years of testing what actually holds young dancers’ attention while instilling proper technique from the very start. Instead of overloading early learners, this framework focuses on 1 to 2 core foundational steps each week.
For Week #1, our entire lesson centers around pliés and relevés.
Why start here? Because pliés and relevés are the ultimate anchor movements of dance. Almost every jump, turn, and traveling step in ballet relies on the technique developed through these two essentials. By giving dancers a clear, achievable focus for week one, we set them up for success as we layer in new concepts throughout the rest of the year.
Be on the lookout for Lesson Plans 2-5 coming next! These will continue building on this first lesson!
Tips for Week #1 of Preschool Ballet
- You might have some criers or nervous dancers! It’s the first week and some of them can be as young as 3 years old. If they are too nervous to participate, encourage them to sit on their dot and just watch. Chances are, if they get comfortable or excited about a move, they will stand up and join! If not, try again next week!
- Definitely want to keep parents out of the room, and prevent kids from trying to go see mom/dad. Very important during week 1 as you are trying to establish boundaries and classroom expectations!
- Explain any class rules before you begin stretching. Repeat them throughout
- To make them feel comfortable at the beginning, you can have them all stretch in a circle! It can feel less intimidating
- Bring stickers or stamps for rewards. Works like magic!
- Bring a sharpie and mark a tiny dot on the inside of their big toe. This will help them learn to turn out (Ex: during straddle stretch, I remind them to “keep their dots off the floor”)
- Use as many fun references to keep them engaged (like the balloon exercise for port de bras, described below)
- Refer to our Terminology List for more skills to work on in preschool ballet
Week #1 Class Overview
- Class Introductions and Thorough Stretch
- En Centre: Plié, Tendus, and Port de Bras
- Across the Floor: Tip Toe walks, Plié Walks, Sautés, Skips
- Freeze Dance
Lesson Plan PDF
| Activity | Description | Notes |
| Attendance/Question | What is your favorite color? | |
| 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 | 8 tendus to the front (start w/ hands on hips) | |
| 8 tendus to the 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 releve | |
| Have them change directions, Try to tip toe walk backwards! | ||
| Add in different arms (high 5th, “butterfly arms” etc.) | ||
| Plié Walks | Set out 3-4 dots across the floor | Can keep hands on hips or in high 5th |
| Have students “tip toe” walk to each dot, they land in 1st on the dot and plié | ||
| Then tip toe walk to the next dot, plié in first, and repeat all the way across the floor | ||
| Skips / Passé Hops | Hands on hips: Skips across the floor, bringing your second foot up to passé. | |
| 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 | ||
| Tip Toe Freeze Dance! | Put on a song and have students walk on relevé in a circle around the room | Use a fun song! |
| When you pause the music, the students should try to “freeze” where they are, in relevé. | ||
| Keep hands on hips or in high 5th |
Other Resources for Teaching Preschool Ballet:
