Ballet is an artistic activity that can be a means of expressing oneself and maintaining physical fitness. The best way to learn to dance ballet is to take a class, but you can learn ballet at home if you don't have time to take a class or want to practice on your own. Before dancing, make it a habit to do warm-up exercises and muscle stretching so that the body becomes flexible and easy to move. Then, learn the 5 foot positions and basic ballet moves until you master them. When you're ready, master advanced techniques to improve your skills by practicing using tutorials, doing moves in videos, or taking ballet lessons.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Doing Warm Up and Stretching Exercises
Step 1. Prepare a practice area that is roomy enough to move around in the room
Make sure you can stretch your arms, jump, and move freely while dancing. Move items that block movement, such as a table or foot mat. If you don't have a horizontal bar known as a ballet barre at home, use the back of a chair for support if needed.
Tip:
If you like to dance ballet, install a ballet barre on a wall at home to make practicing a lot easier.
Step 2. Cover the floor with a mat or vinyl if the surface is hard
Don't dance ballet on hard surfaces, such as concrete or tile floors without a mat. Jumping on tile floors can damage joints, especially knees. So, the floor should be covered with a mat or vinyl. In addition, you can dance ballet on the carpeted floor.
You can buy a special rubber mat for ballet dancing on the website
Step 3. Warm up with 5 minutes of light impact cardio
Before dancing ballet, stretch your muscles to prevent injury. A practical way to practice warming up is to walk or jog in place for about 5 minutes. End the warm-up session by doing squats, lunges, and jumping jacks a few times as needed.
You should warm up before stretching your muscles because the risk of injury increases if the muscles are stretched immediately before they are flexed
Step 4. Stretch the muscles after warming up
After the warm-up session, stretch the muscles according to the following instructions so that you are ready to do ballet moves.
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Do a back stretch:
Stand straight with your feet together and point your feet forward. Bend forward starting at the waist, then straighten your arms down while trying to touch the floor. Maintain this posture for 30 seconds.
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Perform inner thigh and calf stretches:
sit on the floor with your legs apart in a V shape. Point your toes up. Place your palms on the floor between your legs, then lean forward while moving your palms as far forward as possible. Maintain this posture for 30 seconds.
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Do the quadriceps (quadriceps) stretch:
Stand straight with your feet together and hold the back of a chair to maintain balance. Lift one leg back, holding the back of the foot with the hand on the same side, then bring the heel to the buttocks. Maintain this posture for 30 seconds, then do the same movement to stretch the other leg.
Part 2 of 4: Practice the 5 Foot Positions in Ballet
Step 1. Start practicing by doing the first position because this position is the easiest
Stand straight with your feet together and the soles of your feet together. Point your feet to the side in a V shape. Then, raise your arms slightly forward with your palms facing each other in front of your lower abdomen. Bend your elbows and wrists slightly so that your arms reach the ends of your fingers in an oval shape. Fingers should not touch each other.
Point the sole of the foot as far to the side as possible. At first, you may only be able to form a sharp V, but if your leg muscles are more flexible due to regular practice, the soles of your feet can form a horizontal line
Step 2. Learn how to do a second position
Stand straight and spread your feet slightly wider than your shoulders. Point your feet to the side. Extend your arms out to the sides at shoulder height while slightly bending your elbows.
Just like how to do the first position, direct the soles of the feet as far to the side as possible
Step 3. Learn how to do the third position so that the foot position is more varied
Stand up straight while pointing the soles of the feet to the side and position the right heel in front of the curve of the left foot. Lift your right arm slightly forward while slightly bending your right elbow and positioning your right palm in front of your lower abdomen. Then, extend your left arm out to the side parallel to the floor. Alternatively, cross your left leg in front of your right leg, place your left palm in front of your lower abdomen, and extend your right arm out to the side at shoulder height.
- You can do the third position by positioning the right heel in front of the curve of the left foot and positioning the right palm in front of the lower abdomen or vice versa.
- The third position of the hand can be done when jumping.
Step 4. Try practicing the fourth position when your leg muscles are flexible enough to keep your feet comfortable
To perform an open fourth position, place one foot 30 cm in front of the other while directing the sole of the foot to the side and the heels forming a vertical line. Then, raise one arm above your head while slightly bending both elbows and wrists so that your arms reach the tips of your fingers forming a curved line. To perform a closed fourth position, cross one foot in front of the other, then slightly slide the heel in front so that it touches the toes of the back foot. Then, raise one arm above your head.
If your right leg is in front, raise your left arm above your head or vice versa. Fourth position hand position can be done when jumping
Step 5. Learn how to do the fifth position when you're ready to master the advanced technique
Place one foot in front of the other with both feet horizontal to the side. Bring your feet together so that the toes of the front toes touch the heels of the back or vice versa. Then, raise your arms above your head in a graceful motion while slightly bending your elbows and wrists so that your arms and fingers form an oval shape. Do not force yourself to practice fifth position until the leg muscles are flexible enough because this foot position is very difficult for beginners.
Just like the other positions, the fifth position hand position can be done when jumping. Even though you are just starting to practice ballet, you can do the fifth position of the hand because the most challenging is only the technique of positioning the feet
Part 3 of 4: Mastering Ballet Moves for Beginners
Step 1. Learn movement by pliés in first position
First of all, stand in the first position with your feet together and your feet pointing to the side. Position both palms in front of the lower abdomen and try to make the arms so that the fingers are oval. Then, bend both knees, then lower your body slowly while pressing both heels to the floor. Activate your core and leg muscles as you return to your feet. This movement is called the demi plié.
- Pliés is pronounced "pliye".
- If needed, hold the ballet barre or the back of a chair for balance.
- If you can already do the demi plié, learn the grande plié movement. The movement is the same, but this time, you have to lift both heels or tiptoe.
- This movement is the same as a squat, but done while bringing the heels together and directing the soles of the feet to the side.
Variation:
Once you have mastered the plié in the first position, practice in the second position. Each time you successfully perform this movement with the correct posture and technique, continue the exercise in the third position and so on.
Step 2. Learn the movement of the tendue in the first position
Stand straight with your heels together and your feet to the side. Press the sole of the foot into the floor as you slide it forward, sideways, or backward, then lift the heel so that the toes point to the floor (called the point). Lower the soles of the feet to the floor slowly from the point position, then do the first position again by shifting the soles of the feet on the floor to the starting position.
- Tendue is pronounced "tondyu".
- If you can do the tendue in the first position, continue practicing in the second position and so on.
- Tendue movements may be performed as a transition from the first position to the second position. Do a sideways tendue, then lower your feet to the floor instead of bringing your heels together again.
Step 3. Learn the releve movement in first position
Stand straight with your heels together and your feet pointing to the side. Lift both heels off the floor as high as possible, stand on tiptoe for 2-3 seconds, then slowly lower both feet to the floor.
- Releve is read "reluvey".
- If you can do the releve in the first position, continue practicing in the second position and so on.
Step 4. Learn the sauté moves when you're ready to jump
For that, prepare yourself by doing the demi plié in the first position while activating the core muscles and straightening the body. Then, jump as high as you can and land while performing a demi plié. When jumping, make points by pointing your toes on the floor. When you land, keep your feet on the floor starting from your toes to your heels.
- Typically, a set of sauté consists of 4, 6, or 8 jumps. Pay attention to your posture when jumping and landing so that every sauté movement is carried out with the correct technique.
- If you can do the sauté in the first position, continue practicing in the second position and so on.
Step 5. Study the échappé movement as it transitions from first position to second position
First of all, stand in the first position with your feet together and your feet pointing to the side. Position your palms in front of your lower abdomen and try to make your arms and fingers oval in shape. Do the movement by plié, then jump while doing the sauté. Spread your legs apart, then land in a second position with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders and extending your arms out to the sides.
- Echappé is pronounced "eshapey".
- Jump several times while transitioning from first position to second position or vice versa.
- You can échappé to make the transition from fifth position to second position.
Step 6. Learn the grand jeté move to jump with advanced techniques
A grand jeté is a jumping motion performed while straightening one leg forward and one foot back. Position your arms in a fourth or fifth position. Take a small forward jump with 1 leg, then jump as high as you can while straightening your legs and toes in a split posture to perform a grand jeté.
- Jeté is pronounced "jetey".
- Jump as high as you can without pushing yourself and don't bend your knees. You can jump higher while doing perfect splits if you practice regularly.
Step 7. Learn the grand battement move for kicking
This movement is done by swinging the leg forward, sideways, or backwards while straightening the knee and toes. Position the arm in the second position. Slide your feet on the floor, then kick them up as high as you can while straightening your toes. Make sure that the supporting leg remains straight as you lift your leg.
- Grand battement reads "gron batemah".
- When performing a backward grand battement, lean forward slightly, but keep your back straight.
- Try to raise your feet parallel to the floor, but don't push yourself beyond your range of motion. You can lift your legs higher if you practice regularly.
- When doing a grand battement, you are free to position your arms according to your increasing ballet dancing skills.
Part 4 of 4: Mastering Advanced Techniques
Step 1. Learn ballet dance by watching video tutorials online, for example via YouTube
This step can be the best option if you can't take the course. While the results aren't as good as studying under a ballet teacher, tutorials can teach you basic ballet moves if you practice a few times a week. Look for video tutorials that explain how to perform the movement you want to learn, then follow it as carefully as you can.
- Search for the online ballet tutorial video channel you want, then sign up.
- Consider taking a class if you want to become a great ballet dancer. Video tutorials are very useful for beginners and a means of enjoying ballet as a hobby.
Step 2. Take the course via video
You can take courses by watching videos on DVD or on the website. These courses are given by professional ballet teachers so you can learn more challenging moves. Although unlike face-to-face learning with an instructor, video courses are still a means of developing ballet dancing techniques.
- Look for ballet lessons online. Before buying a video, watch a preview of the move or dance you want to learn to see if you can follow the instructions.
- Choose the video according to the progress of practice. If you're just starting out with ballet, look for videos that teach ballet moves step by step.
Step 3. Take face-to-face courses to get tutored as needed
If you take a face-to-face course with an instructor, you can get input to improve your technique and posture. In addition, the learning process is faster and safer when you want to master more challenging moves. While in class, you can also learn choreography and dance in front of an audience. Therefore, find out about ballet lessons in a nearby location via the internet.
If you're already practicing at home and can't afford the tuition, ask if there's a scholarship or internship program at a ballet school. You can get scholarships or discounted course fees if you are judged to be talented and dedicated or willing to donate energy at the course
Tips
- Adjust the intensity of the exercise to the condition of the body and do not push yourself. It's natural that you can't jump while splitting or doing points when you start practicing. Ability will increase if you practice regularly!
- Have someone accompany you during your practice, but make sure they can dance well in ballet so they can give you input and suggestions for improving your moves.
- Learning ballet at home is better suited for dancers who simply want to master basic technique, but this method is no substitute for ballet lessons. Practicing under a ballet teacher to improve technique and posture is very important if you really want to take ballet.
- Start practicing by learning basic ballet moves, then gradually master advanced techniques to master more challenging moves.
- You need years of practice to dance well in ballet. So, go through the learning process while being patient and having fun. Ability will increase every time you practice. Do not give up!
- Mastering ballet takes a lot of time and practice! Practice every day if you want to be a great ballet dancer.
