Common corrections: Grade 1

I always encourage my students to practice at home. However, it can be hard to practice if you don't know what to work on. Below I have listed my common corrections for each exercise in Grade 1.

For all exercises:

-remember to smile

-keep your body straight (think of stacking yourself like a Jenga tower)

-keep your chin slightly lifted

-tuck your thumbs away and keep your fingers together

-turn out your feet as much as possible

-point your feet as hard as you can when necessary

Warm up:

-when bringing your arms across your body in the beginning, don't let your straight arm go behind your body and don't let your hand of your other arm go past your belly button

-don't scoop your arms like you're scooping ice cream, transfer your arms, keeping them at the same level, from one side to the other

-when bending down, keep your knees together

Legs and arms:

-when bending your back leg and flexing your front foot, make sure the heel of your front foot is off the ground and your front leg is straight

-when you bring your foot back to first position, your toes should draw a straight line and both legs should stay straight

Port de bras:

-when you bend and point your front foot, keep your body straight and don't let your foot sickle

-when stepping to curtsy, make sure both feet are turned out

Demi-plies:

-keep your body straight when you bend

-point your foot as hard as you can and keep it turned out when pointing

-when you do your rise, your weight should be towards your big toes

Transfer of weight:

-keep your feet turned out and show a nice full pointed foot when necessary

-when spinning, start then end high on demi-pointe

-when you go to do the repeat you should be starting on demi-pointe

Walks:

-when showing the step brush pointe, make sure you keep your weight off your front foot and hold for one count

Sautes:

-behind before and after you jump

-your legs should be straight and your feet pointed when you are in the air

Petit jetes and spring points:

-your feet in your petit jetes should only come up to just below your calf (just high enough so your toes don't touch the ground)

-when doing your petit jetes, make sure both legs and feet are turned out (show off the diamond shape)

-when doing the spring points, your toes need to touch the ground but there shouldn't be any weight on them

Galops:

-teacher choreographed

-don't let your heels touch the ground the galloping

-feet should come right to your knees when skipping

-use small, quick steps when running

Springs:

-your legs should work like scissors (moving back and forth), you shouldn't be bringing them around in a circular motion

-try to keep your legs straight when you jump but bend them when you land

Step hop and parallel assemble:

-the arms for the skips are opposite to your legs

-for the assemble you need to show the step, brush (like you're kicking a soccer ball), jump, and then end with your feet together

Dances:

-while knowing the correct steps is very important, telling the story with your movements and facial expressions is just as important- dances are the time to really show off your performance skills

Reverence:

-teacher choreographed, not applicable