Ballet Goal Development

This unit focuses on the history and development of ballet technique. Throughout this unit, along with notes, students will focus solely on ballet technique. In order to fully value ballet and its codified technique, dancers must learn the background, the “why,” of what we do. This will lead to the deeper development of skills as they continue to pursue dance. This will also help them to connect ballet to the development of other genres, which we will cover in future units.

Duration
Multiple days
Lesson Type
Project Based Lesson

Lesson Created By: JessicaMcFarland

Lesson Partners: ABC (Arts in Basic Curriculum)

Essential Question

How does ballet technique help with all genres of dance? How did ballet originate and evolve? Why is it relevant today?

Grade(s):

  • 7

Subject(s):

Recommended Technology:

Chromebook/laptop/iPad

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

Lesson Progression

Days 1-4:
- Give history assessment guidelines
- Students will work on Ballet History Timeline project in groups of 3 or 4 for half of the class time (45 minutes)
-Students will work on complex technique skills for half of the class (45 minutes)
Day 5:

  • 4 student presentations, peer assessment completed for each one
  • Receive feedback for goal progress
  • Plie- [2 demi, 2 releve, 1 grand] 1,2,4,5, return to first stretch forward and back, tendu second stretch into the barre and away
  • Tendu/Degage/Battement- [1 tendu (accent out), 1 degage (accent in), 1 battement (quick up slow down)] en croix with port de bras, stretch forward cambre back
  • Rond de jambe- [2 a terre 1 fondu en l’air x2, pas de cheval, plie pas de cheval to 90 carry a la second, rond de jambe en l’air close] reverse, circle stretch, fouette prep, balance, attitude derriere balance
  • Frappe- 4 en croix a plat and en releve, petite battement 8 ct with arm and reverse, 8 count sur le cou de pied balance, sou-sus demi detourne straight into other side
  • Adagio- developpe croise devant carry ecarte devant fouette croise derriere promenade to croise derriere, plie rond croise devant to croise derriere penche enveloppe fifth, developpe ecarte devant pas de bourree pas de bourree en tournant, sous-sus bourree to turn grand plie, temps lie, tendu ecarte devant, fouette efface devant, rond de jambe croise derriere, developpe passe to efface derriere, pas de bourree, sous-sus demi detourne, open arm downstage and upstage, plie.
  • Warm up jumps- [4 1st, 4 2nd, 4 changement, second pas de bourree sous-sus] x4
  • Glissade across the floor
  • Glissade/Assemble from the back
  • Tour jete from the corner
  • Tour jete combo- tombe pas de bourree glissade saut de chat arabesque step step tour jete developpe chasse grand jete pas de bourree

Day 6:

  • 4 student presentations, peer assessment completed for each one
  • Receive feedback for goal progress
  • Fast barre warm-up
  • Rond de jambe- [2 a terre 1 fondu en l’air x2, pas de cheval, plie pas de cheval to 90 carry a la second, rond de jambe en l’air close] reverse, circle stretch, fouette prep, balance, attitude derriere balance
  • Frappe- 4 en croix a plat and en releve, petite battement 8 ct with arm and reverse, 8 count sur le cou de pied balance, sou-sus demi detourne straight into other side
  • Adagio- developpe croise devant carry ecarte devant fouette croise derriere promenade to croise derriere, plie rond croise devant to croise derriere penche enveloppe fifth, developpe ecarte devant pas de bourree pas de bourree en tournant, sous-sus bourree to turn grand plie, temps lie, tendu ecarte devant, fouette efface devant, rond de jambe croise derriere, developpe passe to efface derriere, pas de bourree, sous-sus demi detourne, open arm downstage and upstage, plie.
  • Warm up jumps- [4 1st, 4 2nd, 4 changement, second pas de bourree sous-sus] x4
  • Glissade across the floor
  • Glissade/Assemble from the back
  • Tour jete from the corner
  • Tour jete combo- tombe pas de bourree glissade saut de chat arabesque step step tour jete developpe chasse grand jete pas de bourree

Day 7:

  • 4 student presentations, peer assessment completed for each one
  • Receive feedback for goal progress
  • Fast barre warm up
  • Rond de jambe- [2 a terre 1 fondu en l’air x2, pas de cheval, plie pas de cheval to 90 carry a la second, rond de jambe en l’air close] reverse, circle stretch, fouette prep, balance, attitude derriere balance
  • Frappe- 4 en croix a plat and en releve, petite battement 8 ct with arm and reverse, 8 count sur le cou de pied balance, sou-sus demi detourne straight into other side
  • Adagio- developpe croise devant carry ecarte devant fouette croise derriere promenade to croise derriere, plie rond croise devant to croise derriere penche enveloppe fifth, developpe ecarte devant pas de bourree pas de bourree en tournant, sous-sus bourree to turn grand plie, temps lie, tendu ecarte devant, fouette efface devant, rond de jambe croise derriere, developpe passe to efface derriere, pas de bourree, sous-sus demi detourne, open arm downstage and upstage, plie.
  • Warm up jumps- [4 1st, 4 2nd, 4 changement, second pas de bourree sous-sus] x4
  • Glissade across the floor
  • Glissade/Assemble from the back
  • Tour jete from the corner
  • Tour jete combo- tombe pas de bourree glissade saut de chat arabesque step step tour jete developpe chasse grand jete pas de bourree

Teacher Notes

Having a visual of student goals (such as a chart on the board) in the classroom helps them to stay focused on achieving their goals throughout technique work time. The visual also helps you as the teacher provide feedback that is tailored to student goals. Ensure that students set attainable goals for the given time period using their personal rubric. 

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Ballet Goal Development Rubric

Give each student a copy either on paper or electronically and have them fill it in. Then discuss goals with each student and make any changes you feel are necessary. You will refer back to this document throughout the unit to check progress, and use it to grade at the end of the unit.

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Ballet History Timeline Assessment

Grading guide for presentation and movement portion of Ballet History Timeline

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Example of Peer Assessment

Here is the google form I used for peer assessment.

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Assessments

Students are assessed based on their personal goal achievement. You may vary the goal setting based on the length of the unit and the level of challenge you think will best serve the student. 

Students are also assessed on their application of technique skills combined with their knowledge of the different eras of ballet throughout history.