Arts >> Dance >> Ballet

How to Choreograph a Simple Ballet Routine

Even though a ballet dance doesn't incorporate large, flashy moves, it can still be a beautiful exposition of grace and poise. A simple ballet dance, ideal for beginners or young dancers, highlights the basics of the art of ballet. The basic steps are still visually appealing to watch and can help the dancers master the foundational steps in ballet. Perfecting the basic, though beautiful steps, is critical to choreographing a dance that is entertaining and demonstrates the best of the dancers' abilities.

Things You'll Need

  • Music
  • Notebook
  • Mirror
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choreograph utilizing all the basic ballet steps, turns and poses. For example, chainé turns, bourrées, pas deux bourrées, piqués, piqué turns and arabesques are all simple ballet moves that when executed cleanly and gracefully are elegant and beautiful to watch.

    • 2

      Incorporate demonstrations of all five ballet positions in the dancing. Accentuate bending into a fifth position plié, for example, before having the dancer step into an arabesque pose.

    • 3

      Stress the importance of proper form and technique when choreographing the dance by allowing ample time for the dancers to progress from move to move and step to step. Further accentuate the importance of proper form when teaching the dance to the dancers.

    • 4

      Count the music and coordinate the counts with the steps in the dance. Teach the dancers the counts as well as the steps so the dancers can achieve perfect unison while performing. A simple dance, when performed in complete unison, can be as impressive as a big turn or leap.

    • 5

      Add visual complexity to the simple steps by choreographing several different formations into the dance. Choreograph simple transitions into the dance that move the dancers into the formations, such as bourrées or chainé turns. Dancing in various formations can create the illusion that the dance is more complex than it is, even when using simple steps.

Ballet

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