Judith Svalander School of Ballet

Definitions (what we teach & offer in our training here at JSSB)

Classical ballet: Featuring the finest elements of the French, Italian, Danish, English and Russian schools, the faculty prepares the dancers for the need to adapt as a professional to each of these techniques. This American school is know to prepare dance students for all venues in dance.

Pointe: Dancers can begin pointe work if they are physically strong enough with good body alignment to go onto toe. Not every body-type is suitable for this work. You may continue in the program at your level and not begin pointe work until a later date. At times, doctor’s approval is necessary.

Healthy Rehab and Dancing Injury Free: To prepare the injured dancer to reenter classes. To build and maintain areas of weakness. To keep the loss of training at a minimum while recuperating.

Prepointe: With a stronger shoe, this class works posture and strengthens legs, and feet for pointe work.

Character Dance and Drama: With it’s infinite possibilities, character dance is difficult to define briefly.  In relationship to classical ballet, it is usually thought of as folk dance.  But broadly stated, it is best defined as all of those qualities not present in classical dance.  Character dance can be divided into the following classification: National Dance – Dramatic and Lyric Character – Satire – Grotesque and Eccentric Mimicry.

Modern: a style of theatrical dancing that rejects classical ballet’s upright stance and, instead, embraces gravity; movements are expressive of feelings and feature elements from many different modern dance styles.

Jazz: A variety of theatrical dance. Rhythmic dancing usually danced to contemporary music.

Musical Theater Dance: A jazz warm-up with choreographed dances from Broadway musicals.

Variations: Learning solos, duets, trios from the great classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Nutcracker

Repertoire: Working our own dance choreography that is strengthening and preparing for stage.

Pas de deux: Dependant upon the number of men.