Ballet
A classical dance form and base technique fundamental for every dancer’s training. Dancers develop grace, poise and a strong sense of alignment, postures and coordination.
A little bit more about ballet …
Ballet is a wonderful activity to pursue at almost any age. Students gain coordination, muscle tone, strength, and endurance with increased balance, alignment, flexibility and improved aerobic fitness. Students learn discipline, social and emotional skills, to work in a group setting, they gain confidence and are happier.
Ballet training offers many benefits for a child’s health and wellbeing. Ballet is a wide spread, highly technical dance form; a basis for many other dance genres and cultures. It has its own vocabulary based on French terminology. .
Ballet class structure commences with a warm up consisting of cardio work out and dynamic stretching, followed by ballet class with focus on correct technique. And warm down of either static stretching or strengthening depending on each students needs.
We offer the Southern Federation of Dance ballet. This is for school aged children, who start in level one as they commence prep at primary school. The exam work curriculum offers structured classes, where students thrive learning and mastering set exercises and dances to perform in front of an external examiner once they are ready.
We offer our students regular stage and performance opportunities with two productions. They have a mid year showcase and partake in a half length ballet at the end of the year. It is always a joyous occasion for a dancer to perform for their family and friends.
- Barre work
- Centre practice
- Demi point work in preparation for pointe work
- Allegro
- Combinations
- Routines
- Artistry
- Anatomy
- Musicality
- French terminology
- Stage, performance & rehearsal experience
- New movement vocabulary
Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century before progressing to a concert dance form in France and Russia. Different training methods and syllabi have evolved since, from Russian, French and Italian ballet. And then styles such as jazz, contemporary and neoclassical have developed, that both classical ballet and non-traditional technique and movement.
Study French terminology with the ballet glossary:
AVA-LOUISE DEVINE
JUNIOR DANCE SCHOOL TEACHER
Ava-Louise Devine started dancing in regional NSW under Penny Gurner, director of NEDT at the age of 12. Discovering dance as a passion, she began training at Armidale Dance Academy in addition to her training at NEDT. Ava is excited to develop the skills and love of performing arts working with the next generation of dancers here at Two Shoes Dance Academy.
SOMER BUTCHER
DANCE TEACHER
Somer Butcher completed her Diploma in Musical Theatre and Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management over two years of full time dance at Ministry of Dance. She loves teaching dance to students all over Melbourne and had auditions to commence work performing on cruise ships cancelled just prior to COVID 19. Somer has performed at the Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup and is so happy to be joining the team and working with the dancers at Two Shoes Dance Academy in 2020.
CAITLYN THERESE PAWLUS ARAD
JUNIOR SCHOOL DANCE TEACHER
Caitlyn started ballet at the age of 6 at Hilary Debden Academy of Ballet. She was accepted into the Australian Ballet School Associates Program at a young age, before attending the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS).
She has completed her R.A.D Advanced 2 and was a Solo Seal applicant.
She spent 3 years dancing upon various cruise ships with Royal Caribbean cruise lines before settling back home in Melbourne where she found her love of teaching.
Caitlyn has since achieved her certificate in ballet teaching and is a registered teacher with the RAD. She is also a fully qualified Acrobatic Arts teacher.
YUIKO MASUKAWA
BALLET & POINTE WORK TEACHER
Yuiko Masukawa trained at the Vancouver Goh Ballet Academy, on a scholarship at the Boston Ballet Summer School and completed an Advanced Diploma and Bachelor of Arts (Dance) Ballet Stream with the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts. Yui was a Principal Artist with the Melbourne City Ballet and performed roles with them across national and international tours, she has also toured Tasmania with the Tasmania Ballet. Her choreographic works have been performed all over the globe. Currently, Yui teaches the full time students at The National Theatre Ballet and Transit Dance. And we are thrilled to have her teaching ballet and pre pointe work to our students at Two Shoes Dance Academy.
NIINA DELL
DANCE TEACHER
Niina received a scholarship to Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance full time course and recently graduated after studying a Diploma in Musical Theatre for two years. During this time she has experienced credits such as Australia’s Got Talent, White Night Melbourne, AFL Footy Show Revue and performing at the Flemington All Star races. Niina’s excited to share her knowledge and passion for dance and the performing arts with the younger generation at Two Shoes Dance Academy. She is thrilled to become a part of the team for 2020 and cannot wait to start this journey!
CHERI VAN LAMMEREN
HIP HOP TEACHER
Cheri Van Lammeren completed 3 years of full time dance at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance full time course, recently graduating with a Diploma in Elite Dance and Performance. As well as teaching dance and acro, she is a fully qualified Advanced spotting and Intermediate Gymnastics Coach. Cheri has performed at White Night Melbourne and the AFL Grand Final and has a passion for teaching and choreography. She enjoys seeing improvement in her students and always nurtures them to be the best that they can be. She is thrilled to become a part of the community at Two Shoes Dance Academy in 2020.