Ballet For Children
Why is Ballet good for children?
Dancing at an early age develops a child’s ability to listen and coordinate their movements to the tunes and different rhythms in music. Music and dance provide the platform to develop a child’s creativity, imagination and confidence through social-interaction, play-acting, body discipline and balance, poise and grace. These benefits will see them through their growth into fine young adults.
At Joyful Steps & Rhythm, we offer the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Classical Ballet syllabus to children starting from the age of 3 years old. With over 13,000 members spread across 79 countries, the RAD is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organizations in the world. RAD’s Board of Examiners conducts yearly examinations worldwide.
All our classes are conducted in a fun-filled and lively environment. Our classical ballet teachers are all RAD registered, experienced, and qualified. We teach with a passion for dance and love for children.
Little Steps II / Pre-Ballet
An introductory level to ballet, young children are introduced to the basics of ballet using a fun-based, thematic, and imaginative approach; with a focus on motor skills coordination, memory enhancement, musicality, and simple stretching movements.
Minimum age : Little Steps (min 3 years old) / Pre-Ballet (min 4 years old)
Duration : 45 mins
Classical Ballet
Syllabus-based and progressive, building upon the previous level, new technique, musicality and repertoire will be introduced to
deepen our student’s knowledge of ballet and enthusiasm in dancing.
Kinder Ballet – Pre-Primary in Dance
Based on New RAD Syllabus, emphasis is placed on basic ballet posture and discipline. Through creative exercises, the child develops flexibility, strength, musicality and coordination. Creative themed-dance is injected into classes for a fun dance experience.
Minimum age: 5 – 6 years old
Duration: 60 mins
Kinder Ballet – Primary in Dance
This is a progression from Pre-Primary level. Exercises are structured to follow the new RAD syllabus to further develop the child’s ability to perform simple combinations of ballet steps and movement while maintaining clean body lines and posture.
The classes are structured to develop students’ refined motor skills, stamina, creativity, expression and musicality using a range of movements and musical styles. The syllabi prepare students for a successful transition to graded level ballet and other dance genres at higher levels.
Minimum age: 6 years old
Duration: 60 mins
Ballet Grade 1-2 – Duration: 90 mins per lesson (twice a week)
Class exercises at this level will include barre exercises and introduction of centre practices including Plié, Battement Tendu, Battement Jeté, Rond de Jambe, Grand Battement and Sauté.
Focus is placed on building sound fundamental classical ballet technique with emphasis on body alignment and strong footwork.
Ballet Grades 3-5: Duration 90 mins per lesson (twice a week)
For grades 3-5, students are introduced to more complex ballet vocabulary within each exercise at the barre and centre. This includes warm-up barre exercises from Battement Fondus, Battement Frappé and Adage. Each routine is more demanding and is designed to strengthen and build the correct muscles in the feet, legs and upper body. There will be increased focus for slow Adage exercises, Petit Allegro, medium jumps and Pirouette in different positions.
The most common technique is En Pointe or as commonly used in children’s Ballet, ‘on pointing toes’ at the barre and centre. Some movements such as Relevé, Ballonné, Bourrée, Échappé Relevé and Retirés will be taught.
Classical Ballet Grade 6 and above – Duration: 90 mins per lesson (twice a week)
Training for Classical Ballet Grade 6 and above will be intensified as both knowledge of ballet and techniques will become more demanding.
Duration of classes will be extended to 1.5 hours per grade.