Grade I Cecchetti Syllabus

Recommended Ages: 9+

Students in Grade I are introduced to the Cecchetti Ballet syllabi Grade I material.  Students begin learning the concepts of alignment and rotation as well as simple exercises to reinforce these concepts.  French vocabulary and English translations are used in class and the children are expected to memorize the dance vocabulary as well as the theories of movement related to feet and arms, body positions, movements in dance, and to be able to identify the numbering system for the walls and corners of a dance space. 

There is a heavy focus on posture, alignment and placement of the feet to insure proper development for the upper grades and the prepare for pointe work. This is the “Phonics Level” of academic ballet, I like to say. It is technically demanding for the beginner student and not at all an easy level to master. It takes a lot of work and perserverance but in the end it can produces a well-balanced, centered, strong, and graceful beginning dancer!

The syllabus consists of simple movement patterns utilizing, but not limited to, the following movements and steps: 

BARRE

• Tendu à la seconde, demi plié, grand plié
• Battement tendu en croix et à la seconde
• Préparation pour posé et jeté
• Rond de jambe à terre en dehors et en dedans
• Battement frappe
• Grand battement
• Retiré
• Développé
• Échappé relevé
• Relevé en cinquième
• Temps levé

AU MILIEU

• Port de bras
• Positions du corps

ADAGE

• Retiré passé,
• Première arabesque
• Troisième arabesque

ALLEGRO

Basic Steps

• Coupé dessous et dessus
• Changement
• Pas de chat
• Jeté
• Posé en avant
• Échappé sauté

Enchaînements

• Trois changements avec relevé en cinquième et bourrée tour
• Trois grand  pas de chats et un petit changement de pied
• Jeté devant et derrière
• Jeté devant et temps levé  
• Posé en avant
• Deux posés coupés, un posé fermé en cinquième, changement
• Un échappé sauté et deux changements de pied
• Balancé
• Polka.

Students who have achieved the appropriate skill level for Grade I may be presented for examination under the auspices of the Examining Board of the Cecchetti Council of America.  A minimum of two years’ study is recommended for students to master the technical and artistic skills necessary for Grade I.

Additionally, students may prepare for the spring “Parent Day” dance presentation by learning a dance that incorporates many of the concepts and steps learned throughout the year.