Ballet Foundations: Posture, Positions, and the Language of Classical Dance

Ballet is one of the most demanding and rewarding movement traditions, with a vocabulary and aesthetic refined over centuries. Understanding its language and discipline is the foundation for everything that follows in training. This course gives you a structured introduction so you can step into a ballet class with realistic expectations and a clear sense of what your body and mind are learning to do. You will learn the vocabulary that ballet teachers use, the principles of alignment that underpin every step, and the structure of a typical class. The course stays grounded in widely used terminology and respects the slow, patient nature of ballet learning. What you'll learn: - Understand the structure of a classical ballet class including barre, center, and across the floor work - Recognize the five positions of the feet and arms and the principles that connect them - Apply postural alignment including lifted carriage, engaged core, and turnout that protects the joints - Read the vocabulary of foundational steps including plié, tendu, dégagé, and pirouette - Identify the role of music, counts, and phrasing in shaping every exercise - Understand the long arc of ballet training and the realistic pace at which strength and coordination develop The course begins with the class structure, moves through positions, alignment, foundational steps, and music, and closes with the long arc of training. Written exercises help you study terminology and rehearse the mental images that support physical work. This course is designed for absolute beginners with no dance background, including adult learners, parents of young dancers wanting to understand the world, and dancers from other styles entering classical work. No prior dance experience is required. The course explains every concept as it appears and respects how ballet training develops slowly over years.