Ballet
Our ballet programme offers two internationally recognised pathways — the Vaganova Ballet and the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus — each developing strong classical technique alongside artistry, musicality and performance confidence.
01.
Building Beautiful Foundations.
(Ages 5-7)
Level 1 introduces young dancers to the essential foundations of classical ballet through the Vaganova method, with an emphasis on correct posture, alignment, turnout and coordination. Through carefully structured floor work, barre and centre exercises, students develop pointed feet, leg strength and control while learning introductory movements including demi-plié, battement tendu, port de bras and ballet walks. Musicality and body awareness are nurtured from the very beginning.
Key Areas of Learning: Posture & Alignment • Turnout • Coordination • Musicality • Foot Articulation • Strength & Control
02.
Strengthening Technique & Building Confidence.
(Ages 8-10)
Level 2 builds upon established ballet foundations, developing greater strength, control and technical precision while expanding each dancer’s Vaganova vocabulary. Barre and centre work progresses to include grand plié, battement jeté, rond de jambe par terre, fondu, frappé preparation, temps lié and small jumps. Dancers also begin developing the balance, placement and coordination required for turn preparation and travelling movements, with greater emphasis on musicality, movement quality and confident execution.
Key Areas of Learning: Classical Technique • Turnout & Alignment • Strength & Control • Centre Work • Small Jumps • Turn Preparation • Musicality
03.
Advancing Technique & Developing Artistry.
(Ages 11-13)
Level 3 marks an important progression in Vaganova training, developing established foundations into stronger and more sophisticated classical technique. Students advance into pirouettes en dehors and en dedans, en tournant exercises, more complex batterie and introductory grand allegro. Longer adagio combinations develop balance and control, while increased emphasis on épaulement, upper-body expression and musical phrasing encourages dancers to move with greater artistry and confidence. Pointe work progresses according to each dancer’s individual strength, technical readiness and teacher assessment.
Key Areas of Learning: Pirouettes • Batterie • Grand Allegro • Adagio • Pointe* • Épaulement • Musicality • Artistry
Elite
Where Technique Becomes Artistry.
(Advanced & Pre-Professional)
Vaganova Elite is an intensive training programme designed for advanced ballerinas and pre-professional dancers seeking to elevate their classical ballet technique to a higher level. Training focuses on technical refinement, strength, control, precision and artistry through advanced barre, centre, adagio, pirouettes, allegro and pointe work where appropriate. Particular attention is given to placement, épaulement, musicality and quality of movement — developing dancers who are not only technically strong, but expressive and confident performers.
For PRETZ pre-professional dancers, Vaganova Elite provides the classical foundation and technical discipline needed to strengthen performance across contemporary, lyrical and other competitive dance genres.
Key Areas of Training: Technical Refinement • Strength & Control • Pirouettes • Adagio • Allegro • Pointe* • Épaulement • Musicality • Artistry • Performance Quality
*Pointe work is subject to individual technical readiness, strength and teacher assessment.
Vaganova Ballet
Royal Academy of Dance
PP & PID
Pre-Primary & Primary in Dance
A joyful introduction to ballet through music, imagination and structured movement. Young dancers establish the foundations of posture, coordination and musicality while learning their first classical ballet vocabulary.
Technical Focus: Posture • Coordination • Basic Ballet Positions • Musicality • Spatial Awareness
G1-3
RAD Grades 1–3
Dancers begin building a strong classical foundation through progressive barre, centre and travelling work, while Character Dance introduces different movement qualities, rhythms and styles.
Technical Focus: Alignment • Turnout • Balance • Basic Turns & Jumps • Coordination • Character Dance
G4-5
RAD Grades 4–5
Technique becomes increasingly demanding as dancers develop greater strength, control and precision. More complex movement combinations encourage improved stamina, dynamics and confident performance.
Technical Focus: Core Strength • Placement • Pirouettes • Adage • Allegro • Stamina • Performance Quality
G6-8
RAD Grades 6–8 - Performance Grades
Senior graded training develops technical maturity alongside greater artistry and musical interpretation. Dancers work towards more sophisticated movement quality, coordination and performance, with an increasing emphasis on individual expression.
Technical Focus: Advanced Coordination • Adage & Allegro • Turning Technique • Musical Interpretation • Artistry • Performance Maturity
RVGP
RAD Vocational Graded Programme
- Intermediate Foundation
- Intermediate
- Advanced Foundation
- Advanced 1
- Advanced 2
Designed for dancers wishing to study classical ballet at greater depth, the vocational pathway places a strong emphasis on technical precision, strength, musicality and performance. Training includes increasingly demanding barre and centre work, with pointe work for dancers following the traditionally female syllabus and virtuosity work within the traditionally male syllabus.
Technical Focus: Advanced Classical Technique • Pointe Work • Strength & Control • Turns & Allegro • Variations • Artistry • Pre-Professional Development
The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the world's most recognised ballet training systems, celebrated for developing strong classical technique alongside artistry, musicality and performance confidence. The syllabus combines Classical Ballet, Free Movement and Character Dance, creating well-rounded dancers who grow progressively through each level at an age-appropriate pace. At Poise & Pretz, we teach the RAD syllabus with a performance-first approach — using the syllabus as a foundation while nurturing expressive, stage-ready dancers rather than focusing solely on examinations.