I have extensive ballet training and have been asked to teach classes to ballroom students. What does the ballroom student want to learn?? It seems to me that standing at the barre would be boring. Maybe 3 workshops, one for foxtrot, american waltz, and tango steps with a ballet flair to develop carriage and arm movements?? I need suggestions!!! What does the salsa dance student want from the ballet class?

Ballet is great for strengthening foot arches and insteps and encouraging balance in demi-pointe position. If anyone is shaky in their rise and fall in the standard dances, regular barre work will greatly improve their skills in this area. It also helps the arms for latin by encouraging softness and relaxed and beautiful hands. And bending the torso forward and backward to its maximum, an exercise regularly done at the barre, greatly increases flexibility of the back, making samba rolls easier.

This discipline is wonderful for creating core strength since you must hold your tummy in for the entire ballet class (usually 90 minutes) and for stretch, both of which are required for latin and standard ballroom. And having to do pirouettes on a high demi-pointe makes spins in latin child's play. In short, ballet is entirely complementary to ballroom.

It's not clear to me what your exact circumstance is. Are you "filling in" for teacher for a class of beginners? Are you working with more experienced dancers, trying to show them some ballet-type skills that would be useful in ballroom? What's your level of ballroom experience?

Since you talk about 3 workshops, I'm guessing you're dealing with beginners? Nobody else has answered your question from that perspective, so maybe I've just missed something, but just in case: no one else seems to have raised it, I'll mention the one (two?) thing(s) every ballroom dancer needs to know (but I don't think comes up in Ballet!): lead/follow and frame!

[This message was edited by Ralph on 07-02-01 at 11:42 AM.

[This message was edited by Ralph on 07-02-01 at 11:43 AM.]

Posture, balance, body carriage, motion,
posturing with balance, etc.