Teaching Curriculum

Title: Dance Teacher’s Guide to Versatile Training

Created 2018

Published December 17, 2023

Copyright Owner: Jerome Alexander 

All rights reserved ©

This dance training system is a set of standards used to ensure students are learning skills that will help them enter the international market. 

The system has been licensed in China to 上海杰圭文化传媒有限公司 as  long as Jerome Alexander is physically present and collaborating with specific organizations. 

The licensing agreement is from December 17 2023-December 16, 2024. 

This technique shall not be written, copied, recorded, disseminated, sold, leased, borrowed, or amended by any other party without the express written consent of Jerome Alexander. 

Combo Classes

Butterfly Stretch 

Straight Leg Stretch

Straddle Stretch 

Butterfly
Stand up, Sit Down, Turn Around
Walk Song Pizza Song- Plies/Eleves, level changes
Animal – English/Chinese
Princess- sways, slides, ballerina twirls, bunny jumps, run, skate, hop,
Number song – English/Chinese
Rhythm – Maracas/Tamborine
Reverence-Sun Must Set/Blow a Bubble

Threshold Skills: 

Plies (parallel 2yr, Turned out 3yr) Piques

Pique tap foot no turn 

Know right versus left
Port de Bras 1st 2nd 5th
March 

Bunny Jumps

Pre Ballet 1

Splits

Know how to stand at the barre

plie, tendu, releve , passe

5 Foot Positions

3 Arm Positions 

Spotting

Battements at barre

Saute 

Pirouette Prep

Focus 

Threshold Exercises:

Discipline/Focus

Know how to stand at the barre

Hold 3 splits for 30 seconds

Plie

Tendu

Releve 

Passe

3 Arm Positions

Saute

Chasse

Pre Jazz 1

Isolations (Head, Hip, and Shoulders)

4 Foot Positions

4 Arm Positions 

Hold 3 splits for 30 seconds

Spotting

Jazz walks

Passe

Releve

Plie

Saute 

Pirouette Prep

Chasse 

Marching 

Focus

Threshold Exercises:

Discipline/Focus

Hold 3 splits for 30 seconds

Plie

Tendu

Releve 

Passe

3 Arm Positions

Saute

Chasse 

Marching

Jazz walks 

Pre Latin 1

Stretching (splits)

Isolations

Posture and arm hold (ballroom)

English waltz basic step (alone and couple)

Cha Cha alternative basic step with slow music, cha cha basic step

Rumba alternative basic step with music, rumba basic step

Arm action (up, side)

Threshold Exercise:

Isolations

Posture and arm hold (ballroom)

English waltz basic step (alone and couple)

Cha Cha alternative basic step with slow music, cha cha basic step

Rumba alternative basic step with music, rumba basic step

Arm action (up, side)

Pre Hip Hop 1

Combo for Marko 

Counting 

Bouncing 

Stretching

Right/Left 

Clap on beat 

Freestyling

Threshold Exercises:

Right/Left 

Clap on Beat

Bouncing

Splits for 30 seconds

Pre Ballet 2 (6-7)

Plie Tendu Releve

Grande Plie

Dégagé 

Passe on releve

Splits

Single pirouettes

Chaine Turns

Pas de Bouree  (Barre) 

Battements releve

Pique Turns at the bar 

90 degree extensions

Heel stretches at the barre 

Center:

Plie 

Tendu

Releve

Pirouettes 

Threshold Exercises: 

Plie, Tendues, and Releves

Grande Plie

Dégagé 

Passe on relève 

Splits 1 minute

Spot 

Turning Preparation 

Single Pirouettes 

Chaine Turns

Pre Jazz 2

Head, Hip, and Shoulder Isolations

Hold Splits 60 seconds

Hold releve passe for 4 counts

Single pirouettes in center

Heel stretches at the barre

Pique Turns at the barre

Chaine Turns

90 degree extensions

Pas de Bouree 

Kick ball change 

Sautes (toe ball heel) 

Threshold Exercises: 

Head, Hip, and Shoulder Isolations

Hold Splits 60 seconds

Hold releve passe for 4 counts

Spot 

Turning preparation 

Single pirouettes in center

Heel stretches at the barre

Chaines 

Pre Hip Hop 2

Now that I’ve seen your children dance, here’s what I will be focusing on for the next two months before we begin our Fall Examination:

1. Rhythm of movements

2. Head, shoulders, arms, body and hips isolation

3. Arms positions

4. Balance on each leg

5. Push ups

6. Turn out position in legs during sitting stretch

7. Splits

8. Back stretching

9. Bounce

10. Walk with bounce

11. Wheel

The studio’s threshold exercises are:

  1. Hold splits for 60 seconds, achieve full split
  2. Understand 4 points of body and hips isolation
  3. Hold balance for 10 seconds on each leg 
  4. Cobra stretch (feet to head)
  5. Freestyle dance for 30 seconds, use at least 4 learned bounces)
  6. Complete 10 clear push ups
  7. Freestyle dance for 30 sec.(use at least 4 learned bounces)

Jerome Music Theatre 

Learn names, ages and movement experience – make a quick connection with each student Students choose and place SpotDot on Mirror just above face 

Vocal Warm up 10 mins 

Breathing Hayley Griffith (Spotify)

Car Engines, Lip Trills & Roaring

La, Me & Fla Fla Nee

Down in the Depths, No No and Bumblebee

Articulation 1

Standing while doing the vocal warm ups.  One by one so you can see how they sing 

PRACTICE SONG OF THE MONTH for 10 minutes.

Dance Warm up 10 mins
Isolations 2 mins
Head, Shoulders, Ribs, Hips
Head-rt/lft, up/dn, sd/sd, egyptian fwd/bkk, sd/sd, 1/2 headroll w/nods Shoulders-up/dn, rolls fwd/bk (w/fist)diagonal, rhythms Rib-frt/sd/bk/sd,circles, chest pops
Hips-frt/sd/bk/sd,circles,
Stretches 5 mins
X- rt to lft/rev, sides, both hands down, table top
Lunges- back knee down first/straight back knee, both knees
Pyramid
Standing Hamstring/roll up
Strength & Conditioning 2 mins
1/2 Roll down/up stretch fwd, crunches
Plank/down dog
Small pushups walk on all 4s to other side
Sitting table top w/kicks (x-turn jump up) 

Water Break

Skills/Moves
Center/Turns
Step touches (together, side, xfrt, xback) Kick x touch X-turns, three step turns, Spot turns (pirouette en dedans) Jazz Squares
Across Floor 5 mins
Open close
Grapevine (side back side front)
Chasses
Straight Leg Walks
Kicks – Battements/Struts
Flea hops/cross passes slides/chugs
Drags (w/pas de bouree)
Ball Changes(gallops)
Kick ball changes
Passe hop (traveling)
Leaps 

Bonus Material:

Reaction acting: 

La me & fla Hayley Griffith

Articulation 1 Hayley Griffith spotfiy

Acting

Facial Stretches 

Emotions 

Face Big/Small

Sing/Say
Echo in rhythm, row row row your boat

Currently

Dancing opening

Sitting is fine

Hip Hop Jen

Standing Stretching 

Vocal Warm Up (This is for singing/acting) motor boat 

Breathing Hayley Griffith (Spotify)

La me & fla Hayley griffith 

Acting emotions for the monthly song .. what emotions do they need to understand?

Practice putting it together.. limit the sitting . 

Articulation 1 Hayley Griffith spotfiy 

Practice songs and dances from a musical, change every 1- 2 months. 

Popular kids musical

Matilda 

Dr. Seuss 

Hercules

Annie 

Wiz 

Little red riding hood 

Threshold steps

Splits

Point feet correctly 

Sing a verse or verse and chorus on on their own while dancing

5 arm positions

Jazz feet positions, 6th, 1st, 2nd, and fourth prep

Chaine turn 

Pas de bourree 

Hip Hop 7 Level 1

Counting 

Bouncing 

Freestyling 

Intro to Isolations 

Basic Freezes 

6 steps

Intro to popping

Threshold Exercises: 

Isolations

Wave 

4, 8 count combination 

Ballet 1 (Academy)

Plie, Tendu, Degage 

Grande Plie

Arabesque

Pique Turns at the barre

Heel stretches at the barre

Single pirouettes 

Chaines Turns

Battements releve

Balance’ 

Chasse 

Pas de Bouree 

Center:

Plies and Tendues

Passe Releve

Soutenu 

Bouree’s 

Balance

Threshold Exercises: 

Plie, Tendu, Degage, ronde de jambe, 

Grande Plie

Pique Turns at the barre

90 degree extensions

Single pirouettes 

Chaine Turns

Battements releve

Latin 1 (7 and Up)

Stretching (splits)

Isolations (focusing on hips) 

Posture and arm hold (ballroom)

English waltz basic step (alone and couple)

English waltz right turn

Cha Cha alternative basic step, cha cha basic step, cha cha New York with normal tempo (alone and couple)

Cha Cha lock step forward and back

Three Cha Cha

Spot Turn

Rumba alternative basic step with music, rumba basic step, rumba New York

Arm action (up, side, basic latin motion)

Spiral turn

Jive basic step and basic kicks

Jazz 1 Academy 

Isolations

Splits (1 minute)

Jazz Walks

Chaines Turns

Single and Double Pirouettes Parallel 

Pique Turns

Front Leaps

Side Leaps

Passe Releve

Chasse

Battements

Threshold Exercises: 

Splits 1 Minute 

Battements on Relève

Chasse 

Single Pirouettes 

Chaines Turns

Front Leaps

Body Roll 

Contemporary 1 Academy 

Contractions

High Arch

Inversions

Single and Double Pirouettes Turned Out

Pique Turns

Battements (front and second)

Front Leaps

Second Leaps

Splits

Plies/Tendus in Center 

Battement Devante and Second 

Threshold Exercises:

Hold Splits for 1 minute

Plies/Tendues in Center

Contractions

High Arch

Single Pirouettes

Battements

Chasse 

Front Leaps

Hip Hop Level 1 

Popping (Arms Individually and Simultaneously )

Isolations

Stretch holding splits for 30 seconds 

Top Rocking

Waving

Gliding

Tutting 

Get Downs 

Basic Jack

Grooves 

Moon Walk

6 Step

Freezes (Open baby, Chair, rocket)

Intro to Freestyling

Threshold Exercises:

Bouncing

Staying on beat

Understanding different Techniques

Understanding certain combos

JAZZ FUNK 1

1. Head, shoulders, arms, body and hips isolation

2. Arms positions

3. Bounces

4. Stand steadily on releve in first and second feet positions  

5. Passe with first arm position

6. Pirouette

7. Turn out position of legs during the sitting stretch exercises

8. Correct splits

9. Stretching for the back(cobra stretch, basket)

10. Correct grand battement on 90°

11. Chaine half turn

These studio’s threshold exercises are:

1. Understand 4 points of body and hips isolation

2. Hold releve 15 sec. with arms in first and third position

3. Hold passe for 15 sec. on each leg

4. Splits for 60 sec.

5. Grand battement on 90°

6. Chaine half turn

7. Single pirouette

Ballet 2 Academy

Plies

Tendus 

Echappes

Frappes 

Ran de Jambe

Passe

Coupe

Glissade

Assemble

Balance’ sequences. Balance balance channe, pas de béret 

Soutenu

90 degree extensions 

Chaines

Piques

Center:

Plies, Tendues, Dégagés

Single and Double Pirouettes

Grande Jete

Pas de chas / Saut de cha

Introduce Adagio (Penche, 90 degree extensions 

Introduce Petite Allegro (Saute, Chang mas, Pas de Bouree)

Threshold Exercises:

Double Pirouettes

Pique Turns (Doubles)

90 degree extensions in center

Clean grande jete 

Successfully complete Adagio 

Successfully complete Petite Allegro

Jazz 2 Academy 

Single and Double Pirouettes Parallel 

Chaines

Pique Turns

Battements (front and second)

Tilts

Fan Kicks

Front Leap

Calypsos 

Leg Holds

Second Leaps

Reverse Leaps

Chaines Jete 

Chasse Tours

Threshold Exercises:

Single Double Pirouettes

Pique Turns

Pitch 

Fan Kicks

Front Leaps

Side Leaps

Hip Hop Level 2

Hold Splits for 1 minute

Freeze (Turtle or Y Stand , V Kick, Kip Up)

5 steps

Waving 

Glides 

Freestyle 

Threshold 

Can handle 6-8, 8 counts of choreography

Ballet 1 (Company)

Plie, Tendu, Degage 

Grande Plie

Arabesque

Heel stretches at the barre

Single pirouettes 

Chaines Turns

Battements releve

Balance’ 

Chasse 

Pas de Bouree

Pique Turns in center 

90 degree extensions

Grande Jete

Jazz 1 Company 

Splits 1 minute

Jazz Walks

Triplets 

Cuts

Sautes (Toe Touch, Attitude Jumps)

Single and Double Pirouettes Parallel

Pique Turns

Front Leaps

Side Leaps

Chasse Tour 

Chaine Jete

Calypso 

Reverse Leaps

Tilts

Pitches

Leg Holds

Contemporary 1 Company 

Contractions

High Arch

Inversions

Single and Double Piroettes Turned Out

Chainne Turns

Pique Turns

Battements (front and second)

Tilts

Extensions at 90 degrees

Penche 

Front Leaps

Second Leaps

Reverse Leaps

Chaines Jete 

Chasse Tours

Calypso 

Attitude

Leg Holds

Ballet 2 Company 

Barre: 

Plies

Tendus 

Echappes

Frappes 

Ran de Jambe

Passe

Coupe

Penche 

Fuette Turns

Introduce Adagio 

Center:

Plies, Tendues, Dégagés

Single and Double 

Chaines

Piques

Lame Duck Pirouettes

Grande Jete

Pas de chas / Saut de cha

Introduce Adagio (Penche, 90 degree extensions, Soutenu 

Introduce Petite Allegro (Saute, Chang mas, Pas de Bouree, Royales, Assemble, Glissade)

Jazz 2 Company 

Single and Double Pirouettes Parallel 

Chaine Turns

Pique Turns

Battements (front and second)

Tilts

Fan Kicks

Front Leap

Calypsos 

Leg Holds

Second Leaps

Reverse Leaps

Chaines Jete 

Chasse Tours 

Intro to Second Turns

Contemporary 2 Company  

Single and Double Pirouettes Parallel/Turned Out

Pique Turns

Chaine Turns 

Tilts

Fan Kicks

Front Leap

Calypsos 

Leg Holds

Second Leaps

Reverse Leaps

Chaines Jete 

Chasse Tours 

Intro to Second Turns

Intro to Floorwork

Jazz 3 Company 

Pirouettes (Triples and Quads)

Inside Pirouettes Parallel 

Chaine Jete Layout 

Attitude Turns

2 Leg Holds 

Turns in Second 

Reverse Leaps

Surprise Leaps

Tilt Leaps

Scissors

Transitions from technical elements into artistic moments 

Improvisation 

Ballet 3 Compny 

Barre: 

Plie

Tendue’s on Relève

Double Frappes and on Releve’ 

Ballet Exercises at the Barre 

Fondues 

Center:

Adagios (Extensions, Promenades, Turns, Developes, Envelopes )

Ballate 

Ballane

Triple Pirouettes

32 Fouettes 

Petite Allegro (Saute, Royale, Sissonnes etc)

Brise

Flic Flac 

Pas de cheval

Grande Allegro (larger sissonnes and assemblés, temps de poisson, Russians etc)

Beats (Change mas/assembles)

Contemporary 3 Company 

Pirouettes (Triples and Quads)

Inside Pirouettes 

Chaine Jete Layout 

Attitude Turns

2 Leg Holds 

Turns in Second 

Reverse Leaps

Surprise Leaps

Tilt Leaps

Scissor Leaps

Reverse Scissors

Transitions from technical elements into artistic moments 

Improvisation 

More complex floor work

This is the work of Jerome Alexander. All rights reserved.