Introduction
There are at least two methods of teaching/learning dances:
1. Learning the basics before you learn the dances and ballets.
2. Learning the dances and ballets and identifying the basics while memorizing the ballets.
Learning the basics gives the student a movement vocabulary that is usable for any of the ballets and dances, but does not teach a specific dance and thus may be frustrating to young students. Learning dances immediately will be more satisfying for the young and the product oriented. But an understanding of the movement vocabulary is important if the students are to be able to use that vocabulary to create their own dances. A combination of those two methods of teaching will no doubt satisfy most teachers and students. Teachers especially will want to familiarize themselves with the vocabulary for each dance before trying to learn that dance. You will find both the movement and text vocabulary explained and illustrated, as well as seeing the finished dances.
