New Grade 4 - Boys!!!

[Tiffany T.]

I have many questions about the grade 4 syllabus as it pertains to boys.

Echappe and Releve at the barre. I usually use my head on the releve part of the releve passe as it would pertain to pointe work. For the boys, should the head be on the landing, or not at all. Or should I just keep it the same as I've been teaching the girls.

Do they need to at least know the girls pirouette?

Glissade Assemble - Do they finish the pas de bouree with "girl" pas de chat arms or in 4th en avant?

Chasse Temps Leve in 1st arabesque - are they still doing jete en avant as in the old syllabus even though there isn't specific music for it?

Soussus etc.... - Are they required to do this exercise. If so, do they just walk the bourees?

Pre Pointe Steps - omit?

Boys Steps - Glissade Jete - after the jete, do they close to 5th to start the next glissade?

I know I have more questions but that's all I can think of for now. If you can think of any other modifications for boys, please let me know.

Tiffany

[dancebug]

Hi Tiffany,
I just put up a Gr. IV boy last January. I'll try to address the questions that I am fairly certain of...

1. Echappe Releve...Normally I teach the head on the landing. That would make sense for a boy, and that is how I presented Stephen.

2. I taught Stephen all of the pirouettes (just in case), but since he was examined alone, he was not asked to show any of the girls' pirouettes.

3. Pas de chat arm...I just had this conversation with someone last night (pertaining to a Gr. V combo). I made sure that Stephen knew the pas de chat arm, but I think it's ok to show that combination in 4th en avant...I'd get some more advice on that question.

4. Chasses Temps Leve - I taught it straight out of the manual. It didn't say to go back to the old Gr. IV, so I thought I was safe following the new Gr. IV book.

5. Soussus...I had Stephen walk the bourrees. It didn't seem like that was a problem.

6. I taught him the pre pointe steps, but he wasn't expected to do those in his exam.

7. I'm going from memory...but I'm 95% certain that you don't close to 5th after the glissade jete.


I have a question for anyone...
Are those pose turns on the diagonal as fast as I think they are???? Wow! :shock:
Maybe I'm thinking of the wrong combination, but WOW! They are brisk!
Jackie