Pavel Gurevich
Instructor in Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics
Current and upcoming courses
Ballet I
PE120
This introductory level course, designed for the student who has never before been introduced to the art, offers training in the basic skills of ballet technique. Beginning with barre exercises and progressing to simple steps that move across the center floor, students will practice the fundamentals with music. They will learn what brings line to a dancer’s foot and fluidity to a dancer’s arms; they’ll learn to turn and jump with classical form. Upon completion of this course students will have an understanding of what comprises a ballet class and what it takes to execute ballet's most basic movements.
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Ballet II Advanced Beginner
PE121
This advanced beginner course is designed for the dancer who has already been introduced to the basics of ballet and wishes to further develop technique. Akin to stringing beads or speaking simple but fluid sentences in a new language recently learned, steps that were introduced in Ballet I will here be combined into simple but fluid dance combinations. Here is where the beginner becomes facile (and the more advanced dancer can enjoy a classical workout). Students will move in traditional fashion through barre and center exercises that are carefully crafted to be fun and strengthening yet not too difficult to remember or perform. Music is integral and artistic expression the ultimate aim, but this course focuses on the physical mastery of ballet’s basic movements. Prerequisite: PE 120 Ballet I or understanding of the fundamentals. Note: Those who have not taken the prerequisite will need to pass a placement evaluation at the first session (or beforehand) to determine that they understand the fundamentals of ballet and their level is high enough for this course. Feel free to contact the instructor in advance regarding registration.