MainStage Academy of Dance teaches Vaganova Ballet, a precise technique and system of instruction that is particular to when to teach what, how long to teach, and in what amount. The Vaganova method focuses on back development, arm gracefulness, strength, flexibility, and endurance for ballet. Each of our ballet classes begin with a series of exercises performed at the barre such as plié, tendu, port de bras, and grand battement for example. Barre exercises increase muscular strength, flexibility, speed and help attain balance, control and proper body alignment. Dancers then perform center-work, short fast jumps, turn variations called allegros, and slow, sustained variations called adagios. Class ends with diagonal-work where our dancers work big jumps and turns such as grand jete and grand fouetté. These exercises are essential and are incorporated into each ballet class at MainStage. Ballet training can provide the foundation for all other dance forms. We begin Vaganova system training at the Intermediate 1 level.