The Role of Rhythm in Ballet Training.

This exploratory study examined the importance of rhythm in ballet training. Five experienced instructors at a leading Canadian ballet school were interviewed and observed while teaching senior students. These instructors viewed rhythm as critical in ballet training. All concurred that student execution of the timing of slow-paced movements and the beginning of a movement were problematic whereas allegro movements were comparatively well performed. Class observations revealed the rhythm of a ballet skill to be an integral part of the verbal description and demonstration of the movement. Furthermore, the majority of verbal corrections addressed the timing of movements. Although these senior students had reached high levels of ballet skill, they had difficulty processing the rhythm of the movements. The findings of this study suggest that understanding the processing of rhythmic elements and the control of synchronization may facilitate ballet training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]