Gymnastic Classes

Of great importance is the actual footwork itself, which must be clean and precise, the steps being very definite in direction and quality. The ankles and feet should be very resilient, much of the work being performed on the toes, particularly the light and springy types of step. Other steps which are perhaps in the Russian or Spanish style are characteristically required to be performed on the flat foot, but must still show the necessary strength and precision. The importance of ballet training becomes apparent not only for the promotion of leg strength, elegance, and upper body work, but particularly for the improvement of foot work. Toes should be pointed, the feet and ankles stretched for the majority of the time, but equally there must be some give in the foot and ankle to provide resilience and bounce. Many of the steps used are in fact derived from ballet and so the terminology used is the same, i.e. all the names are in French. The following are a few examples of the most com …