Derek Mitchell is an awesome teacher!  He is funny and entertaining.  He’s attractive and charming.  He has technique, he has experience, he has great choreo and chooses the best songs to dance to!

So before I forget, he’s breaking down the class to technique first, then lyrical style, then emotion in dance.

Warm ups were a bunch of stretches.  Demi-pliés and Grand pliés.  Stretching up and down and to the sides, keeping the body as close to the legs as possible.  We did lunges.  We did push ups and sit ups.  We stretched our feet pointed and flexed up to our bodies as much as we could.  This hurt and it just shows me I’m still not as flexible as I’d like to be but at least this class works on it.

He taught us the ballet steps 1, 2, 4 and 5.  We practiced sweeping our feet forward, to the side and to the back.  Rond de Jambe (sweep) + Tondu (point)

In the middle of the class, we learned to train our tip toes by doing the Relevé  (raise on one foot) Passé (point other foot to knee)

We did a lot of going across the floor type learning:

• Grand Pliés
• Step across and hold tip toe on one foot up.
• Chassé
• Relevé
• Chassé and Relevé (turning with spotting then chassé)

I had a great time at the class.  I didn’t even want it to end.  I felt good about getting the technique down but still being challenged (especially at the end).  I still need to work on my spotting.  I’ll be practicing my relevés.  I’m really looking forward to next Sunday already!