PRIMA

Virtual Classes | Summer 2020

Prima is the foundational class at Honolulu Classical Ballet that introduces young students (ages 3+) to the world of dance. A child’s sense of creativity and imagination are encouraged while introducing them to the fundamental elements of movement. Due to the pandemic, this class is taught via Zoom so the students are at home and the teacher, Ms. Aya, live streams from the studio.

To connect with and engage students of such a young age, the class blends foundational ballet education with playfulness and fun. As class begins Ms. Aya slips a scrunchie on her left wrist and ankle, while the students place a scrunchie or rubberband on their right side. One of the quirks of live streaming is that in the studio she moves her left leg, but for the students, the image is reversed so it seems like she is moving her right leg.

After scrunchies are placed correctly class begins with a series of stretches: “up,” “down,” “tabletop,” and “small rock.” Ms. Aya and the students smile and giggle as they paint the colors of the rainbow reaching from one outstretched foot all the way overhead like a rainbow to the other.

The class eventually transitions to teaching the students how to pronounce, spell and perform ballet movements such as “Arabesque” and “Coupé.” Each student has a notebook or piece of paper with their list of ballet terms. Their little hands scribble down one new movement each class, then the following week they review all the terms with Ms. Aya.

Following the warm-up and movement review, they dance. The students learn new movements, they practice the routine Ms. Aya and Ms. Romi have choreographed for them, they skip, they jump, they twirl, they have fun while learning ballet.