Coppelia, Act 1: No. 1, Valse by Léo Delibes – Kent Nagano, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon

Coaching Notes:

Pre-Teach: Yes
Focus: External
Purpose: To explore syncopated rhythm and activate imagination in a playful way

Pre-teach: Demonstrate the Side-Side-123. Say, “Ok, so everyone do this with me: side, side and a 123. Your arms follow your body.
Let the arms come up and over the head on the 123. Let’s try this a few times together.”
Give them some ideas of ballet poses, jumps, pirouettes etc. that they could do.
You can YouTube some ballet if you need some inspiration for moves before you facilitate the song.
Give them the option of both playing with elegance and focus, but also the option of being playful and a bit goofy with it.
This way they can choose, and everyone can be successful.

First move: is a Side-Side-123 – Count them in a few times so they get it. Nice and easy. Elegant and soft. Change your direction each
time.
Relax your body. ‘Dance and express it in your own way – how can you make it feel elegant?
How can you ease into it? What can you do to make it your own dance? You can only get this right!’.

Second move: are Ballet Poses/leaps/ jumps/turns/pirouettes – Tell them to just have fun with it and try stuff out!v ‘Show me what ballet looks like in your body!’ Ask them to let the music inspire them and to dance what ballet is to them.v Remind them that they cannot get it wrong because their way is the right way!

Transitions:
0:04 Side-Side-123
0:39 Ballet
1:10 Side-Side-123
1:45 Ballet