Cecchetti ~About the Cecchetti Method~ The Cecchetti Method of ballet is a style of classical, theatrical dance based on the teachings of the great Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti (1850-1928). Born into a family of professional dancers, Maestro Cecchetti had a distinguished career as a principal dancer on the international scene before becoming a teacher of renown. He taught in Russia, Poland, Italy and England and became the private instructor of Anna Pavlova and many other celebrated dancers. Cecchetti enlarged upon the Italian tradition of teaching, codified by Carlo Blasis, which maintained the balances and proportions of the human body, poised and in movement. The Cecchetti science of classroom practice exacted a co-ordination of arms, legs, and head, which produced a wonderful fluidity of movement, particularly in the upper body. Although Cecchetti's development of the terre à terre style - brilliant articulations of the legs, with the dancer barely leaving the floor - was notable, his varied, six-day plan trained jumps of many textures. Most importantly, the solid, un-mannered Cecchetti base enabled the dancer to embrace any choreographic style.

Guest Examiner Janet Hagisavas F.I.S.T.D. ~Fellow, Imperial  Society of Teachers of Dancing Cecchetti Faculty; Graduate Teacher Training Program, National Ballet School; Director of Teacher Training Edmonton School of Ballet   ~ A Brief Background~ Mrs. Hagisavas has taught at the Edmonton School of Ballet for a total of 21 years beginning back in the late 70’s. She also owned and operated her own school in St. Albert for four years before returning to ESB. She enjoys teaching the challenging work of the senior Cecchetti students and working with the Student Teachers at school continuing to develop the Teacher Training Program. Janet was the International speaker at the Australian National Cecchetti Congress in 2001 where her presentation showed how the Cecchetti principles relate to Modern Dance. The video that she made with the talents of Tina Covlin-Dewart, showing fundamental dancing principles, has been acclaimed by dance professionals in North America, Europe and Australia.     ~Dance Impressions is Honored~ This year Mrs. Hagisavas, who is a very distinguished and accredited ballet instructor, was our Junior Grades Ballet Examiner. She is very repected in the Cecchetti Society of Canada and is “The Teacher of Teachers” at the Edmonton School of Ballet. (Seriously!! She is the head instructor of the Teacher’s Training Program at ESB where she teaches Teachers how to teach!) Mrs. Hagisavas is also Miss Ryan’s immediate supervisor. She is known as a tough but fair examiner who has high expectations and I am thrilled to say that our school did more than impress her.  She was astonished with the overall quality of the school and commented,   “You just don’t see schools of this calibre in rural communities – sometimes not in even larger cities! Over the years I have seen Miss Ryan’s work, her students and her school has really progressed. It has developed into a school where the students are really dancing and are incredibly well trained.”    This is an amazing compliment especially coming from Mrs. H.  Be proud of yourself, your parents, your fellow dancers and of your teacher – together we have become truly amazing.

~Our Dancer’s Success~ This year, on Saturday, January 26 2008, 41 students were examined in the ESB Junior Grades Ballet Syllabus (Definitions of the markings are quoted from the syllabus.)    Pass (60 – 64) (A weak dancer who knows her work or an average dancer unsure of her work)  0/41  Pass plus (65 – 69)                                                                          (As for pass with some work of a higher standard)  0/41  Credit (70 – 74) (An average dancer who knows her work and tries hard)  1/41  Credit Plus (75 – 79) (A good basic standard presented nicely)  2/41  Commended (80 – 84)   (A high technical standard or a good standard with excellent presentation)  9/41  Highly Commended (85 – 89) (A strong technical standard with a nice sense of presentation)  18/41 Honors (90+) (Outstanding in every way performance and technique, excellent posture)  11/41   Click here  to go back to our exam results page.