DAN 40 — Introduction to Ballet
Quarter: Fall
Instructor(s): Anton Pankevitch
Date(s): Sep 30—Nov 18
Class Recording Available: No
Class Meeting Day: Wednesdays
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 7:30—9:00 pm (PT)
Tuition: $455
Refund Deadline: Oct 2
Unit(s): 1
Enrollment Limit: 40
Status: Registration opens Aug 17, 8:30 am (PT)
Quarter: Fall
Day: Wednesdays
Duration: 8 weeks
Time: 7:30—9:00 pm (PT)
Date(s): Sep 30—Nov 18
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $455
Refund Deadline: Oct 2
Instructor(s): Anton Pankevitch
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Enrollment Limit: 40
Recording Available: No
Status: Registration opens Aug 17, 8:30 am (PT)
At its heart, ballet is movement, music, and joy in motion. This course offers an introduction to one of the most elegant and time-honored forms of dance. Designed for beginners and taught by a lecturer from Stanford’s Department of Theater & Performance Studies, this course focuses on the foundational elements of ballet technique, including posture, placement, and basic steps, while encouraging a deeper connection to movement, rhythm, and music. Each class begins with gentle warm-up barre exercises to build strength, balance, and flexibility, then moves to center work and finishes with small jumps. Along the way, students will develop an understanding of musical phrasing and practice new steps introduced weekly. Instruction in ballet vocabulary and combinations will help develop coordination, spatial awareness, and a sense of line, all within a supportive, nonjudgmental environment. Whether you want to build grace and confidence, improve your fitness, or try something new, this course invites you to experience the beauty and tradition of ballet.
No previous ballet experience or special shoes are required.
ANTON PANKEVITCH
Lecturer, Department of Theater & Performance Studies, Stanford
Anton Pankevitch received his ballet training at Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia and later studied at the School of American Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet School. He has danced with the New York City Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Royal Ballet of London, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Ballet San Jose. He has worked as a ballet master and a guest teacher with the English National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Wiesbaden Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, and Leipzig Ballet. Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.