Are you looking for new ways to improve your student's technique? There are many programs out there that (at a very costly rate) promise just that. This article will be about one program I completed that I think is actually worth your time and money.
What is it? The Progressing Ballet Technique program (PBT). Yes, it is designed for ballet dancers, however, it is applicable across a variety of dance genres and other athletic sports. With the use of exercise balls and resistance bands, students learn how to properly engage their muscles, gain strength and develop muscle memory. A great benefit is that students develop essential foundational skills that in turn help prevent injury. The simple repetitious exercises can also be used to help rehabilitate injured dancers. I also discovered that it is a great way to build muscle memory and strength prior to introducing new complex vocabulary. So you can see, this program has a lot to offer.
My journey with PBT began in 2018 when I had the opportunity to attend a workshop. For two full days Marie (the founder) walked us through the system. As we learned hands-on, she clearly explained the "whys" behind the exercises. These detailed explanations are why the program is worth it. Often times throughout my education teachers neglected to inform me of the reasoning and logic behind the movement. Knowing these details are essential to the success in my training so I was very pleased the PBT program included them. I left the workshop feeling empowered and I immediately began implementing a few exercises into my curriculum.
What is the biggest downside to the program? Finding and managing the equipment. Exercise balls take up a lot of space and having students transport their own equipment can be time consuming. However, in my opinion, the benefits outweigh the hassle.
What is the best thing about the program? How much students love and are engaged with the exercises. They are challenged in new ways and love using the exercise balls. Most importantly, they can visually see improvements they are making in a short amount of time. We all know ballet training is a long process, so, having additional exercises to master along the way is very beneficial.
I completed a variety of training programs throughout my career and this is one of the few I found worth the value. From quality educational materials to top notch customer service, my experience with the PBT program has been delightful. With that said, please don't mistake this article as a quick fix or an answer to all of your problems. While I love what the PBT program has to offer, I am not implying that it is the cure all for learning ballet technique. It is just a nice and (more importantly) effective way to change up your class structure and have a different kind of fun. That is why our students come to class after all, right?
To find out more information please visit their site at: https://pbt.dance/en
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