Ballet Theory, Made Easy - Essential Guide

A beautifully illustrated, student-friendly guide designed to help every dancer understand ballet theory and perform with confidence.

Ballet theory doesn't have to be overwhelming. Written by an RAD Scholar and 40-year teaching veteran, this beautifully illustrated guide takes every step from Grade 5 to Advanced Foundation and breaks it down into clear diagrams, plain-English explanations, and accurate French translations — so dancers actually understand what they're doing, not just memorise it.

Perfect for:

🎀 Students

Use it as a class companion, revision tool, or exam preparation guide. The visual format makes it easy to absorb and remember.

🎀 Teachers

A reliable, syllabus-aligned resource you can recommend with confidence or use as a teaching aid in class. Studio bulk orders welcome! Contact us.

🎀 Parents

Finally understand what your dancer is working on and support revision at home, even with no dance background.

What's Inside:

✔️ Illustrated demonstrations
Each step is shown with clear, stylised diagrams that visually guide dancers through movement, placement, and timing.

✔️ Step-by-step breakdowns
Simple, accurate explanations teach dancers exactly how to perform each movement—from starting position to finish.

✔️ Pronunciation guides
No more guessing how to say French terminology. Every term includes an easy pronunciation key.

✔️ Quick Reference Guide
Perfect for revision before class or exams. Dancers can find steps fast, revise key points, and study independently.

Steps Covered:

• Petit assemblé
• Sissone
• Relevé
• Entrechat
• Pas de bourrée
• Glissade
• Temps levé
• Assemblé
• Changement
• Jetés ordinaire
• Pas de basque

Each step entry includes:

French term · pronunciation guide · English translation · illustrated step-by-step breakdown · written explanation of each stage · variations (e.g. devant, derrière, dessus, dessous)

Also includes:

A quick reference guide covering placement and direction terminology — devant, derrière, à la seconde, en avant, en arrière, de côté, and more — with French and English side by side.

About the Author

Alison Simpson (A.R.A.D) is Royal Ballet trained and a six-consecutive-year RAD Scholar, working under the direction of John Field before being offered a place at the prestigious Royal Ballet School. With over 40 years of teaching experience and a deep understanding of how students learn, Alison created this guide to make RAD theory accessible to every dancer - not just the ones who find it easy.

Product Details

41 pages · A5 physical format (perfect for dance bags) · Full colour throughout · RAD syllabus aligned · Grades 5 to Advanced Foundation