Clarity in Ballet Technique: Frappé Brush vs No-Brush Methods

Understanding frappé ballet technique variations is essential for school-wide consistency. Unless you're the only ballet teacher in your school, clear communication about vocabulary teaching methods and progression is critical.

Frappé means "struck," and there are different approaches to teaching this fundamental movement. Some schools teach frappé brushing on the ground, while others teach it beginning in cou-de-pied, traveling straight out to dégagé-height. Both methods have been used to train excellent professional dancers. The key consideration is that frappé connects to larger technical development. The method you choose affects musicality development, coordination training, and strength building for allegro work. It also connects to your pointe curriculum priorities and long-term technical goals.

Each approach serves specific developmental purposes, and the choice depends on your program's overall technical philosophy and progression goals. What matters most is that all faculty understand the reasoning behind the chosen method and teach consistently.

This represents the kind of technical decision-making that separates thoughtful programs from those that develop inconsistencies. When technique choices are made systematically rather than randomly, students progress more effectively and safely.

School-wide consistency in technique instruction requires comprehensive frameworks that address not just what to teach, but why specific methods serve different developmental goals.

This thoughtful approach to technique consistency is woven throughout my complete curriculum collection. Each level includes the reasoning behind technical choices and systematic frameworks that create clear, safe student progression.

---

Join me for monthly insights into intentional technique teaching → Sign up for the newsletter

Explore the complete curriculum frameworks → View curriculum divisions