Bolshoi Classes and Attire
Every level has their own schedule that changes each year. There are 8 levels, the first 5 and the final 3. Last year I was placed in the first course international (the first of the final three). My schedule for that level was the following:
Monday
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
16:40- 18:20 Character
Tuesday
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
12:50- 14:30 Russian Language
14:45- 16:25 Contemporary
16:40- 18:20 Acting
Wednesday
9:55- 10:40 Gymnastics
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
This year, the 2016- 2017 school year, I am now in second course international (the second of the final three levels). My schedule for this level is the following:
Monday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
14:45- 16:25 Contemporary
16:40- 18:20 Acting
Tuesday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
10:30- 12:15 Russian Language
14:45- 15:30 Theory of Music
16:40- 18:20 Character
Wednesday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
14:45- 16:25 Duet
16:40- 18:20 Acting
Thursday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
10:30- 12:15 Russian Language
14:45- 16:25 Character
Friday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
10:30- 12:15 Russian Language
16:40- 17:25 Repertoire
Saturday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
Monday
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
16:40- 18:20 Character
Tuesday
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
12:50- 14:30 Russian Language
14:45- 16:25 Contemporary
16:40- 18:20 Acting
Wednesday
9:55- 10:40 Gymnastics
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
12:50- 14:30 Russian Language
14:45- 16:25 Historical Dance
16:40- 18:20 Character
Thursday
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
12:50- 14:30 Russian Language
16:40- 18:20 Repertoire
Friday
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
12:50- 13:35 Russian Language
13:45-14:30 Gymnastics
16:40- 18:20 Duet
Saturday
10:55- 12:35 Ballet
16:40- 18:20 Acting
This year, the 2016- 2017 school year, I am now in second course international (the second of the final three levels). My schedule for this level is the following:
Monday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
14:45- 16:25 Contemporary
16:40- 18:20 Acting
Tuesday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
10:30- 12:15 Russian Language
14:45- 15:30 Theory of Music
16:40- 18:20 Character
Wednesday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
14:45- 16:25 Duet
16:40- 18:20 Acting
Thursday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
10:30- 12:15 Russian Language
14:45- 16:25 Character
Friday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
10:30- 12:15 Russian Language
16:40- 17:25 Repertoire
Saturday
8:30- 10:30 Ballet
12:50- 14:30 Repertoire
16:40- 18:20 Duet
As you can see, the schedules change quite a bit with each year. On a side note, classes are not normally 2 hours long. My teacher just wanted to have more time this year so she moved the starting time of our ballet class half an hour earlier. This year I also have no historical dance, as I took the exam for that last year and my level now no longer has it (as well as the third and final level). Last year there was also an acting exam and no contemporary exam. This year I have both of those classes again but only a contemporary exam and no acting exam.
Keep in mind that I am in a trainee program here and not the diploma program, therefore I do not have academic classes nor do I get a diploma at the end of my third year. Instead of a diploma, students graduating as a trainee get a certificate. I chose not to do the diploma program because that is a three year program, starting at the first of the final three levels. Because I was already placed in the first course, I did not want to come back this 2016-2017 school year and repeat the level again. I also wanted to stay with my classmates, so I chose to move up with them.
Many of the students accepted into the academy are placed in the fifth course. There are multiple international levels for this class. From what I know, the only difference in the classes is the date and time of arrival.
For the classes, you will be OK to wear black leotards in all of the classes unless told otherwise. Character requires black character skirts and black character shoes with a 1 inch or lower heel (half-inch heels are ideal). Historical dance also requires a black character skirt and tan shoes. I will post more information on these shoes at a later time if you are interested in buying them before arriving. Because I did not know about these shoes when I came, a few of my friends went with me to the Grishko store here in Moscow and the shoes were very easy to get. As for pointe shoes, if you wear Grishko you do not have to worry about running out of shoes. As for those who wear Russian Pointe (me!!!) or any other pointe shoe, it can be quite difficult to find shoes other than Grishko so just be safe and bring the amount of pointe shoes you think you will need. For gymnastics, my teacher just liked us to wear form fitting clothing, so leggings over your normal dance clothes work fine for this class. In contemporary I normally just wear my leotard, tights, and shorts. For acting I wear my dance warm-ups.
Below you will find a video I made about my day-to-day life during my first semester of third course.
XOXO,
Louisa
Keep in mind that I am in a trainee program here and not the diploma program, therefore I do not have academic classes nor do I get a diploma at the end of my third year. Instead of a diploma, students graduating as a trainee get a certificate. I chose not to do the diploma program because that is a three year program, starting at the first of the final three levels. Because I was already placed in the first course, I did not want to come back this 2016-2017 school year and repeat the level again. I also wanted to stay with my classmates, so I chose to move up with them.
Many of the students accepted into the academy are placed in the fifth course. There are multiple international levels for this class. From what I know, the only difference in the classes is the date and time of arrival.
For the classes, you will be OK to wear black leotards in all of the classes unless told otherwise. Character requires black character skirts and black character shoes with a 1 inch or lower heel (half-inch heels are ideal). Historical dance also requires a black character skirt and tan shoes. I will post more information on these shoes at a later time if you are interested in buying them before arriving. Because I did not know about these shoes when I came, a few of my friends went with me to the Grishko store here in Moscow and the shoes were very easy to get. As for pointe shoes, if you wear Grishko you do not have to worry about running out of shoes. As for those who wear Russian Pointe (me!!!) or any other pointe shoe, it can be quite difficult to find shoes other than Grishko so just be safe and bring the amount of pointe shoes you think you will need. For gymnastics, my teacher just liked us to wear form fitting clothing, so leggings over your normal dance clothes work fine for this class. In contemporary I normally just wear my leotard, tights, and shorts. For acting I wear my dance warm-ups.
Below you will find a video I made about my day-to-day life during my first semester of third course.
XOXO,
Louisa
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