What Is the Vaganova Method of Classical Ballet?

If you have researched ballet schools in Brevard County, you have probably seen the phrase “Vaganova method” — and wondered what it actually means. It is not a brand or a slogan. The Vaganova method is a specific, time-tested system of classical ballet training, widely regarded as the most comprehensive and effective in the world. It is the foundation of everything taught at Brevard Ballet Academy in Melbourne, FL.

Where the Vaganova Method Comes From

The method is named for Agrippina Vaganova (1879–1951), a Russian ballerina and teacher who danced with the Mariinsky Ballet — where she was nicknamed the “queen of variations” — before turning to teaching. Working at the school now known as the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, she synthesized the best of the French, Italian (Cecchetti), and Russian traditions into a single, coherent system. In 1934 she published her landmark textbook, Basic Principles of Classical Ballet, which is still studied by teachers around the world today.

The Core Idea: The Whole Body as One Instrument

The defining principle of the Vaganova method is the harmonious, coordinated use of the entire body. Rather than treating the arms, head, torso, and legs as separate parts, the method trains them to move as one unified, expressive instrument. Key elements include:

• Épaulement — the coordinated turning of the shoulders, head, and upper body that gives Russian dancers their signature elegance and dimensionality.
• Port de bras — expressive, open movement of the arms across the chest, with a strong and supple back.
• A strong, flexible back and core — Vaganova placed special emphasis on developing the spine and neck for effortless stability and soaring jumps.
• Precise placement — every position and transition has a reason, a direction, and an aesthetic intention.

Deliberate, Injury-Conscious Progression

The Vaganova method is famous for being deliberately progressive. Skills are introduced in a carefully sequenced order that builds strength and flexibility while minimizing the risk of injury. Vaganova herself taught that weaknesses in center work can be patiently corrected at the barre. This is exactly why sequencing and curriculum matter so much — and why authentic Vaganova training is so different from casual dance classes.

How It Differs From Other Methods

There are several major ballet training systems, and each has its own character:

• Cecchetti (Italian): prized for correctness and precision, with a more forward, modest port de bras.
• RAD (Royal Academy of Dance): a graded British syllabus itself influenced by Cecchetti and Vaganova, with arms often held low and rounded.
• Bournonville (Danish): known for buoyant footwork and restrained, low arms.
• Balanchine (American): founded by an Imperial-school graduate, emphasizing speed and athleticism.

The Vaganova method is distinguished by its expansive port de bras, its emphasis on the back and épaulement, and its inseparable union of technical strength and artistic expression.

The Dancers It Has Produced

The prestige of the method is written in its graduates. The Vaganova Academy’s lineage includes Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Natalia Makarova, Galina Ulanova, and Marina Semenova. Today both the Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet base their training on it, and its influence extends to leading companies and schools across Europe and America.

Authentic Vaganova Training in Brevard County

What makes Brevard Ballet Academy unusual is that its founder, Elena Shokhina, is herself a Vaganova Ballet Academy graduate — as are several members of the faculty. That means BBA students in Melbourne receive instruction connected directly to the source of the tradition, not a diluted imitation of it.