Method 8 – Training in the Vaganova Tradition

 

Method 8 is a unique group training system in our ballet department, based on the principles of Agrippina Vaganova’s method.

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Vaganova created a structured and highly refined system in which individual attention to every student is essential. This is why group size matters so much. In professional ballet schools, where classes are large, students are often divided into subgroups of 8 and taught separately, while the others must wait for their turn.

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At the Swiss School of Music, we have deliberately adopted the principle of “Method 8”:

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• No more than 8 students per class – the optimal number that allows the teacher to give full attention to each child.

• Quality over quantity – every movement is supervised and corrected immediately.

• Living Vaganova tradition – balanced development of the body, discipline, and artistic expression.

• Step-by-step learning – lessons are carefully structured so that children progress steadily while keeping the joy of dance.

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This way, our classes are almost like private lessons while still keeping the benefits of group training: teamwork, peer support, and the joy of shared creativity.

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Method 8 is a mandatory standard in the ballet department of our school.