Over the years, methods of classical ballet instruction have been codified into a variety of canonical approaches. One of the most commonly taught systems is that of the French school.

This thirty-three-week training manual parallels the presentation of basic steps, positions, and alignment that first-year, pre-professional students are taught. It fills a gap in existing instructional literature for teachers and students of the French school of classical ballet. Critical elements of placement and alignment are fully described with proper French terminology, and more than one hundred photographs illustrate key positions. Organised for ease of use with a syllabus, The French School of Classical Ballet presents poses and sequences in the order in which a ballet instructor would present them in a typical course—starting with the simplest positions and movements and building on them to gradually increase the level of difficulty. Weekly lesson plans, measurable goals, and an easy-to-follow progression make this a must-have instructional manual, as well as a practical tool for the serious student away from class.

The French School of Classical Ballet serves as a blueprint for a complete beginning ballet curriculum or simply as a source of reference for certain steps, positions, or exercises that exemplify French ballet training.