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Kids Ballet - What You Need to Know

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Help Your Child Become the Best Ballet Dancer They Can Be

Its a sad fact that around 95% of people who start learning ballet drop out. This is a shame because ballet, especially kids ballet, is a wonderful learning experience. The discipline, grace and poise that comes from regular ballet practice is great for kids development.

But let's face it: some people were not born to be dancers. They simply do not have the talent or the drive to succeed with dancing. However, ballet is one of those activities where not everyone can become a professional ballerina but it is a pastime that anyone can enjoy participating in.

One thing that puts kids off is not feeling that they understand what they are supposed to be doing. In a class of 8 or 10 or sometimes 15, it can be difficult to get the level of one on one attention that is needed to really master the moves and positions. A great book available online that helps with the basics is the Ballet Bible. There are a lot of pictures explaining in detail what is right or wrong about a particular pose. Its kind of like having your own Instructor (without the extra ongoing expense!) that you or your child can refer to over and over again.

What Does it Take to Become a Ballet Dancer?

Ballet works by combining fluid, graceful movements with a rhythm set by either orchestra or vocal music. The goal of the dance is to create and tell a story to the audience. Dancers use forms of miming, acting and dance to tell this story. The different forms of ballet each use different methods for enacting this story. A modern ballet company may use a variety of dancing techniques that differs greatly from the classical movements. Each member of the ballet company has a very specific role ranging from the backup ballerinas to the Prima Ballerina.

There has to be a love of the dance in order to become a ballet dancer. The dancer must start at an early age learning all there is to know about the different movements and education behind this form of dance. In addition to this knowledge the dancer must develop strong leg and core muscles to help support him or her during the intricate movements that require strength, agility and flexibility.

Only later during the course of training when the strength in the ankles and legs has been developed will the dancer learn to use pointe shoes. The pointe shoe is used by the women and the men continue with soft soled shoes in order to learn the more advanced leaps and turns that will be expected of him. Discipline and training is the core to the dance and without it the dancer could become injured severely.

How to Stretch for Ballet

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What are a few ballet terms that kids practising ballet should become familiar with?

There are some key terms that refer to the actual movements of the dance that kids studying ballet should become familiar with.

The Arabesque is the movement where the hind leg is extended and the dancer leans forward over the load bearing leg. This is a classical movement that is practiced in the different forms of ballet.

Attitude is the dance movement most associated with the pointe which is when the ballerina stands on her toes and keeps the other leg up and curved around for flexibility and stability.

The Grand jetis the long jumps that begin on one leg and end on the other leg.

There is an entire alphabet of terms used in ballet that each dancer must come to know along with the positions of the dance. These are just a few of the many terms that you will hear used with this form of dance.

How Long Has Your Child Been Studying Ballet?

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What is the Biggest Problem Your Child Has with Studying Ballet?

Is it the ballet terms, the discipline, being graceful? What does your child struggle with most during their ballet class?

  • LinaNeumann Apr 28, 2010 @ 4:00 am | delete
    truly awesome lens..i liked it very much..very useful for ballet dancers.more useful for children. informative,innovative & inspirational too. thank you so much for sharing this information.
  • goinggreen007 Apr 14, 2010 @ 2:09 am | delete
    really nice lens.also useful for ballet dancers.more useful for children. informative,innovative & inspirational too.thanks for sharing information on this topic :)
  • windygig Mar 31, 2010 @ 12:53 am | delete
    let them love dancing! like the topic :)
  • Jane Mar 29, 2010 @ 10:27 pm | delete
    She has problems remembering all the terms for everything. Probably too much time spent looking at what her friends are doing and not enough time listening I think. I wish her teacher had handouts with pictures. That would help.
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AllAboutBallet

I'm a ballet fan and have been since I went to my first kids ballet class many (many!) years ago. I hope to share my love of ballet with other ballet... more »

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