Let’s Practice Pirouettes!

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

Today we’re going to practice a ballet step called a pirouette.

Pirouettes are used often in choreography so it is good if we know how to perform one properly.

Below is the definition of “choreography”:

“The composition of dance steps and sequences for ballet and stage dancing.”

This definition of a pirouette is from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary...

“A complete turn on one leg. The dancer usually goes round more than once. The raised leg is most commonly held in rétiré, but pirouettes with the leg in other positions are not uncommon. If the direction of the turn rotates the raised leg away from the front of the body, the pirouette is en dehors; if it rotates the leg toward the front, it is en dedans. The dancer spots (see “spotting”) in order to avoid becoming disoriented. Pirouettes are usually fast, but supported pirouettes, in which a partner steadies the soloist, may be done very slowly.”

Here is a video showing how to do a pirouette properly.  Please click on the link below to open your video.

http://video.about.com/dance/How-to-Pirouette.htm

After I practice my pirouettes, I’m going to color the picture below:

Ask your mom or dad if you can color the picture.  You might need help printing it out.  Don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

I hope you’ll come back next week when we’ll talk more about ballet.

See you then.

If you’d like to get each new post in your email inbox, ask your mom or dad to help you fill out the form at the top of the right-hand column.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

Please visit my website.  You will find a couple books about the history of ballet that you might like to read by yourself or with your mom or dad.

Let’s Review the Dégagé

Hi!  Welcome to my blog.

I hope you like my new theme.  Let me know what you think about the design.

Today we’re going to talk about the ballet step called “dégagé”.

Here is the definition from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary:

“A movement or position in which the working leg is lifted off the floor.”

I found a video that shows how to do a dégagé.

Watch the video first and then try the step yourself.  Please click on the link below:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2240640_perform-degage-ballet.html

After I practice this step, I’m going to color the picture.

You may need help to print out the picture.  Ask your mom or dad to help you and don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

I hope you’ll come back next week to practice ballet with me.

See you then!

If you’d like to receive each new post in your email inbox, please ask your mom or dad to help you fill out the “subscribe” box at the top of the right-hand column.

For books about the history of dance, please visit this website.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all my dancing friends!

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter holiday.

Ask your mom or dad if it’s okay for you to color the picture below.

You may need their help to print out the picture.

Don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

I hope you’ll come back next week when we’ll learn more ballet.

In the meantime, please take a look at the website that has dance history books.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

Let’s Review Port de Bras

Hi!  Welcome to my blog.

Today we’re going to review the ballet movement called port de bras.

Below is the definition of port de bras from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary:

“1. How a dancer uses his arms. 2. Specific movements of the arms, as first port de bras, second port de bras, etc. 3. Sometimes used instead of cambré. A grand port de bras is a circular bend, either toward the barre, then down, then up away from the barre, and then backward and back toward the barre: or the same thing in the opposite direction.”

I found a video showing how a port de bras exercise is used in a ballet class.  Please click on the link below to open the video.

 

http://www.ehow.com/video_5197550_port-de-bras-_ballet-kids.html

After you watch and practice with the video, ask your mom or dad if you can color this ballet picture.

You need help printing out the picture.  Ask your mom or dad to help and don’t forget to say “please” and “thank  you.”

I hope you’ll come back next week when we’ll practice more ballet.

Keep working on your port de bras!

If you’d like to receive each new post in your email inbox, ask your mom or dad to help you fill out your address in the box at the bottom of this page.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

 

Books on the history of dance are available for young dancers to read yourself or with your mom or dad.  Please check out this website, http://www.healingtaichi.com 

Back to the Barre!

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

If you’ve visited my blog before, you probably have already practiced some exercises at the barre.

If not, you’ll learn something else about ballet that you didn’t know before.

Here is the definition of the word “barre” from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary.

“The railing, about waist high, along the wall of a studio. Used by dancers as for steadying themselves in the first part of a class. 2. The first part of ballet class, consisting of exercises done with the aid of the barre.”

I found a video containing a lesson on ballet barre work.  You can just watch it or practice along with the girl in the video.

http://www.ehow.com/video_5362157_quick-easy-learn-dance-routines.html

After I practice the ballet movements in the video, I’m going to color the picture below:

You may need help to print out the picture so you can color it.  Ask your mom or dad to help you and don’t forget to say “please” or “thank you.”

I hope you’ll come back next week so we can learn more ballet together.

See you then!

You can subscribe to my blog if you’d like and your mom and dad say it’s okay. Ask them to help you fill out the box at the bottom of this page with your or their email address.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

Ballet article for mom and dad:

http://mysylph.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/isadora-duncan-cont-part-34/

Please visit this website to find books about ballet history.

My blog is sponsored by http://www.healingtaichi.com

Do You Know What a Retiré Is?

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

Today we’re going to learn about the ballet step called “retiré”.

Below is the definition of this step from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary:

“A position in which the working foot is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg. Also frequently (and incorrectly) called passé.”

I found a video of a ballet instructor teaching how to do a retiré.

Watch it a couple times and try to do what the student on the video is doing.

Please click on the link to see this video:

http://www.ehow.com/video_12250045_retire-step-ballet.html

After I practice the retiré, I’m going to color the ballet picture below.

Maybe you can, too but ask your mom or dad first.

I hope you will come back next week when we’ll talk about more ballet steps.

See you then!

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

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If you would like to subscribe to my blog, please fill in your email address in the box at the bottom of this page.

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Dance article for mom and dad:

http://classicalballetteacher.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/summer-intensive-handbook-on-sale/

Dance history books (ebooks) are available on my website.

Let’s Practice the Glissade

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

I’m glad you came back to practice ballet with me.

Today we’re going to learn about the ballet step, the glissade.

Below is the definition of this step taken from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary:

“A connecting step. Start in plié; move the right foot out to pointe tendu; then move onto that leg, closing the left foot and landing in plié. Can be done in any direction.”

I found a video that explains how this step should be performed.  Please click on the link to open the video so you can practice along.

http://www.ehow.com/video_5362160_do-side-glide-dance-step.html

After I practice this step for awhile, I’m going to color the dance picture.

Ask your mom or dad if you can too.  They may need to help you print it out.  Don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

I hope you’ll come back next week to practice more ballet with me.

See you then.

If you would like to receive each new post for this blog, please ask your mom or dad to help you fill out your email address in the box at the bottom of this page.

Here is an article about dance that your parents might find interesting:

http://eauclaireschoolofdance.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/is-dance-for-me/

Check out books for adults and children including books about dance at Healing Tai Chi.

My blog is sponsored by Healing Tai Chi.

Let’s Review the Relevé

Hi!  Welcome to my blog.

It’s nice to see you.

Today we’re going to talk about the ballet step, relevé.

Below is the definition of this word from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary:

“A movement in which the heels are raised off the floor. The rise may be smooth or aided by a slight spring, depending on the school. A dancer in such a position is said to be ‘in relevé‘.”

Please check out the video in which a ballet teacher demonstrates this step.

http://www.ehow.com/video_2374573_do-releve-ballet-dancing.html

Ask your mom or dad if you can color the picture below when you’re finished practicing the relevé.

It will need to be printed out so ask someone to help you and don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

I hope you’ll come back next week to learn more about ballet.  See you then.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

Informative article for mom and dad:

http://dance.about.com/od/youngdancers/p/Child_Dance.htm

Below are a couple books you might like to read:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/maria-la-magica?store=ebook&keyword=maria+la+magica

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dancing-king-cynthia-quarta/1112754575?ean=2940015111392

My blog is sponsored by Healing Tai Chi .

How To Do a Grande Battement

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

I hope you’ve been practicing all the ballet steps we’ve learned.

Today, we’re going to learn how to do a grande battement.

Below is the definition of this ballet step from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary:

“A “kick” in which the working leg is raised as high as possible while keeping the rest of the body still. “Kick” is in quotes because the battement should be a controlled lift, not a throwing of the leg into the air, and the leg must be controlled while coming down. “

I found a video that shows how to do a grande battement properly.

Please click on the link then watch it and practice the movement a few times.

http://www.ehow.com/video_2375967_do-grande-battement-ballet-position.html

After I practice the grande battement, I’m going to color this picture:

Ask your mom or dad if you can too.

They may need to help you to print out the picture.

Don’t forget to say “please” and  “thank you.”

I’ll be back next week with another lesson.

I hope you’ll come back to practice with me.

See you then.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

Here’s a link to information that your mom or dad might like to read:

http://mysylph.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/1351/

Below are a couple books you might like to read:

http://www.amazon.com/Maria-Magica-Taglioni-Ballerina-ebook/dp/B008ND5362/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349103623&sr=1-1&keywords=maria+la+magica

http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Students-History-Dance-ebook/dp/B0095KBK0K/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349103668&sr=1-4&keywords=the+dancing+king

Let’s Review Foot and Arm Positions

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

This might be a good time to review the five foot and arm positions in ballet.

Click on the link below to see a ballet teacher demonstrating the positions.  Then you should try to copy each of the positions.

 http://www.ehow.com/video_2374563_basic-ballet-positions-arms.html

After I practice each of these positions, I’m going to color this picture:

The picture will need to be printed out so ask your mom or dad to help you do that.

Don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

I hope you’ll come back next week.  We’ll practice some more ballet.

See you then.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

Below are a couple books you might like to read by yourself or with your mom or dad:

http://www.amazon.com/Maria-Magica-Taglioni-Ballerina-ebook/dp/B008ND5362/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349103623&sr=1-1&keywords=maria+la+magica

http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Students-History-Dance-ebook/dp/B0095KBK0K/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349103668&sr=1-4&keywords=the+dancing+king