I’m Going to Miss You!

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

This is the last post for Milli Mouse’s blog – just to say “goodbye.”

I hope you’ve enjoyed practicing ballet with me and all the wonderful instructors whose videos we’ve studied together.

I loved it and will miss all of you very much.  You can come back to this site any time, though, to review the ballet steps we’ve practiced, to watch the videos and to color the pictures.

Happy dancing!

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

Au revoir!

Let’s Practice the Grand Jeté!

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

Today we’re going to learn and practice the ballet step called grand jeté.

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

“A long horizontal jump, usually forward, starting from one leg and landing on the other. In the middle of the jump, the dancer may be doing a split in midair. One of the most memorable of all ballet jumps; the dancer seems to float in the air, as a result of the shift of his center of gravity from the split.”

I found a video with Maegan Woodin showing how to do this step.  Please click on the link below to open the video and follow along.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/494952-How-to-Do-a-Grand-Jete-Ballet-Dancing

After I practice my grand jeté, I’m going to color this ballet picture.

Ask your mom or dad to help you print it out.  Don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

If you’d like to subscribe to my blog, ask your mom or dad to help you fill in the address box at the top of the right-hand column.

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

See you then.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

If you’d like to know more about the history of ballet, you will find these books interesting.  Click on either of the book covers for more information and to buy.

Do You Know How to Do Chaîné Turns?

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

Today we’re going to learn how to do chaîné turns.

Below is the definition of these turns from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary:

“Short for tours chaînées déboulés, “chained, rolling turns.” Fast turns on half or full point with the legs in a tight first position, rotating a half turn on one foot and the other half on the other foot. Done one after the other so they’re “chained” together.”

I think this video will help us to understand exactly how to do these turns.  Please click on the link below to open the video.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/497199-How-to-Do-Chaines-Turns-Ballet-Dancing

After I practice the turns, I’m going to color the ballet picture.  Ask your mom or dad if you can print out the picture and color it.

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

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

See you then!

If you would like to subscribe to my blog, ask your mom or dad to help you fill out the box at the top of the right-hand column with your email address.

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

Happy Labor Day!

Hi!  Welcome to my blog.

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

Below is a picture for you to color.  No ballet lesson this week, though.

I hope you’ll come back next week when we’ll have a new ballet lesson to work on.

See you then.

If you’d like to subscribe to my blog, please ask your mom or dad to help you fill out the form at the top of the right-hand column.

Below are a couple books on the history of ballet you might like to read.  Click on the covers to get more information and to buy.

More Ballet to Practice – Fondu

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

Today we’re going to learn how to do a fondu.

Below is the definition of a fondu from Vance’s Ballet Dictionary:

“Any movement that lowers the body by bending one leg. In a plié, both legs support the body; in a fondu, only one leg supports the body.”

Check out the video showing how to do a fondu.  Please click on the link to view the video.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/497191-How-to-Do-a-Fondu-Ballet-Dancing

Ask your mom or dad to help you print out the picture below so you can color it.

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

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

See you then.

xoxoxo,

MilliMouse

If you’d like to subscribe to my blog, please fill in the box at the top of the right-hand column.

Below are books about the history of dance that you might like to read.
Click on the book covers to get more information and to buy:

More Ballet to Practice – Pas de Bourree

Hi!  Welcome to my blog.

Today we’re going to learn how to do a pas de bourree.

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

“This term has at least two meanings. 1. One of the simplest connecting steps, used to link other steps in a combination. The commonest form is probably the pas de bourrée dessous. Assume your right foot is in front: left foot on half pointe; step on it and put your weight on it; move the right foot to the side, transfer your weight to it (also in relevé); move the left foot to the front of the right and put your weight on both feet in a plié. 2. (properly called pas de bourrée couru, “running pas de bourrée”). A gliding movement by a dancer on pointe consisting of many very small steps taken with the feet close together. When a dancer uses bourrée as a verb (“Then you bourrée downstage”), she usually means pas de bourrée couru.”

Wow!  What a long definition.  Maybe the video below will help us to understand what this step should look like.  Please click on the link to open the video lesson.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/495323-How-to-Do-a-Pas-de-Bourree-Ballet-Dancing

After I practice the pas de bourree, I’m going to color the picture.

Ask your mom or dad to help you print it out and don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

If you’d  like to subscribe to my blog, ask your mom or dad to help you fill out the form at the top of the right-hand column.

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

In the meantime, below are a couple books you might like to read by yourself or with your mom or dad.  They are about the history of ballet.  I think you’ll like them and will learn a lot.

Please click on either of the book covers above to get more information and to buy.

Let’s Practice Piqué Turns!

Hi!  Welcome to my blog.

Today we’re going to learn about

piqué turns.

Below is a description of how the turn should be done.

• A movement in which the strongly pointed toe of the lifted and extended leg sharply lowers to hit the floor then immediately rebounds upward.
• In Piqué Tours en dedans, the dancer steps en pointe onto a straight leg and turns while the opposite leg is brought into passé (so the turn is done towards the supporting leg)
• In Piqué Tours en dehors, also called “lame ducks” the dancer steps en pointe onto a straight leg, half turns to place the opposite leg on the floor and picks up the original leg into passé. The turn is then done away from the supporting leg.

The above description can be found on Dance25.com.

I found a video with a ballet teacher demonstrating how to do this turn properly.  Please click on the link.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/495328-How-to-Do-Pique-Turns-Ballet-Dancing

Watch the video a few times and try to practice along with Maegan.

After I practice the piqué turn, I’m going to color this picture:

You may need help printing out the picture.  If so, ask your mom or dad for help and don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

If you’d like to subscribe to my post, ask your mom or dad to help you fill out the box at the top of the right-hand column.

Please come back next week when we’ll learn more ballet steps.  See you then!

Below are a couple books you might like to read by yourself or with your mom or dad.  Click on the book cover to get more information and to buy.

I’m Going on Vacation!

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

I’m going out of town this week with my mom and dad and my brother, Mortimer.  So…there won’t be a new ballet lesson this week.

I’ll be back next week, though and I hope you will be here, too.

See you then.  In the meantime, go back to the previous lessons and practice those.  Okay?

You might like to find more information on these books about the history of ballet.

 If so, click on the book cover to learn about the book and to buy it.

Today We’re Going to Learn How to Do a Sous-sus

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

Today we’re going to learn how to do a sous-sus

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

“A relevé in a tight fifth position with one foot almost on top of the other.”

Below is a video lesson for us to watch and then practice with.  Please click on the link.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/495332-How-to-Do-a-SousSus-Ballet-Dancing

After we finish our ballet lesson, we can color this ballet picture:

Ask your mom or dad to print it out for you and don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.”

Please come back next week when we’ll learn about more ballet steps.  See you then!

If you’d like to subscribe to my blog, ask your mom or dad to help you fill out the box in the upper right-hand corner of this post.

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

Click on the book covers above for more information and to buy.

More Ballet Information, Steps to Practice and Videos to Watch

Hi!  Welcome back to my blog.

It’s nice to see you again.

Today, we’re going to learn more things about ballet for us as beginners and what to expect as we progress in our studies.

Watch the video by clicking on the link.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpvc7j_how-to-move-forward-in-ballet_music#.Udh6PTvVCuk

After you practice some of the steps show in the video, ask your mom or dad if you can color the picture.

Wow, are those girls limber!

You may need help in printing 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 about ballet.

See you then!

If you’d like to subscribe to my blog, ask your mom or dad to help you fill out the form at the top of the right-hand column.  You’ll get each new post directly into your email inbox.

Here’s another video just to watch for fun.  I hope you enjoy it.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/cartoons-tv-movies-kids/toot-puddle-kids/tootpuddle-ballet-kids/

Below are some books you might like to read by yourself or with your mom or dad this summer:

Just click on the book cover above to read more about the books and to buy.