Ballet peeking through the keyhole

	Many children dream about a bright and magic fairy-tale: “Ballet art”. They do not see it as “art”, for them it is only an exceptionally wonderful game with colorful costumes, beautiful music and they marvel at everything about it… And only after years of hard and intensive work does this, initially easy game, change small ducklings into beautiful Swans and Princes! They must be very patient and diligent before attaining roles in famous performances. There are no easy ways to become a famous ballet dancer – there is another side to the “brilliant ballet medal” – daily hard work, defeats, and tiredness but also … satisfaction! Satisfaction from working with the awareness of possessing an exclusive gift of nature, by no means given to all! And eventually - small and large artistic victories, glory and many delighted admirers!
	Ballet education is a great choice. And not only for the chosen one, but for any child whose parents want to give him\her a noble education, a beautiful body and a character strong enough to ensure achievement in any of his\her future goals. And if you have already made you decision - this article is for YOU. Be strong and choose the most beautiful art in the world – Ballet Art.
	Before revealing some of the secrets and goals of the first ballet lessons for 7-10 year old children, the most important consideration is the selection of a Teacher. Namely, the ability to captivate and hold the pupils attention depends on the teacher’s abilities and experience. Under the Teacher’s control, but with pupil’s concentration and focused determination, will appear an interesting and self-assured ballet dancer! Even if a pupil doesn’t have the brightest talent - real desire and daily work can bring amazing results!
	So each lesson starts with the same very important exercises. After bowing to the Teacher and Pianist the lessons can begin. We can separate it into three important parts: The warm up. Working on the floor with mats. The final part.
	The Warm up The main goal of this set of exercises is to warm up the bodies muscles in preparation for the lesson, to limber up the breathing and to concentrate the children’s attention on their suppleness. It’s really not easy – you know how they like to be naughty, to run through the spacious ballet room with their friends, playing various games and then having to abruptly become serious and try to give their attention to ballet work! This is a fundamental problem to the teacher at this stage.
	The warm up includes following movements: Slow marching around the ballet room. Marching with raised knees around the ballet room. Jumping with raised knees around the ballet room. A short run around the ballet room.
	An important point is to keep in mind the rhythm of the music and also the style of the music. And don’t forget your arms! Your hands can be on your waist or out to the sides of your body. The head must be straight. The steps and jumps must be confident and brisk. The leg muscles are working and “tightening”.
	Working on the floor with mats Before taking to your mats you must do the warm up, stand in the middle of the ballet room, look at your beautiful reflection (if you are diligent and upright!) in the mirror on the wall. The warm up begins from the neck: Turns of the head to the left\to the right, forward\backwards. The same but this time with the arms as well. Bending the body. Jumping. These exercises help with “tightening” the muscles, preparing the breathing for work on mats.
	This is the most interesting part of the lesson. Your teacher can play (!) with you and work with your muscles at the same time - special dancing/gymnastic combinations mix necessary exercises and fantasies for both the teacher and you! You start with:
	Work on the feet while sitting on mat with the legs stretching forward (alternate feet and both feet together). The essential point is that each child must see himself/herself in the mirror – and not only to smile at each other during small breaks between exercises…but to have the opportunity to see how beautiful the movement appears after all of your effort! As usual the teacher seats children in several lines (depends on the quantity of pupils and the size of the ballet room) in “chess order”.
	The same actions but this time also with head (right foot – the head turns to the right and likewise on the left). The music might be dancing and merry, for example from famous animation films or children’s ballets.
	Springy “fold”.
	“Frog”: sitting on the mat.
	“Frog” – the same but with one leg and held in the hand (right leg-right arm and likewise on the left).
	Rushes of legs lying on mat.
	“Board” on knees.
	“Basket”: lying on tummy, hands holding feet and gathered together behind the back (right foot-right hand, left foot-left hand).
	The most important part of this lesson is preparing the pupils’ muscles for the future – graceful and perfect movements in dance. For example, to create the beautiful lines of the arms and legs which in some combinations depend on strong muscles, coordination work and the potential of the pupil to not only listen to the music – but to feel it! Because Music is the soul of the Dance. So the teacher gives much attention to these exercises and brings to each lesson different opportunities for play which will stimulate these bright and impressionable pupils. This set of exercises is the basis for proper suppleness, the basis for preparing to Dance.