Why exactly should I choose to go to the ballet school (or Academy)? Why and when should I decide to join the chosen company and become a fan of Ballet Art? What is the main goal (or goals) I want to reach? You will face these questions when you are choosing a school of Ballet. And what your first impulse was really doesn’t matter. In front of you is the important task of preparing for the realization of your dream!
First of all, you should know that YOU are not alone; you should know that it is not only you; there are many other children also want to be real Dancers. Usually there are lots of desires outside the ballet hall before an audition. But only some of these children, the ones who are likely to pass all their exams (including in the audition), will be chosen to study the Ballet Art.
So it will be great if you allow yourself enough time to prepare. Yes, you may go straight to the examiner without any preliminary lessons and overwhelm them with all your natural abilities, such as:
  • body alignment
  • appropriate figure
  • appropriate footwork
  • flexible hip joints
  • strong ankle joints
  • range of movement
  • total flexibility
  • backbone condition
  • longer arms and neck
  • Achilles tendon
  • rhythmic feeling
However if you have any doubts then a good teacher will be an important ally for you, especially if you seriously want to be among the ballet students. And maybe to be among the best ballet students, but that depends entirely on YOU. My own experience shows that competition is usually fierce and some gymnastic lessons before the audition are certainly not an unnecessary preparation. Here is some advice for those who want to be the first to be selected for any opportunity that is offered during the audition into the ballet school.
All the points which I mentioned earlier (body alignment, appropriate figure etc.) are very important aspects your examiners will be looking for during the audition. We consider them in more detail a bit later (the 2nd part of my article). All examiners are dancers (in the past or currently) and they will observe you thoroughly. Don’t be afraid because they will be very glad when you show all that you can do, particularly if you do all the exercises with diligence and with a good disposition. And don’t forget to smile! They could be your future teachers!
Now let us consider how you can achieve the best results. If you are preparing for the audition by yourself, our exercises will be an invaluable support and be like a friend “whispering” to you. While training and developing all the skills required for the audition, you should use those exercises described in detail in my article “The Ballet “kitchen” or behind the Scenes”. But for the audition you should use only the essential ones, which are not difficult.
Slow marching around the ballet room (if you work with a teacher, or around your own room if you are working alone at home) to warm your entire body.
The child should work on the feet sitting on a mat with the legs stretched out in front. This basic work is good for creating beautifully shaped feet and for the Achilles tendon in general:
  • both feet together (up and down)
  • both feet together (circling movements)
  • alternately (right\left foot)
  • alternately all movements
You should sit on the mat with a straight back (arms situated slightly behind the back, in line with the shoulders and the head straight)
  • one leg straight out the other bent but both flat on the mat
  • alternate
  • one leg straight out the other bent with the knee up and the foot flat on the mat
  • alternate
  • bend to the right side with the left arm raised
  • bend to the left side with the right arm raised
Springy “Fold” increases the flexibility of the leg; this develops a flexible hip joint and a strong ankle joint (a teacher or parent should help).
“Frog”: sitting on the mat and “Frog”, lying on your back, this promotes a flexible hip joint and strengthens the ankle joint (a teacher or parent should help).
The “Twines” (right, left and cross) are necessary for a full range of movement:
  • There are 3-4 intermediate positions between the 1st (where you are standing straight) and the last (where you are sitting in the “twine”). You should hold each position for approximately 20 seconds to give the legs a good stretching. It’s not necessary to do it perfectly but you have to speed towards it!
  • When you sit in the cross “twine” try to lie on the floor with a straight back and arms. Your feet must work together (up and down). Then you bring your legs together behind your back while lying on the mat.
“Cat” for flexibility:
  • you start this next position: kneeling you must bend your back as a cat does after a good sleep
  • then sit back on your heels and stretch your arms out forwards keeping them straight throughout
  • now slide your body forwards and then when it is flat on the floor push the shoulders up by straightening your arms. You can now say “miaow”!
“Bridge” also for flexibility. There are various types of “bridges”:
  • Kneeling (place your hands on the floor\mat behind your feet). This position isn’t difficult and it will help you develop your flexibility ready for the “big bridge”
  • “big bridge” is quite complicated for beginners so ask your parents or your teacher to help you. Start with the bench and then try to do it on your own using only your arms and legs.
Jumps. Small and on the spot, good for developing a lightness of the body.
Ballet Arms. Only a professional teacher can teach you how to use your arms beautifully in the special ballet positions. But you can always try it, to show the examiners your feeling for these poses (even if they aren’t quite perfect). See photos!
The child will do all these exercises with their teachers after entering the ballet school. But now – before the audition – it’s very important to start to develop your skills! You will show how talented you are and how much you can do in the ballet school later. Your target is the major points that the examiners will be looking for!
Parents, most important is a child’s rhythmic feeling. Classical music, concerts and performances which your children can see before the audition will help her\him to have “ballet hearing”. Maybe now is the time to feel and love the Ballet Art. Start from this key moment and try to encourage your child to do these exercises and adapt for their coming audition! Using this set of training exercises you can make all the necessary preparations for the audition and your child will appear in all her\his beautiful ballet form in front of the examiners!