CriticalDance Forum

Good Day

I need some info on ballet!

We live in South Africa an my 2 daughters (4 & 6 years old)just started ballet and i
don't know anything about ballet. Will it be help full for my daughters if i do intense
research about ballet? The only thing i know about ballet is you dance and dress in
cute pink tutus.


Thank you
Belinda

I'm glad you're asking about this and welcome to the wonderful world of ballet! You and your daughters should "shop" around for what seems to be the best ballet school in your community. Ask to observe and/or participate in a class. A school where they know what they are correctly doing will not start them into a regular technique class until they are older -- usually about age 8. Creative Movement or Pre-Ballet are typical fare.

For your part of the world, just about any teacher certified by the Royal Academy of Dance (teachers might have RAD or ARAD after their names) will be a good and responsible one.

Classes for this age are typically 45 minutes, sometimes an hour. Once they get into regular ballet technique classes, then it's once per week for an hour, and then the number of times per week increases year-by-year and by level/age.

Attire for class is almost always a leotard, pink tights, and ballet slippers. Tutus are much later [in performance] or for fun/fantasy at home.

Best wishes for Happy Dancing in 2013!

Hi Belinda,

How exciting for your daughters to be joining the wonderful world of ballet!

These articles have lots of information on the outfits worn for either ISTD or RAD registered dance classes:

http://www.dancemania.biz/blog/what-to- ... t-classes/
http://www.dancemania.biz/blog/what-to- ... t-classes/

Even if your daughter's dance classes aren't registered with either of these organisations the outfits are pretty universal.

Of course for something super cute you cannot beat a pretty pink tutu:
http://www.dancemania.biz/capezio-camis ... dress.html

Have fun!