<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>you are probably wondering what is it about her that makes me claim she is gifted<BR> at 4 yrs old.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>no - i'm not wondering. i've seen it - extraordinary, isn't it? this particular child, who is the student of a friend of mine, has SUCH a subtle musicality - possibly better than i have ever seen even in the world's best professional dancers - i know: you can't believe that! - "just hyperbole" - well, think what you like! i know what i saw!

- i was examining her: everything was perfect - her age? i'm not sure - maybe 6....<P>technically correct throughout, complete confident memory of every step, smile and appropriate sincere enthusiastic presentation skills in evidence throughout, well-spoken, knew the french theory, and then on top of all that: the musicality: beautiful!<P>btw, both her parents are musicians!

<P>i guess, now that you've raised this question, all i can think is how lucky i am that i'm NOT teaching her - because as you say it is a big responsibility - even more so when the child is even younger, and has so many more years to 'go wrong', as it were!

<P>my friend who IS teaching her is in her fifties, a wise woman, and i've never discussed this with her. i don't get the impression she is daunted....but then, she has so many years of experience to give her her very quiet confidence.<P>if she was online, i'd ask her to join in - you have raised an excellent point, and maybe antoP has some direct experience with this age group and this issue......