Why do we choose dance?

Spring is officially upon us. Well, honestly, it feels a little bit more like summer today. But in essence, and in feeling, it's definitely spring. The flowers are peeping out; the birds have come back (in Washington, do they ever really migrate?). And Spring session has started at Ballet Petite & Youth Performing Arts School. With the coming seasons, everyone has a lot more options for extracurriculars, including a lot of activities that are most appealing due to their access to the sunshine! It's baseball season, lacrosse season, and soccer season. Picnics, beach trips, hikes, and 5Ks are popular. It's also the time for school musicals, exams, and graduations. Spring break, summer planning, so much is going on right now.

And yet, we keep dancing. So many students continue to choose dance class instead of or in addition to their other activities. Everyone has a different reason for wanting to dance, and no one's reason is the same as another's. We wanted to hunt down a few good reasons to dance.

I choose to dance because...

"It's fantastic!" -a Ballet Petite student

"Dance makes me feel free and happy." -Miss Stephanie

"I love being on stage." - a Ballet Petite student

"It gives me an out." -Miss April

"Dance makes me smile." - a Ballet Petite parent

"Dance requires creativity and strength. It forces me to work hard and have fun at the same time."
-Miss Sarah Elizabeth

Got your own reasons? Share them with us!

And if you find yourself in the McLean studio, grab a flower and decorate it with your own reasons to dance! 

Meet Your Teacher- Miss Amanda

How well do we know one of our favorite teachers? Let's find out!

Miss Amanda, we have some questions for you!

How long have you been dancing?
Thirteen or fourteen years. I started in middle school and danced all through high school and college, and I still haven't stopped.

Where are you from?
I was born in Richmond, Virginia, but I grew up  mostly in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo, New York.

How big is your family?
My dad has 3 brothers, and my mom has  2 brothers, so I have a lot of cousins, aunts, and uncles! But my immediate family is small: just my mom, dad, and one sister.

Have you ever performed?
I've performed lots of times. Growing up, I did dance competitions and recitals, and I performed in plays and musicals at school. As a musical theatre and dance student in college, I performed in department and student-run productions. Since graduating, I've also performed in a few shows in the DC area.

What's your favorite place?
It's not where you go, it's the people you're with. I think I can have a great time anywhere in the world!


What's your hidden talent?
 I play piano, guitar, and ukulele; and I sing. I also love to bake in my free time (please feel free to share your favorite recipes with me!).

What is something you'd like to learn?
 I like learning to play new instruments-- I think my next attempt will be the harmonica.

What's your favorite hair accessory?
Absolutely scrunchies.

Story-Tea Time in McLean

 There is no denying that Ballet Petite and Youth Performing Arts School is a big presence in the Washington area! With classes in four studio locations and outreach at smaller venues throughout DC, we live to keep Washington dancing. But despite our breadth, we still love that neighborhood feel. Each studio has a different ambiance, a different neighborhood, and a different group of dancers.

For the past couple of weeks at the McLean studio, Ballet Petite has hosted Story-Tea Time for the neighborhood. On a quiet Tuesday morning, dozens of excited children and their families joined the lovely Miss Ellen for some tea, snacks, and Ballet Petite signature storytelling. 
It's been a great way to meet new friends and introduce families to their dancers' studio. Stay tuned! We're sure to host another Story-Tea Time again soon!

Miss Jennifer and Miss Kristen: A Teacher's Performance

Think your teachers don't perform? Think again! Most of our favorite teachers are still grand performers!

Last weekend, Miss Jennifer and Miss Kristen performed with The Classical Repertory Dance Theatre, a resident company of Joy of Motion Dance Center in Washington, DC. Even with teaching and work and all of life's scheduling troubles, Miss Jennifer and Miss Kristen worked hard to make it to their rehearsals all year. Think you're tired in class? Just think of the energy it takes to become a performer! And that will be you one day!

Ballet Petite's director attended the performance, and she kindly offered these words:

"One of the loveliest things about Ballet Petite is the community it creates, which shares the joys of performing across all generations of that community. I just went to the concert of all concerts (after our very own recital, of course!) and saw our beautiful teachers Miss Kristen and Miss Jennifer perform at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. They performed pieces with a distinct classical ballet pedigree, with excerpts from Swan Lake and Paquita. There was also a spectacular folk dance and contemporary dance. I thought Miss Kristen and Miss Jennifer were the best of all! You can just imagine their energy level, great technique, and unbelievable stage presence. I was so proud of them; they are so wonderful!"

Have you seen any of your teachers' performances lately? Have you attended a truly inspiring performance in the area and would like to tell us about it? Share your experiences with us! Comment, Tweet, email; we'd love to hear from you!

Stay tuned for more teachers' performances!!

Spotlight on Springtime!

Spring break approaches....

Here at Ballet Petite and Youth Performing Arts School, we'll still be busy with our classes. But we know that everyone will have a lot more time to be dancers when they're temporarily breaking from being excellent students. How will you ever fill those long, sedentary days of relaxation? Why, with dance camp, of course! So even though, normal classes continue during Spring Break, we'll also be having Spring Break Camp.

What makes Spring Break daily camps so special? A couple of our favorite teachers share their insight!

"Spring break camp means a day of adventure and dance! We dance, we sing, we perform. It's like a three-hour holiday."
-Miss Sarah Elizabeth

"Spring is my most favorite season! I love watching the flowers starting to bloom and the leaves returning to the trees. And during our special spring break camps, I get to see how happy this season makes all of the students."
-Miss Sarah G.

"Spring Camp is special because you can get to know students with whom you do not normally interact and strengthen the Ballet Petite community!"
-Miss Erin



Find the Spring Break Camp schedule at www.balletpetite.com! Or call the office for more information. (301)229-6882

Observation Week!

 The hallways are quiet at the studio tonight. For those of you who know us at all, that is a very strange thing... The benches, the siblings, the strollers, the dance bags, they're all missing! The only thing left in the hallways right now are shoes..... lots and lots of shoes. 

Observation week is well under way here at Ballet Petite and Youth Performing Arts School! For those of you who are new, during Observation Week the studio hosts all of our dancers' families, friends, and guests. They're all invited into the classrooms to watch the whole class. The dancers perform their exercises, storydances, and variations for their adoring audiences. It's like a mini-recital! The only exchange we ask for from our dancers' visitors is their shoes. The shoes stay outside and off the studio floors. It makes quite a sight!

Have you got any pictures from Observation week you'd like to share with us? We'd love to see them!

Tweet them to us @BalletPetite! Share them with us on Facebook! Or email them to information@balletpetite.com

What happened to your CHRF donations?

Where did the donations go?

Bring-A-Friend week came to a full and loving stop almost a month ago on Valentine's Day. Ballet Petite dancers and their families were so generous in their donations to the Children's Hunger Relief Fund, and we all want to thank you for your support!

Bet you're wondering right about now whatever happened to your donations? Did they make it to the children? How much money did we make?

Well, Ballet Petite made a late decision to match all donations made to CHRF by our families. The grand total collected was $453.19. We're matching it and rounding up to $1000.

Thank you again to our wonderful dancers and their families! We're so excited with the success of Bring-a-Friend week!

Happy Dancing!