Friday Update

Halloween week is still going on, but we are already looking forward to winter! Here are a few things to keep in mind over the next few weeks:



- Nutcracker tickets go on sale NEXT WEEK! Even infants need tickets for performances because every head must be accounted for! Be sure to give the office a call at (301) 229-6882.



- Registration for Winter Camps has already begun! We have camps for all ages running from December 20th-23rd and December 27th - 30th in our Bethesda and McLean locations.



- Ballet Petite will be CLOSED Thanksgiving weekend, so that means no classes!



- The Petite Boutique will start carrying winter goodies and Christmas gifts for your beloved ballerina! Be sure to stop in to see some of th enew merchandise!

Don't have enough time to read the blog? Keep up with us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/BalletPetite

Happy Dancing!

- Molly

Halloween Week: Day 2

It's Day 2 of Halloween Week and we are in full swing! Today, I see Miss Margie dressed as a ladybug, and Miss Sally dressed as Madeleine! I've also run into some very cute costumes:

Don't they look awesome?

Some of the classes also had a very special visitor, Cinderella!

I can't wait to see what else happens this week! Also, be sure to stop in the Petite Boutique - we are having our Halloween Sale! Everything black and orange is 25% off until the end of the week!

Happy Dancing!

- Molly

Halloween Week: Preview

It's Day 1 of Halloween Week and we're already having so much fun! The best part is seeing everyone in their costumes!

Miss Lee-Ann even made a spider web on her floor! How cool! I will be posting more pictures of Halloween Week later - so be sure to wear your costume to class!

Happy Dancing!

- Molly

p.s. we also have a jar of candy corns at the front desk! If you can guess how many are in there, you will win the jar!

Hello, Dancers!

When you think of Ballet Petite, you think of... well, ballet! But we offer so much more than that! In addition to our wonderful ballet program, we offer tap, jazz, and musical theatre classes! If you already take a ballet class, you can take an add-on tap class before or after which is only 30 minutes. If you'd like to take a full tap class, they last 45 min - 1 hour. If you are more interested in singing and acting, then be sure to look into our musical theatre classes! We are always looking for enthusiastic performers. If you really like it, then consider joining our Musical Theatre Performance Company!

I will be posting some pictures soon so you can get a glimpse of all our class offerings!

Happy Dancing!

- Molly

Halloween Week at Ballet Petite

Well, its nearly Halloween and Ballet Petite is buzzing with families looking for some last-minute costumes! Halloween Week begins Monday, and our little dancers are searching for the perfect costume to wear for the costume parade!

Ballet Petite offers a variety of handmade costumes for dancers to wear over their leotards. They're great for class and for trick-or-treating as well! The leotard and tights are sure to keep your little dancer extra-cozy while they go door-to-door in search of their favorite sweets!

Our Bethesda Boutique is open:

Monday through Friday 9:30-6:30, Saturday 8:30-4:30, and Sunday 9:30-5.

Our McLean Boutique is open:

Monday 9-6

Tuesday 9-6:30

Wednesday 9-5:30

Thursday 9-6:30

Friday 9-6

Saturday 8:30-4:30

Our Cabin John Boutique is open:

Monday 2:30-4

Tuesday 9:30-7

Wednesday 10:30-12:30, 2:30-3, 6:30-8

Thursday 9-12, 1-3, 3:30-5

Friday 12-12:30 and 3-3:30

Saturday 8:30-11:30

Feel free to stop by and check us out!

Happy Dancing,

Sophie

Picture Time!

Hello, Dancers!

If you haven't already, head on over to our Ballet Petite facebook page to check out some pictures from variations week! Here's a preview:

Also - did I tell you about the Care for Kids card? If you purchase a Care for Kids card, you get a discount booklet to use at hundreds of stores and restaurants in the DC area! Ballet Petite will be honoring the Care for Kids card with a 20% discount on all retail items from Oct 22nd to Oct 31st!

To promote the event, Angelina went to visit Dr. Bear at Beyda's Lad and Lassie in Bethesda!

Be sure to support the National Children's Medical Center by purchasing your Care for Kids card today!

Happy Dancing!

- Molly

Storytime!

Hello, Dancers!



If you've ever danced with us at Ballet Petite, you'll know our love for fantastical stories that help us dance and also give us something to think about. I'd like to preview some stories for you, so you can get a glimpse into our classroom.

One of my favorite story dances is Rainbow Fish. Have you ever read it? Rainbow Fish is a book about a beautiful fish with glittering scales who learns to share. Along the way, he makes some great friends! Have you ever shared something with your friends?



Speaking of sharing, stop by Beyda's Lad and Lassie in Bethesda today around 1pm to meet Angelina Ballerina. She is going to be sharing the Rainbow Fish story and dancing with you!



Happy Dancing!



- Molly

Variations Week!

Hello, Dancers!

Don't forget to tell your parents - this week is Variations Week in our Primary I class levels and above! A variation in ballet terms means to dance solo, which allows the dancer to demonstrate her skills. At Ballet Petite, we like the parents to come into the classroom for the last ten minutes of class to watch their dancers' variations.

It's a great way to show your parent what you've been learning over this past semester, and you also get to wear a wonderful tutu! Stay tuned for pictures from some of our Variations classes!

Happy Dancing!

- Molly

2 New Classes!

Calling all dancers!
We have two brand new class offerings at Ballet Petite in Bethesda!
On Saturdays from 12:30-1:15, Miss Jeanne will be teaching a jazz class
for 5 and 6 year olds!
Also on Saturdays, from 12:30 - 1:30, Miss Lee-Ann will be teaching a
modern dance class for teens!
Both classes will be running until the end of the fall semester and, according to demand, may be offered again during the winter 2011 session.
Sound interesting? Sign up today!

Meet Miss Lori

(Gregory Hines, Tap Dancer)

(Hello, Dancers! I would like to start a segment, probably bi-weekly, where you get to meet one of our distinguished ballet petite instructors! They are all highly qualified, hard working and creative individuals who want to share their love of dance with you!)



Miss Lori's dance career began in southern Maryland when she started taking jazz, tap, and ballet classes at the age of six. Two years later, she joined the Steppin' Out Dancers show troupe.



Some of her past accomplishments as a dance teacher include group performances Charles County African American Heritage Society’s annual Gospel Roots presentations, sending students to compete at regional level dance competitions, and an invitation for her group to dance during the 2008 Orange Bowl Halftime show in Miami, Floria.



Today, Miss Lori teaches jazz, tap, ballet, and musical theater classes at Ballet Petite. She is wonderful in each, but I just love listening to her tap dancers! It sounds rhythmic and fun - and the tap shoes are adorable too! Miss Lori describes tap as "a treat for both the eyes and the ears." The dancer not only creates movement, but sounds and subsequently rhythm using their tap shoes. Her favorite tap dancer is Gregory Hines and one of her favorite tap moves is the toe slide.



When Miss Lori isn't dancing, teaching dance, or thinking about dance - she enjoys visiting Washington DC's offering of museums, zoos, and botanic gardens.

Get Your Costumes Ready...

...because it's almost Halloween Week! From October 25th - 31st, Ballet Petite will be celebrating Halloween! Dancers may wear their costumes to class and bring one friend to dance along with them! We really do love to dress up around here, so all of the teachers will be in their favorite costumes as well! I hope to get some pictures of our costume parade to show you all!
Don't have a costume? Not a problem! Our production team loves creating your ideas into fun dresses, tutus, and capes! Just call or stop by and you can custom order your costume! Time is running out though, so be sure to stop in soon!

Happy Columbus Day!

Even though it's a holiday, we are still here dancing at Ballet Petite! And we're not the only ones!
Tonight at the Kennedy Center, check out Hip Hop Dance Ambassadors on the Millenium stage at 6pm! The concert is free, and features "an evening of breaking, poppin’, and lockin’ with dancers Abraham Pari Seis from Bolivia; Min Htun from Burma; Hida Guerrero from Ecuador; Kadir Memis from Turkey; Nonie Sachdeva from India; Hasan Rivzi from Pakistan; Abdul Kinyenya from Uganda; and Yvonne Zinyoro from Zimbabwe." (http://tiny.cc/kmykw) Sounds like fun!
Happy Dancing!
~ Molly

Winter 2011!

Hello Dancers!
This is Molly from BalletPetite - I will be here regularly, so be sure to check out some of the upcoming posts!
We are about to start our 8th week of Fall classes, but can you believe we already thinking about winter? Registration for our Winter 2011 session is now open! The session runs from January 3rd until March 27th, so be sure to take a look at our class offerings to see what works for you!
Happy Dancing!
~ Molly

We're Back!

Hello All!
Sorry we've been MIA for a while... things always get crazy here at the start of the new school year. I moved to NY to start a graduate program, but I'll be in DC regularly enough to keep you up-to-date on whats going on with Ballet Petite! When I'm not here, Molly will be taking over for me, so keep an eye open for her, too!
Anyway, we're back now and excited about a number of changes you will start to notice over the next few weeks. Our blog (and facebook and twitter pages) is getting a make-over, so pardon our appearance as we prepare for a major redesign.
It is so nice to be back at Ballet Petite this Saturday! I've been in the office for most of the day, but I keep sneaking up to the front desk when I hear things getting crazy or hear some familiar voices to lend a helping hand. It feels like I never left! This morning I ran into a parent of one of my former Baby Dance students. My little ballerina is now dancing all on her own, and has a little sister who is just itching to start! Its really nice to watch the little siblings follow in their big sisters' steps.
Ballet Petite is all decked out for Halloween (already!) The boutique and studios are decorated in purple and orange toole, with sparkly creepy-crawlies to aid in the display. Halloween costumes are just flying off the racks, and custom orders are coming in at a dizzying pace! We have a wonderful costume parade every year during Halloween Week, so teachers as well as students are scrambling to find the perfect look for the occasion.
So many exciting things are going on at Ballet Petite, it is truly great to be back!
Happy Dancing,
Sophie