Tappin Toes - Introduction

Hello Dancers!

I want to introduce a new segment that will appear in our blog - Tappin' Toes! We don't only offer ballet here at the studio, we also have several accomplished tap teachers as well! In fact, many of your current ballet teachers also teach tap. And this summer, we have two different tap camps that you can choose from!

Here are some videos of other tap groups performing to songs we'll be using this summer:

Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley

Hit the Road Jack - Aretha Franklin

Rockin Robin - Jimmie Thomas

Get ready to explore some of these tunes and some famous tap dancers as we get ready for camp!

Happy Dancing!

Petite Boutique: Wedding Time!

Hello Dancers!

Has anyone been following the news about Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding? We are excited here, and we even ordered some special wedding sticker books for the boutique!

Are you a bit older and want to learn how to do a wedding dance? Check out this video.

And did you know that you can even wear a tutu on your special day? Some wedding dresses come well equipped for ballerinas!

The Story Ballet

You might have heard our teachers referring to the "story dance." The story dance is the part of our class where we dance out the portion of the story we've read in class that week. It is similar to a story ballet, which simply means it is a ballet with a discernible plotline.

Christopher Wheeldon's Alice in Wonderland is a recent example of the modern story ballet. He uses virtual technology and manipulated images - along with incredible choreography - to tell the intricate and visually stunning tale of Alice. Dancers, choreographers, and dance lovers alike are wondering whether this use of technology is the future of the story ballet. Many agree that it will bring in a new audience and it can enhance the story, but warn of the dangers of fully relying on visual images rather than pushing the limits of choreography to tell the story. You can read more here.

National Dance Week

Hello Dancers!

Every year, the United Dance Merchants of America and studios around the country celebrate National Dance Week! Many studios hold special classes and workshops. Here at Ballet Petite, we celebrate by having each student bring a friend to class for a special Angelina Ballerina lesson! We also have an Angelina Scavenger hunt in the studio!

This year, National Dance week will be held April 25th - May 1st. Be sure to bring your cameras for this special day!

Dance Around the World: New Zealand

It's time to explore dance in another country: New Zealand! Located on the other side of the world from Ballet Petite headquarters, the country of New Zealand is ripe with culture and dance!

One of the most famous tribal dances is called the Haka, which was customarily performed before battle in order to scare the tribes opponents. Nowadays, the New Zealand rugby team performs a haka before their match.

The New Zealand School of Dance is one of the leading dance conservatories down under, sending alumni to local and international dance companies.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is even getting into dance by flying all of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, including the tutus, to Britain for its European tour for free!

Dance on the Web

Ever wonder what other dance blogs are up to? Well, I sure do! Here are a list of some of the top dance blogs from last year: check them out! My favorite title has got to be You Dance Funny. Tutus and Tea has great backstage insights into a Copenhagen-based ballet company. Inside Ballet is a must for dancer's who want to truly understand what their technique is! And this blog about ballet and pointe shoes makes it much easier to purchase them!

Story Corner: Singing in the Rain

Since it has been a little less than stellar outside these past couple days, I thought it would be fitting to highlight one of our Musical Theater stories: Singing in the Rain. Starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, the movie highlights the world of musical theater and dancing as Don (Gene Kelly) falls in love with his co-star's voice over actress Kathy (Debbie Reynolds). The most infamous scene, and the one where we took our costuming ideas from, is the movie's title song featuring the wonderfully classic yellow trenchcoats and umbrellas. Check out the trailer here, and come join us for some singing, acting, and dancing in one of our musical theater classes and camps!

The Ballerina Project

Photographer Dane Shitagi combines the artistry and poise of ballet with the gritty, urban landscape of New York City in his photo blog, the Ballerina Project. Although the project is ten years old, it continues to be one of the most dominant dance-photography projects on the web.

The Wall Street Journal reports that models from the American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet have been photographed by Shitagi. Instead of leaps and turns, Shitagi chooses to focus on the more intimate moments, highlighting the relationship between the dancer and the surrounding environment.

Check out more articles and photos from Dane here and here.

Ballet Around the World: South Africa

south african ballet theatre studios above

Sometimes we think of ballet as being connected most closely with Russia and France - two countries who have always provided strong dancers - but ballet is prevalent world wide. I decided we should take a look at some other places where ballet is alive and wants to grow: South Africa! (You may remember, this is home to our wonderful Miss Lee-Ann!) While ballet may not be the most popular dance in South Africa, there are still some ballet companies to choose from. There are also programs for less priveledged residents, such as the non profit dance center called Dance for All, created by Philip Boyd in 2002. He and his wife, prima ballerina Phillis Spira, have expanded the program to include African Dance, musical theatre, jazz, and contemporary dance. To bring dance awareness to South Africans and the world, the International Ballet Gala will be hosted in Cape Town and Joburg this summer.

Healthy Dancing

As dancers, we stretch, flex, and move our bodies in a myriad of ways every day - whether we are in rehearsal, dance class, or even warming up at home. We need to be extra careful when it comes to watching and listening to what our bodies are telling us, because an injury in the ankle, foot, or leg can be detrimental to a season! This article on Health Scout gives some great tips to stay healthy and prevent injuries.

• When warming up in a cool studio, always wear leg warmers and a sweater or t shirt.


• Drink plenty of fluids while you are dancing! Water is the best.


• Always make sure your shoes fit correctly, especially when en pointe!

Summer Camp - American Girl

Hello dancers! Its only the first weekend in spring but you know we are thinking about summer! I wanted to feature one of our most popular summer camps - American Girl! Our American Girl camp is for 5 - 7 year olds. It is running three weeks in Bethesda and three weeks in McLean with a different girl being featured each week. In addition to incorporating dance into the American Girl story, campers get to learn all about the American Girl's life and culture! My absolute favorite American Girl (probably because she has my name) is Molly! She grows up on the home front during World War II and learns all about sacrifice, saving, and what it means to serve your country. She also has fabulous braids! Check out more of our themes online @ www.balletpetite.com!