Annie Camp!

Here are some pictures from Miss Lori's Broadway Bound camp! They performed "It's the Hard Knock Life," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," and "Tomorrow."

Saturday Summer Classes at Ballet Petite

This past Saturday we had our second week of Summer Classes at Ballet Petite. Summer classes are a great way to keep technique up-to-snuff outside of the school year. A lot of students also use summer classes as an opportunity to try out new genres. Because the sessions are so short (4 weeks a piece) students can try something new for long enough to really get their feet wet without committing to a full school year. For instance, I have 9 little girls in my Add-On Tap class Saturdays at 10:30! Some have tapped before, but most have not. They are having such a wonderful time stomping around in their shiny tap shoes, and learning a thing or two in the process!

Musical Corner: Annie

Our Broadway Bound campers are working on one of my favorite musicals this week - Annie! The musical is actually based on a comic strip called Little Orphan Annie, a Harold Gray which was popular during the 1920s and 30s. The original Broadway production opened in 1977, but most kids remember the movie from 1982, starring Albert Finney (as Daddy Oliver Warbucks), Carol Burnett (as Miss Hannigan) and Aileen Quinn (as Annie).

Our campers will be working on some of the most popular songs from the musical - "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life." They'll be learning the lyrics, dancing in costume, and even choreographing some of their own moves! Look out for some pictures later this week!

Summer Vacation Travel Activities

One of Ballet Petite's biggest sellers during the summer months are Usborne's Sticker Dolly Dressing Books. An excellent activity for the car, the little dancers in our Boutique can't tear themselves away from the glittery covers of the Ballerina, Fairies, Popstars, Dancers, Movie Stars, Sports Girls, and even Fashion Long Ago! The only trouble is getting the excited recipients of this dazzling gift to wait until they get into the car to open up the book!

Ballet Petite's "Got Hip Hop!"

With a name like Ballet Petite, it's hard to imagine anything but pink tutus, fairy dust, and magical castles. When our Hip Hop program began in the Winter of 2009, however, it was an instant success! With dynamic teachers for this high-energy genre, we have consistently had to add additional classes to meet the needs of our customers.
In order to continue this dance craze during the summer months, Miss Lori wrote the curriculum for our "Got Hip Hop!" camp. With favorite songs like Hannah Montana's "Party in the USA," Justin Bieber's "Somebody to Love," and Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair," these camps are an exciting and energetic way to keep hip hopping or even to try out a new genre over the summer!

Creative Uses for the Ballet Barre

I picked up the Express on the way to Ballet Petite this morning and found an interesting article about a comparatively new way of exercising using the ballet barre. Check out Tone Without a Tutu: Work Your Muscles at the Bar Method!

Stars & Stripes

In honor of the 4th of July, let's take a look at one of George Balanchine's patriotic ballet pieces: Stars and Stripes! The ballet includes baton twirling, military marching, and even some rifle-bearing ballerinas! It was first performed in 1958, but enjoys many revivals as tributes to Presidents like John F. Kennedy and an annual 4th of July performance by the New York City Ballet.

Happy 4th of July, Dancers!