Ballet Class for Kids! A Fantasy Garden I & II

PreS-Gr 1—Although this is a somewhat amateurish production with imperfect sound and video quality, it's a great resource for younger children who are interested in ballet. Rosemary Boross, a professional dancer and dance teacher, has created a ballet program for children using storytelling through song to illustrate basic ballet movements. By acting out the movements in a song about flowers, frogs, and butterflies, children learn the basics a little quicker. The narrative in each story is very simple, such as a flower blossom opening as the sun rises, or a butterfly flapping its wings as it flies from flower to flower. The first part is comprised of warm-up exercises, beginner movements, and some other basics. The second segment includes some of the warm-up exercises from the first part as well as more advanced movements. The instructor carefully guides children through each exercise, and with the accompanying songs, it should be a simple and fun program for any young child who is eager to learn ballet as well as for preschool and early elementary fitness programs.—Jenny Ventling, Greene County Public Library, OH