I’ve spoken quite a bit about Science Boy and his ballet adventures but haven’t written much about Ballerina Girl, my 5-year old DD. During her last class, while I was waiting in the lobby with the other Ballet Moms, one of them casually remarked on how the school was slowly but surely going to phase out the storytime and dress-up time in BG’s class after the first of the year.
First, an explanation: BG’s class is a 45-minute Pre-Ballet III class consisting of only eight girls. Their class is about 10 minutes of barre, 15 minutes of center work (in the middle and going across the room), 10 minutes of storytime (they read the old standards like Angelina Ballerina and Olivia), then at the end, they put on a costume and finish up class in the center with some freestyle moves and/or more center work.
The storytime and cosplay is definitely something the kids love, and is unusual for a ballet studio in my area. The clothes are handmade by the studio’s owner and it’s something different every week. But as they prepare to move on to an hourlong Ballet I class next year (a traditional class with a longer barre, center work and combinations) the girls will have to say goodbye to the costumes.
Upon hearing this, one of the Ballet Moms looked aghast. She was all like, “That’s awful! They’re gonna turn it into a more serious class! If Michelle has to be all serious and rigid, she’s not gonna want to do it.”
I had to turn away so she wouldn’t see my look of incredulity. Uh, lady? Your daughter will be six years old next year. First grade. First graders aren’t all fun-and-games anymore. They have to learn some solid academics at school. Same goes with ballet. It’s not going to be all jumping around and skipping next year. They have to actually learn the moves. And besides, it’s BALLET we’re talking about here, not freestyle dancing at your cousin’s wedding. Learning ballet involves serious study and some rigidity. It’s the nature of the art.
Methinks that little girl and mom won’t be around next year.
For BG’s winter recital, instead of a full-blown Nutcracker or even a Christmas performance, the kids were given a CD of six songs and told to select one. Then, they’re supposed to do their own choreography and put on a show for us. BG has been playing her song selection at home and practicing her routine everyday, which I’m proud to say she choreographed all by herself! Of course it looks like a random mishmash of ballet moves, a string of tendus and relevés and degagés put together, but she made it all up by herself. Yay! My budding little choreographer!
I will report on how the show goes. In the meantime, I snuck in one ballet class last night (along with my hip hop class) and will be going to my last ballet class for the week tonight. 
If I don’t post tomorrow, I want to go ahead and wish everyone in the U.S. a good Thanksgiving holiday. Toodles!
