Simple Ballet Positions Your Child Can Practice at Home

Your child adores ballet and enjoys dancing in general. Sadly, the COVID-19 outbreak has forced studio closures worldwide. There is no place to practice, and lessons are postponed. Even so, they are still capable of dancing.

No special area is required for aspiring ballerinas to start moving. We can satisfy your child’s need for ballet if they have one. Continue reading for some basic ballet positions and movements that may be practiced at home.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

Ballet fundamentals don’t require expensive equipment to master. But the correct equipment can replicate the studio environment in your house. You will need the following to equip your tiny ballerina.

Slippers

Every dancer, regardless of age, needs a good pair of ballet shoes. Pointe shoes are not required for novices. Young dancers should instead begin wearing slippers. Choose shoes with a full sole and a rounded toe.

Order a half size bigger than you normally wear for shoes. It is simple to measure if you want to be certain of the correct size. You can find all the necessary information in our helpful guide.

Leotard

For exercising, sweatpants and a t-shirt are cozy. However, a leotard that fits tightly enables dancers to perceive the lines that their arms and legs form. Both long and short sleeves are available for leotards. Some of them come with a skirt.

Tutus are typically worn on stages. However, there are none at home. Why not choose a tutu or maybe a ballerina dress just for fun?

Tights

Add some footed tights to complete the look. Don’t forget to style your long hair in a traditional ballerina bun.

Ballet Positions: Fancy Feet

It’s time to start dancing now that your little dancer is prepared. The five fundamental ballet positions will be our first focus. Every school has a different set of related hand positions. So just focus on the feet for the time being. Dancers should get comfortable holding each pose and switching between them.

First Position

  • Stand with heels together, with toes pointed outward.
  • Feet ought to resemble a wide “V”
  • Hold arms in front, nearly touching the thighs.
  • Curve wrists inward.

Second Position

  • Start with feet and arms in first position.
  • Spread feet slightly, about shoulder-width apart.
  • Raise your arms out to the side, almost in a “T” form.

Third Position

  • Slide the right foot up to the inside of the left foot starting in the second position.
  • Move arms into first position.
  • The left arm remains in the first position.
  • Lift the right arm just enough so that the fingertips are parallel to the hips.

Fourth Position

  • Step the right foot forward from third position.
  • Put your right arm in the second position by lifting it.

Fifth Position

  • Turn out the right foot.
  • Turn the other way and place the left foot behind the right.
  • Toes and heels should touch.
  • In a circular shape, lift arms above the head.
  • Keep a space between the hands.

Ballet Positions: It’s All in the Arms

It’s time to practice arm positions now that your child has a handle on footwork. They are known as the port de bras in ballet.

En Avant: Arms Forward

  • In front of the torso, hold arms.
  • Slightly round them, as if hugging an imaginary tree.

En Haut: High up

  • Hold arms above the head.
  • Shoulders remain flat.

En Bas: Below

  • Bring arms down to the sides.
  • Palms point forward, toward the legs.

The Gateway

The resting ballet stance in between positions is known as The Gateway. Although it initially seems simple, it’s crucial to practice maintaining this position in precise alignment.

  • In en avant position, hold the arms.
  • Don’t lower the shoulders; only the arms. Shoulders should be somewhat above the elbows.
  • Curve each hand, slightly cupped. Face palms inward.
  • Align fingertips with the bottom of the breastbone.
  • Keep hands slightly apart.

Put It All Together

These basic ballet stances can be taught without prior dance experience. Even young children can learn them because they are so simple.

Short sessions are beneficial for toddlers. Consider focusing on one or two movements at once, and take frequent rests. Older dancers might concentrate on perfecting their techniques.

All children require a lot of practice to become proficient in a skill. Of course, that doesn’t exclude you from having fun. Dance classes can and should be enjoyable.

How To Clean Ballet Shoes?

Whenever it’s time to get a new pair of shoes as your old one is in poor condition, make sure to pick the right pair of shoes for ballet lessons.

Before buying a new pair of shoes for ballet lessons each time, knowing how to clean them is extremely important for all. Because it helps to save your expenses by reducing the number of pairs you need to purchase each season.

Continue reading to learn more about how to care for different types of ballet shoes.

 

What Are The Procedure To Clean Your Ballet Shoes?

There are various sorts of ballet shoes available in the market and each pair of shoes requires a unique cleaning procedure according to its material. That includes –

Canvas Ballet Shoes

Ballet shoes made of canvas are easier to maintain and clean compared to other types. To wash your pair of shoes in a machine, you only need to apply a gentle detergent for that. Your ballet shoes made of canvas will also require running a cold and gentle cycle.

Once you’ve completed its cleaning steps, you need a clean towel for drying them. Also, keep them far from direct sunlight, which is never recommended for drying ballet shoes. Never use a pair of wet shoes for ballet lessons.

 

Satin Ballet Shoes

Ballet shoes made of satin are extra sensitive, so only need washing by hand. You can either use a gentle or mild detergent for the cleaning of satin ballet shoes. A few drops of detergent mixed with cold water can produce suds to clean your satin shoes for ballet lessons. After that, you need to properly clean your shoes in clear water. Never twist or ring your satin ballet shoes for cleaning.

 

Leather Ballet Shoes

Leather ballet shoes are equally sensitive as satin shoes and require similar washing to get a proper cleaning. You might be able to remove light stains and scuffs with a damp rag on your own because leather is less porous than satin and canvas. You could wish to squirt some detergent into the water you’re using to dip your rag for a deeper clean.

 

Major Tips To Remember Between Washes

Ballet shoes can last longer with the odd deep clean, but too much rigorous cleaning might weaken and split the materials. So, having regular spot cleaning can keep your ballet shoes looking brand new while reducing the number of times you need to do a deep clean of them.

If you want to decrease the odor of your ballet shoes, baking soda is extremely helpful to clean your shoes as well as remove bad odours from them. And so, you need to put a teaspoon of baking soda into each shoe after practice to keep them fresh for longer. This will also assist in absorbing any moisture and getting rid of the smell-causing particles.

Now that you are eager to take ballet dance lessons from highly-experienced instructors, look no further than Distinctive Dance Etc to get enrollment in the next sessions. Helping aspirants of all ages to explore new skills, we are proud to stimulate an environment for kids to have fun. From dancing to gymnastic sessions, we’ve got you all covered with a range of programs as per your interest to acquire extra-curriculum activities.

For more convenience, you can simply visit us at www.distinctivedanceetc.com and join us right now!

 

A Comprehensive Guide To The Best Ballet Music For Kids

It’s significant to choose the right music whether you are instructing a children’s ballet lesson or helping your child learn at home. Ballet music for kids can serve as a supportive prompt to remind your child which movements to practice. Most of the best ballet music for kids includes upbeat melodies, so older kids will particularly benefit from classical ballet music for barre practice.

Here we’ve got you covered if you are confused about which ballet music is best for your kid. So, keep on reading with us –

 

What Defines Good Ballet Music For Kids?

If you are conducting a quick search of classical ballet music, you may not get the right music for your child’s entire class. Because some of the CDs contain tunes that aren’t appropriate for kid’s ballet lessons because they were created with teen or adult dancers in mind. Popular ballet tunes can inspire your child to start moving independently. Choosing between slow and energetic songs is a great option when your class is warming up by playing freeze dance or dancing with scarves.

The majority of music is classical and short pieces when it concerns practicing at the barre. When buying CDs for kid’s ballet lessons, you need to select each piece carefully and make sure to download the best ballet tunes.

Some famous ballet tunes, like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker are just ideal for practicing poses, going across the floor, or adagio for floor training after barre. Also, these longer songs are useful for rehearsing short routines that help kids to develop day-by-day.

 

What Music To Play In Ballet Classes?

It’s vital to consider how your ballet class will run ahead of creating your playlist. If you are a responsible parent who is helping your child dance at home, you might want to start by looking at dance class lesson ideas. Ballet dancers might require assistance to shift their attention during warm-up. So, funny tracks with different tempos are perfect for stretching at the time of practice.

To help your dancers remember their stretches during this stage, consider incorporating some nursery rhyme songs. It can be sufficient to play some soothing music in the background while leading stretches in a small circle as part of your warm-up.

Next, barre exercises can be performed to traditional ballet music. Concentrate on music designed for plies, tendus, releves, and rande jambe for young children. Even though these songs won’t be long, you might need to repeat them a few times to get the moves down. For each phase, having two or three options is beneficial.

Longer, more classical ballet compositions can encourage your young dancers to capture more grace in their movements as you progress to centre work. This one is especially useful if you need to dance across the floor since you need a song that is lengthy enough to encompass several rows of two or three dancers. A lengthier song can promote more practice in this area if your child is dancing at home.

You might choose peppy songs from Disney or other artists as your cool-down music. This is excellent for songs of farewell or free movement or for tumbling. We advise concluding each lesson with a little bow or curtsy to a piece of soothing classical music.

 

Choose The Right Ballet Dance Class For Your Kids

In addition to choosing the right ballet tune for kids, there are many other things to consider when getting ready for a ballet lesson for kids. That’s helpful if your children are properly attired for ballet lessons.

Need to take ballet lessons from highly-trained dancers? Distinctive Dance Etc. is an ideal place to stimulate an environment for kids of all ages and enable them to explore new skills. We have arranged a range of programs to match each child’s needs, which you can get enrollment as per your area of interest.

So, feel delighted to dial us at 4019965222 for the details of our admission procedure. Call today!