101 Reasons to Study Ballet - # 21 Leotard Shopping

Reason #21 Leotard Shopping

Leotards come in a rainbow of colors and styles. A leotard is a unisex garment that is one piece that covers the body but leaves the legs free. It was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1842–1870). Traditionally in ballet class female students wear a black leotard, pink tights and pink ballet slippers and males wear a white leotard, black tights and black ballet slippers.
The fabric of the leotard can be made of  cotton, nylon, lycra, wool, silk, spandex or a blend fibers. you can really have fun looking at all the styles available online or in your local dancewar store. Some dancing schools have a dress code where you are only permitted to wear the select style and color for your level class so check with your school as to dress code. then have fun going shopping for your new leotard.
http://www.theballetcenter.org/

101 Reasons to Study Ballet - #20 Explore Choreography

Reason # 20 Explore Choreography

Choreography is the art of creating dances. When you study ballet you will learn the steps that choreographer have to chose from to create a ballet. You will be able to see how the steps are blended  and used by the choreographer to distinguish a unique stlye.

When watching a dance piece give special consideration to floor patterns. See the line of direction in both the bodies of the dancers and the patterns they make on the stage. Look at the use of the entire stage space. See how the choreographer designs visual patterns formed by dancers. Look at the contrast in arranging different patterns. There are many styles of ballet choreography some are: classical, romantic, neoclassical, contemporary, modern ballet. The ballet world is vast there have been ballets created on many topics some examples are: baseball, war, death, the beach, tennis, love, the circus, cowboys, fairytales, magic, saints, seasons, greek myths, sailors, soldiers, puppets, bugs and birds.  Ballets can also be abstract or have no story or idea just dance pure dance.  Start to study ballet it will help you enjoy watching ballet performances.

http://www.theballetcenter.org/

101 Reasons to Study Ballet - #13 Ballet Slippers

Reason # 13 Ballet Slippers

Ballet slippers are the soft shoes both men and women wear to ballet class or on stage They are made from soft leather, canvas, or satin, and have flexible, full soles or split soles. The idea is to have shoes that show off the arch of the foot and create a smooth long line of the leg from hip to toe. Traditionally in classical ballet, women wear pink shoes and men wear white or black shoes. Your shoes should match your tights -  again to create a long line. Many fashion designers have copied the look of ballet slippers - ballet flats. They are a great alternative to high heels. Ballet flats are popular with girls and women of all ages.  They are seen  at Weddings, Proms and other formal events instead of heels. Do not wear your ballet flats to ballet class they are great for social dancing but not good for classical ballet. Well fitted ballet footwear can mean the difference between comfort on the stage and potential injury. Ballet shoes should fit snugly fit like a glove. If there's any room at the front of the foot, the dancer will not be able to fully point the shoe. The dancer should try ballet slippers on both feet. Sometimes, dancers need different sized shoes for their feet, as again, the right fit is absolutely critical to both performance and safety.  Ballet slippers don't have typical laces; they have what are known as drawstrings. You need to crisscross these drawstrings and then pull them taut. Ballet shoes should fit snugly, but they shouldn't 'suffocate' the feet. During fittings, the ballet dancer should point their feet. If the heels of the slippers start to slip off, you needs to move to the next size down. Some modern ballet shoes are made with specialty materials which conform to unique foot sizes-- however, these specialty shoes cost a lot of money. Finally, check with your ballet teacher to correct any problems with your ballet slippers. Have fun picking out the perfect ballet slippers - just for you. http://www.theballetcenter.org/

101 Reasons to Study Ballet - # 10 Good Health

Reason # 10 Good Health

Classical ballet is good for your health - regular exercise is good for your body and your mind. The World Health Organization defines health as "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than the exercise of  ballet. The health benefits of regular exercise are hard to ignore. Ballet can give you more strenght, burn calories, flexibility of muscles, better posture and good muscle tone. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, male or female or physical ability. Ballet is for everyone, not everyone can be a professional dancer but everyone can benefit from attending ballet classes. Start your ballet class today.
http://www.theballetcenter.org/

How To Choose A Ballet School

What do you need to know to find the right ballet school.
First - Find a professional ballet school, even if you only want to introduce your child to ballet. It is best to learn proper technique. Take a look at the schools website. Look for a school with a professional ballet company in residence.
Second - Visit the school. Talk to the staff. Ask how many students have become dance professionals.
Look for a professional setting at the school. Ask about the dance floor. It should be a "floating dance floor".
Third - Small class size allows for more individual instruction. The teacher can catch any problems before they turn into bad habits or improper technique. Proper names of steps should be taught. French is the vocabulary of ballet.
Fourth - There is no license issued by the government to teach ballet so anyone can teach ballet. Ask for information on the teachers background and look at the schools website and read the bios of the teachers. A good school will have a good website with lots of information for you to read.
Fifth - look on Youtube to see if the school has videos posted so you can see the students and teachers.
This is a good start on how to find a ballet school for yourself or your child.

Summer Ballet Intensive

Summer Ballet Intensive is a unique training experience for children, teens, and adults that immerses aspiring dancers in a minimum of three classes per day, plus rehearsals and performances. They are joined by professional dancers from Ballet Long Island. Dates - Mon July 9 - Fri July 13, 2012 Time - 9:00 am - 3:00pm Tuition - $300 This is a fun-filled learning adventure.The teaching staff is one of the best in the United States. Dance classes in ballet and modern dance will be held along with classes in choreography, pointe, and character. Students will also view videotapes of famous classical dance works to enhance learning. Ballet Long Island's Summer Ballet Intensive is designed to develop all facets of a student's orientation to ballet. Professional dancers on staff with Ballet Long Island will join the intensive students in a performance of "Coppelia." Debra Punzi    Laurie Solomon Robin Williams Natasa Trifan Dawn Petchonka Keith Miller Performances: Choreography Showcase - Thurs July 12 - 2:00pm - free Tickets: FREE Coppelia - Fri July 13 - 2:00pm Tickets: $16 adults, $6 child, $6 senior citizen Call 631-737-1964 for more information or email us at balletlongisland.com.