Michel Maling 
If you are wondering what the best way to teach young children to dance is, it is not by doing endless plies or tendus. It’s actually about teaching them to move with increased control, coordination, and confidence. Fundamental movements involve the raw or core movement, devoid of aesthetic refinement or style. In order to learn … Read more
If you want to learn how to do the splits, you need to know something about the different types of splits and whether or not your body will allow you to perform the splits safely. This article is adapted from the Easy Flexibility website. I avidly follow these stretching methods and own quite a few … Read more
The Lady and the Fool is a one-act ballet choreographed by John Cranko. The music is from Verdi’s lesser-known operas, selected and arranged by Charles Mackerras. The Scenery and costumes were done by Richard Beer, and it was first performed by the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet at the New Theatre in Oxford on the 25th … Read more
Let’s look at the quirky charm of the Pineapple Poll Ballet in this article. What is the Pineapple Poll Ballet? The Pineapple Poll is a ballet in three scenes. The plot is adapted by John Cranko from ‘The Bumboat Woman’s Story’ by W.S. Gilbert. The music is from the operas of Arthur Sullivan, chosen and … Read more
Let’s look at traditional folk dance and what it is all about. Folk dance is all about community, tradition, and expression. These dances aren’t just steps to music; they carry the history, culture, and stories of the people who created them. Each move, each rhythm, is a link to the past, a way to celebrate … Read more
Why not take some ballroom dancing lessons? Why you may ask? Because a couple of decades ago everyone could do this. We would go to parties and couples would be whizzing around the floor having the time of their lives. This unfortunately doesn’t happen so much anymore. Ballroom dancing is all about grace, rhythm, and … Read more
The Beauty and The Beast Fairy Tale was a ballet done in one act choreographed by John Cranko. The music was done by Maurice Ravel (Ma Mére l’Oie) and the scenery and costumes were organized by Margaret Kaye. The first performance of Beauty and The Beast happened at Saddler’s Wells Theatre with Patricia Miller and … Read more
What is in ballet technique you may ask? Classical Ballet Technique The Basic Principles of Classical Ballet Technique book has some great tips on how to improve your ballet technique and is written by an ex-dancer and teacher. It is a good resource to have for both teachers and dancers. Dance has never been as … Read more
As dance teachers, we are always telling our pupils to smile when they dance, but we do this to avoid those blank facial expressions you get when they are on stage. On the other side of the coin, you could end up with a cheesy smile with no change in the facials for the entire … Read more
The Teaching of Classical Ballet: Common Ballet Mistakes in Young Dancers and Their Training This post contains affiliate links, which means that the owner of this website may get commissions on qualifying purchases. Here are some common ballet mistakes that dancers need to try and avoid at all costs. Repeating the same mistakes over time … Read more