In a magical kingdom of dance, there are young ballerinas who specialize in different ballet steps.  Along comes one of Miss Nola’s good friends, Fairy-One-Step, who can only dance one ballet step.  The fairy doesn’t know what to do when she receives an invitation to the Queen’s ball.  Luckily, the young ballerinas are not far away and hear her story.  Find out what happens when you help others what you know!

 

 

A group of young ballerinas, start out as “young swans” in their nest in the Queen’s garden. The Queen loves the swans, but as they grow older the young swans want to fly off on their own. They fly to the top of a mountain with a lake and practice their ballet while watching their reflections. After awhile, they become homesick and want to return to their nest—but they have transformed. Find out what can happen when you really practice ballet!

 

 

A group of young ballerinas enter a mysterious place—or so it seems. Actually, it is an empty dance studio with four corners. In each corner the children find a piece of the puzzle; wonderful things that are used by a ballerina in the dance studio. After exploring each corner,  they can hear someone entering. The young dancers hide at first, but are pleasantly surprised. Find out who they meet and what good things can happen with new friends!

 

Miss Lydia demonstrates the step, Chassé, which means “to chase.”  One foot chases the other across the floor.  In Fairy-One-Step, this was the only step the fairy knew how to do.  It is a gliding step where one foot chases the other foot out of its position, and it can be used in all directions. Children are encouraged to try this step at home.

Miss Lydia demonstrates how to make a traveling ballet step called Saute Arabesque. The step was used by the Swan Princesses in the video to fly far, far away.  An Arabesque is a position where the dancer stands on one leg while extending the other leg straight to the back with pointed toes.  Saute means to jump.  Step into your arabeque position with a jump up into the air then repeat with the opposite leg across the floor.

Miss Nola and Miss Lydia demonstrate the step, Demi-Plié, which is used in this story by the children dancers in The Four Corners. Usually one of the first exercises practiced in class,  it is a small knee bend. When practicing a demi- plie, start with first position. Bend your knees as far as you can while still keeping both heels planted on the ground.  Knees should bend outward over the feet, while the back is held straight.  Children are encouraged to try this step at home.