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Children's ballet3 minutes

Children's ballet: learn exercises for at home in a playful way

In short
  • Simple ballet positions can be easily taught through vivid comparisons, such as open book pages or pizza slices.
  • Regular, playful movement at home trains the balance, body tension, and sense of rhythm for children aged four and up.
  • Joint exercises in the living room serve as preparation and do not replace professional ballet lessons.

Discovering ballet at home in a playful way strengthens your child's body awareness and coordination, completely without any pressure to perform. With these simple exercises, your living room transforms into a creative dance stage.

What you need for your exercises at home

  • A non-slip mat or a clear carpeted floor
  • Comfortable clothing that moves with you
  • A sturdy chair or a dresser for support
  • Calm, child-friendly background music

Why a playful introduction at home is ideal

Classical ballet often fascinates children, but the strict rules can be intimidating at the beginning. If you want to introduce your child to the subject in a playful way, simple exercises in the familiar living room are ideal. It is not about iron discipline or the perfect arch, but about the joy of movement and discovering one's own body. A playful approach helps to build a sense of balance and posture without creating pressure. For four-year-olds, the focus is on imitating images, while older children can already try out the precise coordination of their feet. If you are wondering whether this sport is the right choice, it is worth taking a look at our guide Choosing a dance class for children. Remember: The exercises at home are a wonderful supplement and preparation, but they do not replace professional guidance by trained dance teachers in a ballet school.

Learn the first ballet positions step by step

  1. Closing the book

    Stand up straight and close your feet completely. Explain to your child that the feet are now lying next to each other like a closed book, so they can understand the starting position.

  2. Open the pizza slice

    Now open your toes outwards while keeping your heels firmly together. This looks like a small pizza slice and forms the classic first position in ballet.

  3. Opening the gate

    Take a small step to the side from the first position. Your feet are now parallel with a bit of space between them, which corresponds to the stable second position.

  4. Embrace the giant ball

    Stand up straight and lift your arms in front of your stomach as if you were embracing a giant, invisible exercise ball. Keep your shoulders completely relaxed and down.

  5. Bending like a butterfly

    Bend your knees slightly while keeping your feet flat on the floor. Explain to your child that the knees open outwards like the wings of a butterfly.

How to make training in your living room a success without the frustration

Playful and correct

  • Open your feet like a slice of pizza
  • Use a sturdy chair back as a ballet barre
  • Explain the movement as a funny animal

Overwhelmed and wrong

  • Forcefully turning your feet outward
  • Holding onto slippery cabinet doors
  • Querying dry technical terms without images

The flow of your little ballet lesson

Before you dance

Preparation

While practicing

Activity

After training

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. The ideal age for a playful introduction is around four years old. At this age, children can understand and coordinate simple ballet positions through images and stories.

Ballet classes for children near you

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Dancing together is even more fun