Dancing together is even more fun
On udansa you will find child-friendly courses in your area and like-minded people who share a passion for movement. Discover the perfect dance school for your kids now!
By Mary De LucaUpdated
On udansa you will find child-friendly courses in your area and like-minded people who share a passion for movement. Discover the perfect dance school for your kids now!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
No, you should practice barefoot or in non-slip socks at home. Proper ballet slippers are only necessary for actual lessons at a dance school, and pointe shoes are only needed after years of training in the teenage years.
Keep the sessions short and wrap everything in stories. As soon as concentration fades, you should stop, because the joy of movement is always the priority.
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