Bella Ballerina

Bella began asking about taking dance classes this Spring.  I looked into it and discovered there isn’t a lot available for children younger than 3, and that she needed to be potty trained.  The day of her 3rd birthday she woke up at 6:30 AM and said “Can I go to ballet class today? I’m 3!”  The following week when we went to Las Vegas marked the first full week where she went without having any potty accidents.  It was time to start dance classes!

Here she is buying her first pair of ballet shoes – size 8. 

Of course we had to wear them home in the car.

First day of class!

 

One thing about the quality of the studio pictures – they don’t let parents in the actual room during class – so these are all taken through a glass window without flash – so if they look a little odd sometimes that is why.

This dance studio believes that tumbling and dance go together – so each class has some gymnastics  activities.  I think is great because Bella already takes gymnastics at her school, so it means at least some of the class feels familiar to her.

 

Bella has a great sense of balance, she is very steady, I guess her center of gravity is low or something.  There is a sense of purpose and sturdiness about her that  I love.  Whenever we go to Gymboree or the playground I can see parents looking my way, as if they are thinking “You are going to let her do that? “  But I let her because I have watched her and know that she can be trusted in that way.  She has none of my fear or clumsiness or hesitancy. She will not be a girl that rides her bike into trees or gets hit in the head with volley balls.

One thing I like is that they pack a variety of activities into the one hour class so the girls are not ever bored.  In between activities they line up by the wall – so cute when they are all in a row! 

The barre work – Bella is still working to really understand what they want her to do. Mostly she hangs and climbs around on the barre, I think she thinks it is monkey bars or like uneven bars from gymnastics. She is so tiny that it is way up level with her head.

First position! (Sort of)

  

Dancing around in tutu’s with big strips of Pink organza – it was little girl heaven!

 

We have been to three classes so far.  In October she will be doing some tap. I remember when I was a child I got some tap shoes at Goodwill or something – man I LOVED those things, I wore them around until there was just no way I could cram my foot in any longer.  Her first recital will be in December.