Book details
Dancing Shapes: Ballet and Body Awareness for Young Dancers (Dancing Shapes Series)
Description
Movement. Creativity. Gratitude. Persistence. Wisdom. "A visually stunning and interactive" pandemic creation from an award-winning dance teacher and her ballerina daughter, both immersed in the ballet world until coronavirus. Dancing Shapes provides an inside gorgeous glimpse into one ballerina's journey. Konora, whose career has been sidelined by COVID-19, leads readers through warm-up steps, a basic ballet technique lesson, and an exploration of movement and form. With more than fifty poses to contemplate or re-create, aspiring young dancers: learn basic ballet technique and vocabulary develop an eye for detail explore movement concepts increase body awareness strengthen spatial perception and balance celebrate gratitude, the value of practice, and making healthy choicesWhat Moms and Dads Said: Gorgeous! Inspirational! Dancing girls alllllll over my backyard!!! ...while looking at the cover with all those poses said, "I can do that one. I can't do that one. I can do that one. I can't do that one..." Then she started trying them. The pictures alone inspired her... As soon as we read something like, "Can you try..." she would hop right up and try it. She thinks the book is just right for her age [9], not too young or old feeling. [This 11-year old] thought it was easy to follow and liked all the interesting shape pictures, she liked that there were "challenges" to try. Tags: ballet photography, photos, ballet, ballerina, ballet dance, dancer, aspiring, young, dance, books for kids, picture books, juvenile, kidlit, children's book, dancing reference, home-school, elementary, preschool, school-aged, reader, Konora, physical education, body awareness, studying ballet, terminology, terms, classical dance, exercise, exercise at home, fitness, lesson, creative movement, pointed toes, first position, plié, relevé, arabesque, ballet positions, details, imagination, shapes, poses, tutu, leotard, ballet vocabulary, ballet technique, steps, strong, beautiful, strong girls, strong women, gratitude, discipline, practice, healthy choices, curtsy, bow, fancy French
Age
5-9
Text complexity
proficient
Length
52 pages
Why to read
- Enhances Body Awareness: 'Dancing Shapes: Ballet and Body Awareness for Young Dancers' is specifically designed to help young dancers develop a deeper understanding of their bodies and how they move. This can lead to improved posture, alignment, and technique, which are essential for any aspiring dancer.
- Builds a Strong Foundation: The book provides a solid introduction to the fundamentals of ballet, which is crucial for building a strong foundation in dance. By starting with the basics, young dancers can progress more quickly and with greater confidence.
- Engaging and Accessible: Written by Once Upon A Dance, the book is crafted to be both engaging and accessible for children. The use of storytelling and illustrations helps to capture the imagination of young readers, making the learning process enjoyable and memorable.
- Promotes Physical Fitness and Discipline: Ballet requires discipline and regular practice, and this book encourages young dancers to develop these habits early on. It also promotes physical fitness through dance, which can lead to a healthier lifestyle and improved overall well-being.