Oh my goodness. Summer grad school classes have been kicking my behind these past few months (hence the blogging hibernation). BUT, just because I can’t manage to keep up with hobbies doesn’t mean kiddos in the Bronx can’t!

As kids gear up for a new school year, it’s so important that they have other outlets and spaces in their lives, where they can develop different interests. Recently, several friends mentioned their children’s interest in ballet and that they had struggled to find a local dance studio that offers classes for them. Well…look no further, because Sweet Water Dance and Yoga on Gerard Ave offers classes of various kinds, including ballet for children!

I’ve gone to Sweet Water myself off and on for several years now and have thoroughly enjoyed every class I’ve taken. (So grown-ups, you should definitely check it out for yourselves, too.) Today, I’ll focus on their kids’ ballet classes and, of course, some books you can share with your child to get them excited to step up to the barre.

First off, the logistics:

Sweet Water is located just a block in from Yankee stadium. It’s the beautiful orange door, you can’t miss it. Their kids’ classes happen on Saturdays. Ballet for ages 2-4 is at 11:00 and for ages 5-12 is at 12:00. Once kids turn 13, they are welcome to join the plethora of adult classes (samba, yoga, belly dance and more!).

And now, for the books!

 

Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen

Illustrated beautifully (as always) by Kadir Nelson, this picture book tells the story of Sassy, a tall and long-footed young ballet student who hopes to be chosen for the summer dance festival in D.C. Undeterred by her classmates’ and brother’s teasing, Sassy boldly embraces her inability to blend in by sporting a bright yellow leotard and using her long limbs without fear or shame. With an all African-American cast of characters, this book is a rarity in ballet-themed books and is beautifully executed in both story and illustration.

My Friend Maya Loves to Dance by Cheryl Willis Hudson

This picture book follows Maya as she practices ballet positions at the barre. Her intently focused face and bright pink shoes make her stand out in the crowd. Told in rhythmic rhyme, the book gives special focus to ballet, but also shows other forms, music, settings and clothes through which Maya lives out her love of dance–from church to mall, tap to jazz, tutu to kente cloth, Maya loves dance in all its forms.

Bea at Ballet by Rachel Isadora

This book is adorable. It is great for the tiniest ballet enthusiasts as it shows Bea and her fellow toddler/preschool-aged classmates attend ballet class together. It teaches about the clothes and basic positions in a simple straightforward way, but also shows the dizzy chaos and playfulness of a typical class. The warm and colorful clothes of the children and teachers are lively and eye-catching against a white backdrop and cool gray lettering.

A Dance Like Starlight by Kristy Dempsey

Set in 1950s Harlem, a young girl grows up seeing her mother mend costumes for the ballet school. She dreams of dancing ballet herself. The gentle, warm illustrations help you feel how much she longs for it. After seeing her dance backstage, the “Ballet Master” makes arrangements for her to practice offstage during the classes, which are only for white girls. This sincere and straight-forward treatment of segregation can help even young children begin to consider how it might have felt to live in that time. Eventually, the young protagonist gets to see Janet Collins perform at the Metropolitan Opera as the first African-American prima ballerina, giving her hope that “one day, those voices will be for me.”

Firebird by Misty Copeland

Told in abstract lines of poetry and illustrated with Christopher Myers’ signature tilting angles and bold, vibrant colors, this picture book begins in the voice of a young dancer as she compares herself to a professional. The young girl finds herself lacking, unable to imagine she could ever do what the Firebird does. “I could never hope to leap the space between.” The second half of the book is the Firebird’s response, assuring the young dancer that she was just like her. She draws the young dancer to dance alongside her, across the page together, and encourages her to work hard and not give up. Misty Copeland was the second African American soloist in the American Ballet Theater, with “Firebird” as her most significant and ground-breaking role. In an epilogue to the story, she honors the dancers who came before her and encouraged her. In this book, she hopes to be a mentor to young dancers to come.

These books are likely to spark the interest of young dancers. And if you want to get them putting that interest into action, be sure to stop by Sweet Water for a Saturday class!