Nancy Whyte School of Ballet

1412 Cornwall Avenue (P.O. Box 2393) Bellingham, Washington  USA  98227    360-734-9141

Early Childhood Dance Program:

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Bellingham's Nancy Whyte School of Ballet offers an Early Childhood Program specially designed to provide young children between three and six years of age with a joyous introduction to dance, while providing a strong foundation in dance and movement.

The Early Childhood Program teaches the young dance student the basic elements of movement and dance: space and how we relate to it, both as an individual and as a member of a group; the eight basic locomotor movements; musical rhythm, beat and time; opposites and directions; some elementary positions of ballet. Integrated with these physical concepts are the intellectual concepts of self-awareness, creative expression, imagination, teamwork as well as basic body and health awareness.      Through participation in these classes, children also learn the basics of classroom behavior and manners, which remain the same throughout their dancing years. These concepts include learning to take turns, following another dancer or leading the way, waiting patiently, working together with others and having a positive attitude.

Educators now know that training young children in the concepts of movement sequencing, patterning and spatial relationships lays a strong foundation for the later development of reading, mathematics and other educational skills. Children in the Early Childhood Program work actively in all these areas.

How Classes Are Structured

Classes in the Early Childhood Program at the Nancy Whyte School of Ballet are grouped in two levels: 3 and 4 year olds and children who are ages 5 through 6. These classes meet once a week and last 45 minutes.      Class structure for all levels is essentially the same, with the content based on appropriate developmental skills for the specific age. Each class begins with a circle time, in which each child gets to do a squence of movement. Class continues with exploration of shape and movement quality and a warm-up time which includes all the major muscle groups. A portion of each class is spent on fundamental ballet positions and movements. The material taught in this portion of the class teaches balance, porte de bras (arm movements) and includes various types of jumps that are the building blocks for the allegro steps of classic ballet.     Portions of the class are based on different monthly objectives geared to the age of the young dance students. Concepts such as classroom etiquette, musical awareness, dance relationships to others, relationships to the working space and stage, expressing emotions through movements and pantomine are explored during the year. Students participate in a variety of free movement exercises which encourage imaginative reponse in movement and teach listening skills (responding to the tempo and mood of the music), levels (high, medium, low), and directions (forward, backward, sideways). Young dancers who are consistantly exposed to this activity in class are generally more creative in their choreographic efforts in later years and are consistantly freer in their movement styles as they develop.      Most importantly, children learn a love for and respect for dance which will stay with them all their lives.

Children backstage await their turn dancing for the audience at the annual dance recital of the Nancy Whyte School of Ballet.

Examples Of Developmental Skills as Taught In The Early Childhood Program It is important to remember that physical skills that often seem quite simple to us as adults are very difficult and complicated for young children.

5 thru early 6 year olds

3 and 4 year olds

This program builds on the concepts introduced in the earlier section. Students learn to further control their movements, working on more complex forms of weight transfer, balance and movement patterns. By the time children have turned seven they are ready both physically and mentally to begin to study the fascinating and disciplined art of the classical ballet.

Children this age are quite new to learning how their bodies move as well as learning how to function in a classroom. Children in this program are gently introduced to the classroom environment. because children this age love and need repetition, material is often repeated from class to class.      Some of the concepts taught are stretching the feet (the foundation for the balletic battement tendue), balancing on one leg, weight transfers from one foot to the other, jumping, simple arm movements, stretching and moving across the floor. many movement characteristics are explored to develop movement quality and imagination and fantasy in movement.

Curriculum Ballet Class Schedule September 8, 2007-June 14, 2008 Rates Dress Code Rules and Policy Instructors Registration Check List & Registration Form

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Nancy Whyte School of Ballet 1412 Cornwall Avenue, Downtown Bellingham, Washington USA  98227 360-734-9141

www.nancywhyteballet.com

This website, all of it's pages and content are copyright 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 by the Nancy Whyte School of Ballet. This page was created 05-18-06, Last Update: 02-26-08