April 29, the date of birth of the French dancer, choreographer and writer Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet, has been established as World Dance Day since 1982 by the UNESCO International Dance Council.
As Katerina Rodiou, choreographer - dance teacher, has said in an earlier article on childit: "Children, starting from the preschool classes of 3.5 years old, can take their first dance steps with rhythm, while developing imagination and their creativity.
For ages 6 and up, ballet is taught and modern dance is added along the way. As children progress, they attend repertoire, choreography, pointe, Spanish flamenco and character dance.
Students who practice regularly for many years have the opportunity to follow the pre-professional ballet classes and are given the prospect of professional development. For young girls who want to practice dancing, there are modern dance and hip hop classes.
It is true that the results are clearly visible and very soon, especially on the body: a beautiful well-toned back, a long slender neck, harmonious arms, thanks to the movement and in general all those features that make us say "what a beautiful ballerina"!
However, we could not ignore the educational value of ballet. Children gain self-confidence, strongly develop a sense of cooperation, self-discipline and are taught artistic education. In other words, the spirit cooperates perfectly with the body, resulting in HARMONY. After all, since ancient times, people believed that dance was the gods' gift to them."
On the occasion of World Dance Day, we are reading the wonderful book "The Magic of Ballet" by Furfouri publications. If you have questions like: Who is the Nutcracker and what does it have to do with the mouse king? Why is there a dessert named after the famous ballerina Pavlova? Who was the "tsar's dancer"? You will find these answers and even more interesting information in its fascinating pages.
The book "The Magic of Ballet» is a walk through the fascinating history of ballet that was born in Renaissance Italy and reached Tsarist Russia, through cute, hitherto unknown stories about fourteen of his most important works (Giselle, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, The Bird of Fire and many others), as well as the fascinating lives of its most famous performers such as Margot Fonteyn, Alicia Alonso, Rudolf Nureyev and others.
Ballet, which was the main entertainment of the aristocracy, then spread to France; it was not there that it developed into a professional activity and its basic terminology and five classical positions were created, while it was in Russia that it developed in its full range and reached its current state form and identity.
Ballet is one of the most popular forms of dance and exists in all countries of the world, while also being the dominant influence for most modern Western dances.
Classical ballet is an immortal art – able to redefine itself and constantly take on new forms that touch even the most difficult and demanding audiences. From the first steps of romantic ballet, to the pioneering and daring performances of Barýshnikov, it is a highly aesthetic dance form that focuses on simple, pure technique and clean, clear body movements.
The public's adoration of this type of dance made it more and more popular over the years as the performances began to resemble plays, since the dancers performed roles.
14 stories dance the most beautiful dance
Fairy tales, fantastic creatures, legends, corsairs, towers and castles, lovers and hopeless loves, against the backdrop of great theaters such as the Paris Opera, the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow or the Scala in Milan, all the famous works of classical ballet parade through the book , and come to life through Fabiana Bocchi's amazing watercolor-like illustrations.
One of the most beautiful dance forms, with a long tradition tells its story in a version you will love, and will become a valuable guide for children who want to learn ballet, enjoy librettos or just love dance and the wonderful stories that unfold before their eyes. Dance with Princess Odette, be moved by the unrequited love of Giselle and Albrecht, and explore the classic Russian fairy tale of the Firebird and the Gray Wolf.
What it can offer your family if you like to dance together
It offers a common form of relaxation
Your bond is strengthened
You're having fun with something where you can be yourself without a winner or a loser
You learn to tune in
The beneficial benefits of dance for children and beyond
Excellent physical exercise
Familiarity with movement
Control of body movement
Familiarity with the human body
Breath control
Good physical condition
Improvement of movements
Elasticity
Regulation of breathing
Balance
Boosting self-confidence
Creating a good relationship with the body and self-image
Improving self-expression
Emotion management
Stimulation of self-concentration
Self-discipline
Improving discipline
Detonation
It helps with extroversion
Managing negative emotions
Stress reduction
Improving posture
Boosting self-confidence
Stimulation of imagination and creativity
Cooperation
Contact with music and other art forms