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Why you're never tutu young to start ballet...
THEY'VE only just learned to walk, but these twinkle-toed tots are already grasping the ballet basics.
The toddlers – some as young as 18 months – were put through their paces at Baby Ballet classes designed to help even the smallest children take their first dance steps.
But unlike traditional ballet sessions where the emphasis is on perfect points and pirouettes, the focus here is firmly on fun.
Class teacher Karen Goodwin said: "You might think they are too young to do proper ballet moves, but they can actually do some of them.
"We don't take that part too seriously, the main emphasis is on movement, dance and fun.
"The classes are designed to stimulate their development and boost their confidence. And better still, the children think they are just having a great time.
Confident
"It is great preparation though if they want to go on and do other classes when they are a bit older."
Baby Ballet, which takes place around Leeds and Wakefield, start with some basic stretches.
The tots are then taught to point their feet – with the rhyme "good toes, naughty toes."
Later they practise their jumps, play with musical instruments and dance in a circle.
Parents say the 35-minute classes not only help youngsters with their development, but also to become more confident and sociable.
Louisa Leedham, from Horsforth, who took along 23-month-old Jasmine to the Rawdon class, said: "She's too young for nursery school, so this is really important. She loves dancing, she has a really good time."
Sue Goldie, from Rawdon, joined her two-year-old Millie-Grace for the class.
She said: "It's only the fourth time we have come, but Millie-Grace really seems to enjoy herself. She always has a big smile on her face. It has given her more confidence, too."
Emma Oliver, nanny to 20-month-old Harriet Davies from Chapel Allerton, said: "Harriet's mum wanted her to come and give it a go. At the first session I wasn't sure if she was going to like it but she loves it. She's really tired by the end."
The Baby Ballet concept was dreamed up around nine years ago by West Yorkshire businesswoman and mum Claire O'Connor.
She said: "My mum was a traditional ballet teacher but I wanted to create a more fun learning environment which would allow very young children to take part.
"Traditional ballet classes can be quite elitist and we wanted to get away from that.
"Here every child is classed as an individual and never made to feel different from the others, whatever their ability."
For more information, call 08701 430063 or alternatively log on to www.babyballet.co.uk.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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