The Little Friends' Ballet and Gym School

Hooray, every Tuesday afternoon I get to go to the ballet and gym school! Look, this is what it looks like inside. For our ballet training the mirror and the ballet barre are important. Imke and I, and of course the other ballet girls, always do different exercises there: we learn the various ballet positions for arms and feet, and we stretch and lengthen our bodies. Of course we also dance all around the room and play movement games.

The older ballet girls, like Lena and Eva, dance more than we do in the middle of the room. But they also do exercises at the barre. That belongs to every ballet class. "Only those who have the basics well under control can dance well," our teacher always says.

The wall bars are used mainly by the children in the gymnastics classes. Lukas especially likes them and he can really climb brilliantly. On the railing on the other side of the hall you can balance really well, which Emma enjoys a lot. The gymnastics children also do many exercises with the ball or the hoop. And they need the floor mats – as protection from falls under the wall bars and to tumble on. So we have everything here for great dance and gymnastics fun!

The Little Friends' Ballet Girls

Next I want to introduce you to my big sister Lena and her friend Eva. They are both older than Imke and me and have been going to ballet lessons for a few years already. That is why they can already dance very well. They whirl through the room in pirouettes, perform complicated sequences of steps, jumps and arm movements, and they practise the splits. Twice a year Lena and Eva rehearse for a small performance at our ballet and gym school, where they always wear their lovely pink and white tutus. And the best bit: this time Imke and I are finally allowed to take part in the performance too, because we can dance well enough now. I am very curious to see what we little dancers will perform.

Lena's Ballet Exercises to Try

Classical ballet exercises can sometimes be a bit tiring because you really have to stand and move very precisely. But with time it gets better and better. Mostly it comes down to balance and flexibility. Can you touch the floor with your fingertips without bending your knees? Can you stand on one leg? Here Lena shows you a good balance exercise: try lifting your right leg up and holding it with your right hand. You can of course try the same with your left leg and left hand. It's best to stand on a blanket so you land a little more softly if you do fall over.

I can promise you: the more often you practise it, the easier it will become.

The Little Friends' Gymnasts

Sometimes I watch the gymnastics children during their training. They do lots of different exercises and plenty of games. Felicitas and Matze, who are also in my kindergarten group, train in the gymnastics group. Sometimes they show Imke and me their most difficult gymnastic moves. Then we try to copy them… that's not so easy. But Matze and Felicitas can't do ballet either. The gym children Emma and Lukas are a little older and have therefore been in gym training for longer. It's great what the two of them can already do: climb, balance, do cartwheels, handstands and difficult exercises with the hoops.

But I'm sure you can already do great gymnastics too, because it's fun for all children, isn't it?

Gym Exercises from Felicitas and Matze to Try

Felicitas and Matze like to be silly… That's why they sometimes stay a bit longer after gym training and try out all sorts of funny things. Here they show you two exercises: Felicitas practises a headstand with crossed legs. For that it's best to put a cushion on the floor and ask Mum or Dad to hold your legs. Matze supports himself only with his left leg and his right hand on the floor while stretching the other leg and arm into the air… you have to tense the muscles in your tummy and back well for that.

Well, I'm curious what great exercises you will come up with – I'm sure you now really fancy doing gymnastics and dancing, right?

Dancing, tumbling, playing and having fun

Dance steps, gym exercises and much more… The most important thing is: we all have a great time – whether we're doing ballet or gymnastics. And I'm sure you'll have lots of fun too when you can move however you like, right? If you'd like to play, tumble and dance with us more often, have a look here – you'll find everything about us Little Friends. <Link> Have fun dancing and doing gymnastics — your Mali