Ballet people - films suitable for 5-7yr olds other than Ballet Shoes?

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

both my girls love their dancing but are there any other dancing films suitable for 5-7 year olds? we have got the Ballet Shoes film and book which they like.

I have also found loads of old ballet books in the loft, Swish of the Curtain, Curtain Up, Drina, Sadlers Wells, Noel Streatfield compilation of Ballet Stories etc. I am trying to work out which are suitable for them to listen to.

any suggestions gratefully received. Thank you.

[JulieMichelleRobinson]

There are some Barbie films, if you can tolerate them? I think Barbie and the Pink Shoes introduces several characters from different ballets. There's a film called The Swan Princess (again, animated) that tells the story of Swan Lake - you could show them this before the actual ballet, for example, and they'd understand the story better. There's at least one Angelina Ballerina film. There's "Madeline goes to the Ballet..."

And of course, there is this (real dancers, child-friendly ballets): www.amazon.com/Ballet-Children-Tchaikovsky/dp/B008UBURMM/ref=sr_1_24?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1401459907&sr=1-24&keywords=ballet&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

thank you - that is great.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I've just donated a load of ballet themed books for younger children to the prep department at dds school.

They were the Louisa series & Nina Fairy Ballerina.

Dd has brought home a couple of Drina books from the school library & another one about a girl living in London, they seemed okish.

Just watch the Adele Geras stage school books - you think it's ok as her other books are for younger children but even dd at 12 thought they were too teenage with teenage themes!!!!!

[MissOtisRegretsMadam]

How about real ballet company perfornance DVDs? I'd start with the nutcracker and sleeping beauty.

My dd loves them more than ballet themed films she is now 10 and has got into Matthew Bourne productions.

She also has a great factual book about ballet which she likes.

Darcy bussel wrote some ballet books that she liked when she was younger.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Oh yes, weren't they about magic shoes or something. (Dd was too old when they came out)

ENB do 'My First' performances which are a great introduction.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

DD2 (5) would probably love the 'real' ballet films actually. She got the RAD syllabus book for 20p second hand recently and is often found working her way through it!

We have the Louisa ones, forgot about those. Thanks for the warning about the Adele Geras stage school ones, I would have assumed the same as you say about them being suitable because her other books are so useful to know.

Will look up Nina Fairy Ballerina and Darcy Bussell books thanks.

I remember loving the Drina books but they didn't start reprinting them until I was about 10/11ish so I was older when I read them. Might reread them myself to 'assess their suitability' (and enjoy them, Mum just asked if she could borrow Ballet Shoes etc to read herself again)

Will look up the ENB performances too. thank you.

We do have a couple of ballets on locally later in the year on tour but they are weekday nights in termtime and I think at 5 and 6 it would be too late and too tiring to take them. They are off to see Riverdance with Grandma in the autumn though so will get a dancing fix then.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Took dd to see Ballet Theatre Uks Little Mermaid last week. It was great but had been advertised as a children's ballet & it wasn't - it was a proper grown up one with the original ending. Lots of 3-4 year olds who were too young there.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

what is the original ending? I only know the Disney version of Little Mermaid. I think it is very hard with little ones to know what is suitable and what isn't unless you screen it all.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

She is given a knife with which to kill the princess so he will return to her - but she can't do it & kills herself.

[Fairylea]

Extremely old but hans Christian anderson (the classic film) has a lovely ballet story running in it. I remember being about 5 and being obsessed with the red ballet shoes!

Also any production of copellia (sp?) Would be good. Story of a doll coming to life. I used to love that.

I think both spurred on my love of ballet. I went on to do senior grade and got through to auditions for a scholarship at Italia conti

[Elsiequadrille]

Second idea of 'proper' ballet. My Dc when young most enjoyed the Baryshnikov/Kirkland Nutcracker, Beatrix Potter, La Fille and Don Q.

[Elsiequadrille]

Sadlers Wells I thought a little older, but may be remembering wrong, and was possibly the latter books.

We also have Ballet for Laura and Laura's Summer ballet, fairly old now. I always thought Drina books were dreadfully dull and formulaic but dd loved them and collected most of the series.

NBT tour and do child friendly ballets (think they've televised some on CBBC)

[tanukiton]

books i don't but i second
sleeping beauty
Peter rabbit
la fille mal gardee
copellia
Don Q
nut cracker.
snow white.
Alice in wonderland is a bit scary.
Giselle (does kill herself but comes back as a ghost)
The The London Children's Ballet have their dvd's released. My daughter really some of those.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

If you are anywhere near Chester Hammond School are performing a ballet to Youn Persons Guide to the Orchestra in July (as part of a Triple Bill)

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

picturesinthefirelight- gosh I wouldn't have expected that.

thank you - some great suggestions here.

[dancestomyowntune]

I would also suggest looking at the ballet of the Beatrix Potter Tales. I'm not sure off the top of my head what it's called but dd1 (now 11) loved it when she was younger. It's available on DVD.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

thanks - will look that up too

[EllaMenopy]

I remember as a child I loved a book about a boy who danced, I think it might have been called Thursday's Children. A quick google suggests Rumer Godden is the author. Not sure how age appropriate it would be.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

will check that out thanks Ella.

[ragtimer]

The Red Shoes...It's probably not suitable for a 7 year old...DS saw it at 8 and loved it. But it can be upsetting depending on the child?

[MrsCakesPremonition]

Beatrix Potter Ballet - DD has always loved this.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

thank you

[ISingSoprano]

I have nothing constructive to add but ...... 'Swish of the Curtain' was one of my most favourite books as a child. I had forgotten about it but seeing this has reminded me. Thank you!