Ballet Shoes and world book day

During our topic we read Noel Streatfield's book, Ballet Shoes, as a family.  Granny did a lot of the reading and I took over for a few chapters while everyone had the cold.

 Iona really loved the story of the three Fossils and their adventures.  We liked Petrova best for her feisty spirit.

 Iona enjoyed the story so much that she decided to dress up as Posy Fossil (the youngest and the one who goes off to study ballet) for world book day.

Ballet - Resources

Bibliography

The Orchard Book of Stories from the Ballet - Geraldine McCaughrean & Angela Barret

TuTus Aren't My Style - Linda Skeers

The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories - Joane Yolen, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Rebecca Guay

Dogs don't do Ballet - Anna Kemp

Ella Bella Ballerina (Nutcracker, sleeping beauty and swan lake) - James Mayhew

Royal Opera House souvenir guide 

Usborne The world of Ballet (internet linked) - Judy Tatchell

The DK Ballet Book - Darcy Bussell

Pas de deux, the royal ballet in pictures

Degas - Taschen books

A child's introduction to Ballet (book and cd) - Laura Lee

Ballet Spectacular - The Royal Ballet

Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfield

Audio Visual

BBC Documentary on dancing the Nutcracker (clips available here)

Websites

The Royal Opera house website is superb, their YouTube channel has been a wonderful resource too.

Cardboard Theatre (3)

Phew!!
 This has been epic, but it is finished and has been a huge hit.

The finishing touch was just adding a string of fairy lights as footlights (just lay a battery operate set behind the scalloped edge at the base) and then just letting Iona run wild with props (glittery deer & tooth-brushing timer have been popular!) and letting her tell stories with it.

Our theatre lit up for a performance.

Iona crafting, she is strangely fond of these joke glasses!

Sleeping Beauty - Live screening from The Royal Ballet

When we went on our tour at the Opera House in Covent Garden we found out that The Royal Ballet have a cinema link scheme where they livestream performances to cinemas right around the world.  You can find dates and more information here.

 Iona was keen to see the Royal Ballet version of Sleeping Beauty (I was worried that it was a little much, two ballets in the same week, showing the same show?) so we found a cinema in Edinburgh and decided to finish our ballet topic with a fun night out.

 First we had a lovely meal in Pizza Express then popped into the cinema in time for the screening to start.  It was hosted by Darcy Bussel and before the ballet and during the two intervals there were various guests on talking about the ballet and also video features (many of which are available on the website or on their YouTube channel).  They explained the mime and the story as well as the changes that have been sensitively  made to bring the original 1946 production to life again.

 I really enjoyed the ballet, in fact we all did. Iona managed very well although it was a late night for her.  She wore her ballet slippers and danced at the front of the screen during the intervals.

 After the show was over I checked whether the cinema had any promotional material from the ballet, lo and behold they found Iona a huge and gorgeous poster which I'm going to frame for her bedroom.

Sleeping Beauty - The Moscow City Ballet

As a treat I bought tickets for Iona and granny to go see The Sleeping Beauty, live at the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh.

 The Moscow city Ballet are on tour and Sleeping Beauty was high on Iona's ballet wishlist! She loves the lights, the sparkles, the tutus and the dancing!

It did not disappoint, Iona had a lovely evening with her granny (I stayed in the bar, drinking tea and delivering ice cream during the interval).

 The Moscow City Ballet has a Facebook page where you can keep up with their tour dates.  I hope we see them again!