Balerina

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The Ballerina Princess

was created especially for

Alexis Kelly Peterson
at the age of 6

Love, Mommy and Daddy
From: Mommy and Daddy
April 24, 2006

Springtime was always an especially beautiful time of year in New York. Flowers were blooming, the sun was warm and bright, and everything just seemed new and fresh! Best of all, it was time for Lexi's ballet class to perform their annual ballet, "The Ballerina Princess." This year the leading role was going to be performed by a very famous ballerina!

Mrs. Branson, their instructor, would soon assign parts to everyone. There were dancing parts for birds, flowers, insects and butterflies. Lexi, and her friends, Trisha, Beth, and Tamika, couldn't wait to see what parts they were going to play. They had worked very hard practicing their pirouettes, pliés and turns for this special performance.

Lexi's class warmed up by carefully stretching their legs, backs and necks so they would stand tall and straight. They watched themselves in the mirrors as they performed their warm up exercises at the barre, and went through five of their ballet positions.

Lexi practiced very hard every day. She watched all of the lead ballerina’s movements with special interest. Lexi secretly hoped that one day she would be performing as the lead ballerina.

Trisha watched what Lexi was doing and teased her about it. Trisha asked Lexi, "Why do you practice the lead ballerina’s part as well as your own?"
"Because next year I hope to be the Ballerina Princess," Lexi answered. "If I practice all year, next spring I will be ready for the part."

Mrs. Branson asked everyone to perform a short routine to help her decide which part to assign to them. Trisha stepped into position. She twirled across the room as the others watched and waited their turn.

Next it was Tamika's turn. She performed one pirouette after another without once losing her balance or getting dizzy. Then Lexi went through a short routine they had learned in class. She especially impressed Mrs. Branson with her graceful arabesque and the way she kept her toes so perfectly pointed.
Mrs. Branson was very proud of all her students. It was obvious that everyone had been practicing very hard at home. "We are going to have a wonderful spring performance because all of you dance so well," she told them.

Then she announced the roles for the dancers as she showed the costumes they would be wearing. Everyone already knew the Ballerina Princess would be played this year by a former student who had become a famous ballerina. Lexi and Trisha would be butterflies. Beth would be a blue bird and another one of the girls would play the role of a caterpillar. All the dancers were happy about their parts as they left for the day.

That night, all the little dancers called their families and friends to invite them to attend the performance. Lexi called Aunt Liz.

Each afternoon Lexi, Trisha, Beth, and Tamika joined the other dancers to rehearse their roles for the upcoming recital. Everyone worked hard to learn their parts and Lexi continued to practice the part of the Ballerina Princess.

The weeks went by very quickly. On the day before the performance, they gathered for dress rehearsal. The lead ballerina entered the studio looking very pale. Suddenly, the lead ballerina sneezed. She sneezed again and again.
Mrs. Branson stepped over and asked, "What is the problem?"
"I think I am coming down with the flu," said the lead ballerina. "I'm very sad because I don’t want to let everyone down and there is no time for anyone to learn my part."

"Is that correct, Lexi?" asked Mrs. Branson.
"Yes, it is," replied Lexi, a little embarrassed by the attention but happy at the same time. "I have practiced every night in hopes that by next year I would be chosen as the Ballerina Princess."
"Well, Lexi," said Mrs. Branson, "you now have the part of the Ballerina Princess!" For the rest of the day the dress rehearsal continued with Lexi in the lead. There was one less butterfly in the garden, but everyone was happy to spend the extra time to work on the changes.

The big day finally arrived. Lexi's performance was perfect. The entire crowd full of family and friends gave a standing ovation to the dancers. Lexi, Trisha, Beth, Tamika and the other girls in the dance curtsied as flowers were brought onto the stage.
Lexi was the heroine of the night and the star performer in the ballet. All of her hard work and practice had paid off! What an unforgettable day this was . . . the day Lexi became The Ballerina Princess.

Some Ballet Steps

1. Battement tendu(baht-mohn-than-du) One foot slides out from the closed position, with toes never leaving the floor, until the toes point.
2. Plié (plee-ay) A bending movement of the knees.
3. Arabesque penchée(ah-ra-besk phan-shay) Dancer stands on one leg, lifting the other straight up behind.
4. Pirouette (peer-un-wet) Dancer spins around on one leg.
5. Pas de chant (pah-duh-shah) Small jumps close to the ground carrying the dancer from one spot to another.

Feet Positions

1. First position. With heels touching, point toes to the outside forming a straight line.
2. Second position. Toes still pointing out with feet about 8 to 10 inches apart.
3. Third position. One foot slides in front of the other with the heel touching the middle of the other foot.
4. Fourth position. One foot directly in front of the other, about one short step apart.
5. Fifth position. One foot is flat against the other with heel of front foot at the joint of the toe of the back foot.

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