Les Petits Ballets News

Each year, other than the past few (due to our renovations and then the pandemic), Les Petits Ballets awards one or more dancer(s) with 'The Dedication to Dance Award'. Founded by former Director of Dance, Eva Zielinski in 1992, the award will be renamed in her name after her retirement, to honour her commitment and her own 'dedication' to the scho...

Understanding and Using the Concept of Opposition in Ballet    We all know opposites attract, right? We also know that we reach equilibrium if the vector sum of all forces acting upon oneself is zero (ballet is all physics and math!). How do we incorporate these principles of opposition in our dancing and why is it helpful? Ballet is...

​School's out for the summer (soon anyways)! But should you also put your dance training on hold? Obviously we're a little biased, but dancing over the summer can have many benefits for your training and not to mention, it's FUN!  Maintain your skills - You've worked hard all year to improve your technique as well as learn new skills...

The arabesque is the quintessential ballet pose. Meaning 'in Arabic fashion', the arabesque is a beautiful pose in ballet that consists of the dancer standing on their supporting leg and extending their straight working leg behind the body, creating a beautiful line from the fingertips to the toes. The name references the intricate, swooping lines ...

Definition: PORT DE BRAS - the carriage of the arms Port de bras does not just encompass the poses of the arms, but the transitional movements between the poses including movements of the head, the use of the body and épaulement. It is the foundation of the use of the arms in ballet and is the most difficult part of dance to master. It is grad...

Are you feeling a little discouraged with the news of another extended lockdown? We get it, dancing from home is not the same as being in the studio BUT we can make the best of the situation we are in and can stay positive knowing that this is temporary. There are many different ways to keep in shape during this time at home while having fun and ev...

With spring approaching, Les Petits Ballets' performing company would typically be busy getting ready to perform a new production at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe in May, as was the case for decades. While still in the midst of the pandemic, we have shifted our goals to work towards a production of a smaller scale. While the senior half of the s...

Last week, we explored how to prepare in the lead up to your ballet exam. Read more about it here . This week we will take a look at what you should do the night before and/or day of your exam in order to be as prepared as possible to do well. Know the exam schedule: Make sure you confirm with your teacher what day and what time your ballet ex...

With ballet exams around the corner, it's completely normal to be feeling a little nervous. Although they can feel scary, ballet exams are an excellent tool to gauge your progress and to receive feedback that you may or may not have heard before. You can treat your ballet exam as a performance. You wouldn't want to be unprepared for a stage perform...

 With spring approaching, Les Petits Ballets' performing company would typically be busy getting ready to perform a new production at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe in May, as was the case for decades. While still in the midst of the pandemic, we have shifted our goals to work towards a production of a smaller scale. The senior half of the s...

Today, in the 2020s, dancers are spoiled for choice when it comes to attire for ballet class. Leotards of every colour, style and pattern are available and are easy to purchase from dance stores or online. This was not the case many years ago, with the now commonplace spandex leotard or bodysuit only being developed in the 1960s. Let's take a look ...

 Dancers tend to be pretty hard on themselves, physically and mentally. Rest is an important aspect of training that is largely overlooked or ignored, especially in today's face-paced society. According to Matt Wyon, Professor of Dance Science at the University of Wolverhapton, "Quality of training is more important than hours danced. Optimal ...

Goal setting is defined as 'the act of selecting a target or objective you wish to achieve'. In dance, goal setting can be a great way to motivate yourself and personally keep track of your progress in class and performance. This can be especially helpful during the pandemic as it can be easy to feel unmotivated with the stressors of the ...

While it may be tempting to ask mom or dad to help you sew your pointe shoes, part of the rite of passage of going 'en pointe' typically includes the responsibility of sewing your own shoes. It may not be perfect at first, but with practice, you will get better and better and will learn what works best for you and your foot. With more experience da...

Finding the perfect pointe shoe can be a difficult process and can take dancers many tries and countless pairs to get it just right. Your perfect pointe shoe needs to fit like Cinderella's glass slipper - not too small, not too big, just snug and fitted all around your foot. Since the majority of pointe shoes are still handmade, there can still be ...

  Do you dream of donning your first pair of peachy-pink satin pointe shoes? This iconic symbol of the ballerina is aspirational for many young dancers. Though we may want to start pointe right away, it's important that the process is not rushed to decrease the risk of injury. There are many factors to consider when determining if a ballet stu...

  Starting ballet as an adult or coming back to ballet after a long hiatus can be intimidating and downright scary! While it may seem like most dancers begin at a young age and continue honing their technique as they age, it is totally possible to begin to dance later in life. It is also equally possible to come back to dance even if you haven...

  The tutu. The quintessential ballet costume. While beautiful, if you really think about it, the tutu is a rather strange garment, with layers of tulle jutting out from the hips, exposing the dancer's legs. The modern professional tutu usually consists of 8-12 layers of tulle, often with an attached bodice, and can take up to 20-60 hours of w...

Stylistic variations and subgenres of ballet have evolved over time. In addition to different training styles (our training is based on the Vaganova style at Les Petits Ballets), there are also different styles of ballets which were dependent on the era in which they were choreographed. These are Romantic, Classical, Neoclassical and Contemporary. ...

 Last December, Les Petits Ballets put on their new production of 'The Nutcracker'. After a 40 year history of being Ottawa's performing ballet school, this was the first year that 'The Nutcracker' was performed - a rarity for any ballet school or company. As the most popular ballet for dancers and non-dancers alike and the main revenue genera...