A new episode of Sophie's beloved Little Einsteins show aired recently and her favorite character, June, (who loves to dance -- especially ballet) had to teach an animal how to do some ballet moves in order to complete the "Mission of the Day." They did arabesques, bourrées, and port de bras (I don't know ballet moves or terms , I had to look up the spelling on those!) which are all very simple moves that I'm sure you've seen before.
Sophie has seen the episode at least a half dozen times since it was recorded on the TiVo a week or so ago. Tonight after her bath, Frank and I were sitting in the loft with her while she ran around and played and I noticed her putting her hands above her head, with her palms together as if she was doing a yoga pose. While that is not a typical ballet pose (as far as I know!) it was apparently Sophie's version of the fifth position which is part of a couple of the moves that June was teaching the animal to do.
I didn't know what the heck she was doing, just being her playful silly self. She did this over and over again, then she started putting her hands together in front of her, fingertips together, which apparently was her version of first position that June also had showed the animals. Again, I didn't think anything of what she was doing, but I did notice that I hadn't seen her do it before.
Then she put her hands above her head and ran in place (which I think is the bourrée), another move June had demonstrated. Still, it wasn't getting into my head what she was doing, but it starting to dawn on me that she was showing me something.
Finally, she began doing arabesques, which (in toddler-ballet, at least) is when you kind of lean to one side with your arm pointing up and your other arm pointing down with the foot on that side lifted slightly. Then I finally realized what she was doing. She was remembering all those moves she'd seen and was demonstrating them very proudly! When I realized what she was doing, I got up and joined in the dance lessons. She was so excited!
I was amazed that she'd remembered ALL those moves pretty accurately since she hadn't seen that particular episode in a while. It was so cute!! I wish I could have gotten it on tape.
Sophie has seen the episode at least a half dozen times since it was recorded on the TiVo a week or so ago. Tonight after her bath, Frank and I were sitting in the loft with her while she ran around and played and I noticed her putting her hands above her head, with her palms together as if she was doing a yoga pose. While that is not a typical ballet pose (as far as I know!) it was apparently Sophie's version of the fifth position which is part of a couple of the moves that June was teaching the animal to do.
I didn't know what the heck she was doing, just being her playful silly self. She did this over and over again, then she started putting her hands together in front of her, fingertips together, which apparently was her version of first position that June also had showed the animals. Again, I didn't think anything of what she was doing, but I did notice that I hadn't seen her do it before.
Then she put her hands above her head and ran in place (which I think is the bourrée), another move June had demonstrated. Still, it wasn't getting into my head what she was doing, but it starting to dawn on me that she was showing me something.
Finally, she began doing arabesques, which (in toddler-ballet, at least) is when you kind of lean to one side with your arm pointing up and your other arm pointing down with the foot on that side lifted slightly. Then I finally realized what she was doing. She was remembering all those moves she'd seen and was demonstrating them very proudly! When I realized what she was doing, I got up and joined in the dance lessons. She was so excited!
I was amazed that she'd remembered ALL those moves pretty accurately since she hadn't seen that particular episode in a while. It was so cute!! I wish I could have gotten it on tape.
This is her "port de bras," or Fifth Position of the arms (as I understand it)...
Below is her half-hearted attempt at an Arabesque. The camera makes her shy.
What a little ballerina.
