DANCE FACTS FOR KIDS

• Did you know ballet terms are in French?
• Arabesque is named for a curly-cue decoration
• One leg supports the body, other leg is extended, and arms lift out from the body.
• Zhirui Zou is playing the wicked Black Swan with Ballet Theatre of Maryland.

• George Balanchine, known as Mr. B, was born in Russia. 
• Was a Candy Cane in an early Nutcracker. 
• Lots of children danced in his New York City Ballet Nutcrackers. 
• Made up the ballet The Spellbound Child 
• Here he is standing behind the young Christopher Byars.

• 16 years old - first African American woman to join New York City Ballet.
• Joined Pennsylvania Ballet as first African American Principal Ballerina hired by a major company outside Dance Theatre of Harlem
• Known for hanging in the air with her high flying jumps Here with William DeGregory in Who Cares? in Penn-Milwaukee Ballet
• Now a master teacher

• Guillermo Asca slices the air as he arches his back.
• Men dance with strength and power.
• Did you know that Revelations by Alvin Ailey, is one of the  most popular dances in the world?
• Revelations ~ blues music, gospels and spirituals.

 Arthur Mitchell! (1934-2018) 

• Paved the Way for Black Dancers 
• Mitchell did for “ballet what Jackie Robinson did for baseball” 
• Became the only Black dancer in New York City Ballet in 1956 
• Powerful, strong & elegant Principal Dancer 
• Founder & director of Dance Theatre of Harlem —- all Black ballet company 
• Check out “The Constellation Project” - Mapping the Dark Side of Ballet - at Mobballet.org

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by New York City Ballet 

• Ballet dancers fly! The character Puck is a sprite who causes all kinds of fun trouble.  
• Wires are attached to dancer Roman Mejia, so he floats above the stage. Technical crews behind the scenes make this happen. 
• Roman’s father is Paul Mejia and also danced with the ballet company years ago. 
• William Shakespeare wrote this comedy over 400 years ago. 
• Choreographed by ballet company founder George Balanchine. He even danced in the ballet. 
• Photo by Erin Baiano