Ballet

Can you tell a story with no words, only using your body?  Dancers tell stories without using their voices to sing or speak.  Can you show emotion with your body?  How can you show the following emotions?  Stand up and give it a try:

• Move like you are upset
• Move like you are excited
• Move like you are scared
• Move like you are so happy you could burst
• Move like you are angry
• Move like you are calm
• Move like you are frustrated
• Move like you are content
• Move like you are telling a story

Composers have written music for dancers to tell stories.  There is a classical dance tradition called ballet.  A famous ballet we study in 2nd grade is the Nutcracker Ballet.  Some of you might remember studying it!  Here's is a story called Firebird written by a famous ballet dancer named Misty Copeland.  Firebird is a ballet by Igor Stravinsky in which Misty Copeland danced the Firebird role.

After listening to the story, watch this video about the author Misty Copeland!  Ballerinas are extreme athletes.  They work out all day long and are in terrific shape.