ballet

Everyday

1. Ballet is a kind of graceful dance that tells a story or shows feelings, with exact steps, jumps and turns, often on the tips of the toes. tree →
2. A ballet is one show or story performed in this dance, like «The Nutcracker» or «Swan Lake». tree →
3. A ballet is also a company of ballet dancers: «the Royal Ballet». tree →

In the lessons

In PE, dance and music lessons, children learn ballet positions and terms (plié, pirouette) and listen to ballet music by Tchaikovsky. Many children go to ballet classes after school. Ballet takes strength and practice, like sport. Phrases: «ballet class», «ballet shoes», «ballet dancer», «go to ballet».

Examples

• My sister goes to ballet on Saturdays. tree →
• Ballet dancers practise for hours every day. tree →
• We saw «The Nutcracker» ballet at Christmas. tree →
• She wears pink ballet shoes. tree →
• A pirouette is a spin in ballet. tree →
• Boys and girls can both do ballet. tree →
• The ballet told the story of a swan princess. tree →
• Ballet makes your legs very strong. tree →
• A little opera and a great ballet were performed, and a prologue and an epilogue into the bargain; and that would last till late at night. tree →

Note

Say «BAL-ay» (UK) or «ba-LAY» (US): the t is silent, from French. Dancer: ballet dancer, ballerina (for a female dancer). Myth: ballet is not only for girls; many famous ballet dancers are men.