Long Island Youth Ballet

Rising to the moment. Growing through the process. Becoming artists. Grateful for our amazing guest dancers working side by side with our advance students.

Students learn body awareness from their first classes! “What muscle should you squeeze to…?” Is a typical question.

Class time! Much to learn!

Pop quiz time!!! We have fun going around the room asking the students to show us positions.

6th position can be tricky! We don’t do if often, but it’s still there!! So much to learn.

We are finishing choreography for our spring show. It takes shape as we move and teach. Do we flex the hand or not…what feels right???

Practice, practice, practice

Let’s talk about pointing our toes — tendu (pronounced tahn-DEW) means “stretched” in French, referring to a fundamental movement where the working leg glides along the floor from a closed position (like first or fifth) to a fully extended, pointed position (front, side, or back), keeping the toes in contact with the floor, and then returning.

In ballet, dégagé (pronounced day-gah-ZHAY) means “disengaged,” describing a fundamental step where the working foot brushes off the floor from a tendu (pointed foot on floor) position, lifting slightly but remaining pointed before returning.

Teaching ballet basics: left from right (the struggle is real, friends.)

Practicing our jumps!! They are the cutest!