Ballet West visits Saint Francis Xavier School

Courtesy photo/Saint Francis Xavier School

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KEARNS — Saint Francis Xavier Regional School students watched a live ballet performance, many for the first time, on March 17. Ballet West dancers instructed the students on the origin of ballet and history of the ballet ?Sleeping Beauty.'

KEARNS — Saint Francis Xavier Regional School students watched a live ballet performance, many for the first time, on March 17. Ballet West dancers instructed the students on the origin of ballet and history of the ballet ‘Sleeping Beauty.’ Students learned that ballet began in France. They also learned the meaning of basic ballet terms, and that ballet incorporates mime and acting that is set to music. They were told of the importance of good posture, exercise, healthy eating habits, cooperation, and how involvement in an activity such as dance can lead to a career later in life.

Dancers demonstrated five basic ballet steps, their warm-up routine, and showed how movements involving two dancers hindered or helped, depending on how each person involved in the movement actively participated. Selected students were given an opportunity to try their hand at leaps and the five basic ballet steps. They learned how everyday movements are similar in rhythm, shape, and dynamics to ballet steps. Characters from ‘Sleeping Beauty’ demonstrated the techniques of pantomime, pointe work, stage property and pas de deu.

Students traveled to Sleeping Beauty’s magical kingdom through the eyes of young Princess Aurora.

The program that brought the dancers to Saint Francis Xavier School, Professional Outreach Program to Schools, is funded through the Public Education Appropriation Committee and the State Office of Education.