LITTLE BALLET IN OAKLEIGH MELBOURNE

We offer several different programs for children aged 2 to 10. Use your child's age to select the most appropriate program

Ballet for Bubs

Ages: 18 months to 2½ years

Duration: 30 minutes

Our "Ballet for Bubs" program is offered to younger children, aged between 18months and 2½ years. It gives Mum (or the primary care giver) an opportunity to join in and share their child's experience.

Bubs is Infinity’s program for children between the ages of 18 months to 2½ years. It gives a child’s caregiver a beautiful and unique opportunity to nurture their bub through music and movement.

• Carers enjoy an essential role in the class as they guide, support and nurture their small children through the program, as directed by the teacher.
• The Bubs program includes songs and movement, props and storytelling.
• The program was created in collaboration with an early childhood specialist.
• Bubs pairs the principles of Early Childhood Development with the energy and fun of dance.
• Each session is between 25-30 minutes and occurs once a week for a term.
• Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 10 children per class.
• It is a very sensory experience focused and physical sensations of movement and textures.
• It gives a positive introduction to the routine of a structured activity.
• The program meets the needs and expectations of this very specific age group.
• It gives children the opportunity to enjoy exploring movement to music in a safe and nurturing environment.
• It helps children develop musical and physical awareness as well as gross motor skills.

Ballet Bubs gives very young children a positive introduction to a structured activity while addressing the needs and expectations of the age group. Ballet Bubs is fully supported by a music program created by our composer, Jenny Pickering, and includes songs and movement, props and storytelling. It is a sensory experience in a safe, nurturing and joyful environment!

Grownup and Me Ballet

Ages: 2½ to 3½ years

Duration: 30 minutes

Our "Grownup and Me" program is offered to younger children, aged between 2 and 3½ years. It gives Mum (or the primary care giver) an opportunity to join in and share their child's experience. 

• The classes (in term 1 and 2) are not themed, however there is emphasis on use of props and imagery, songs and dancing to music, musical response through movement, basic movement co-ordination of gross motor skills and a minor introduction to a couple of ballet steps.
• The environment is relaxed and friendly, with no set costuming and no obligation for little ones to continuously participate. The children are encouraged to participate, working closely with their primary care giver, giving them a sense of security and confidence.
• The hope is that the "Grownup and Me" program will be a foundation program if they choose to continue.
• Each session is half an hour in duration and you would normally attend once a week.
• Class sizes are limited to 11 children per class.
• If you have younger ones to look-after (that are too young to participate), you are welcome to bring them along.

Ballet for Tots

Ages: 3½ to 5 years

Duration: 45 minutes

The 'Tots' program is for children who are ready to take instruction from a teacher and work independently of their parent. Children are introduced to the idea of working in a group under the guidance of a teacher.

The program aims to present a ballet class in a way that will keep a small child’s interest by having fun and being imaginative.

The class offers:

• Dancing to music
• Use of props (such as ribbons, wands)
• Musical instruments
• Basic movement co-ordination of gross motor skills
• Basic introduction to some ballet steps
• An introduction to concepts such as:
  • Group co-operation
  • Waiting ones turn
  • Following the leader

While it is important to us to give the children a fun and positive experience, we also feel strongly about teaching them the basics of dance. This differentiates us from activities where the goal is predominantly to entertain or just amuse children, sometimes with completly different class content each week.

Themes

The program revolves around a single theme which lasts for a term, allowing the child to become familiar with the routine of the class. This gives them that sense of security and helps to develop particular movement skills through repetition.

There is a strong narrative that runs through all the themes to keep the children’s interest, while learning the foundations of dance and therefore, learning through the sense of play.

Class Structure

While there is a very strong theme and narrative which runs through the class, it is structured like a Classical ballet class for pre-school children. Each class is made up of particular elements which make up the basics of all dance classes.

Ballet for Kiddies

Ages: 4 to 5 years

Duration: 45 minutes

The 'Kiddies' program is for children who are in their final year of kinder prior to going to school. Children are expected to be more acquainted with working in a group under the guidance of a teacher

The program aims to present a ballet class in a way that will keep a small child’s interest by having fun and being imaginative.

The programs become a little more complex as the year progresses, to accommodate the children’s preparation for school readiness.

While all children have varied co-ordination abilities, we try and aim to teach all children to skip prior to them going to school.

The class offers:

• Dancing to music
• Use of props (such as ribbons, wands)
• Musical instruments
• Basic movement co-ordination of gross motor skills
• Basic introduction to some ballet steps
• An introduction to concepts such as:
  • Group co-operation
  • Waiting ones turn
  • Following the leader
  • Working in partners
  • Working together as a group

While it is important to us to give the children a fun and positive experience, we also feel strongly about teaching them the basics of dance. This differentiates us from activities where the goal is predominantly to entertain or just amuse children, sometimes with completely different class content each week.

Themes

The program revolves around a single theme which lasts for a term, allowing the child to become familiar with the routine of the class. This gives them that sense of security and helps to develop particular movement skills through repetition.

There is a strong narrative that runs through all the themes to keep the children’s interest, while learning the foundations of dance and therefore, learning through the sense of play.

Class Structure

While there is a very strong theme and narrative which runs through the class, it is structured like a Classical ballet class for pre-school children. Each class is made up of particular elements which make up the basics of all dance classes.

Next Steps

Ages: 5 to 7 years

Duration: 45 minutes

Following on from the preschool programs, Next Steps is developed to be an inspiring, challenging and fun approach to learning classical ballet. 

Inspiring

Expressing stories through movement - experiencing great traditional classical ballets. Inspires individual response to music and dancing.

Challenging

Developing basic classical ballet technique and increasing the range of ballet steps and the ways in which to execute them.

Fun

The emphasis is still on your child's enjoyment without neglecting the importance of laying solid foundations of dance tuition.