There is nothing more magical for me
Than a night at the theatre
As a child, teenager and young adult
I loved nothing more than being part of a show
Performing in a show
Directing a show
I love to act and sing
I love musical theatre
I also love to watch ballet
And especially in recent years
With my children
We have together fallen in love
With going to the Ballet Theatre
I do miss performing
I miss being part of a cast
I miss rehearsals
I miss the nervous waits in the wings
I miss the rush of energy
Before a performance begins
And as it ends
I miss the immense feeling of joy
A finale brings
I miss the smell of stage make up
I miss learning my lines
These days I find my magic
In watching my children dance
And taking my children
To theatres big and small
To see musicals and ballets
Concerts and plays
I love everything about the theatre
And I love books
That bring the theatre alive
In their pages
November 2nd is World Ballet Day
And I want to share with you
A brilliant and beautiful book
A great book that would make
A gorgeous gift this Christmas
An Invitation to the Ballet Theatre
Written by Charlotte Guillain
Illustrated by Helen Shoesmith
And published by Welbeck Kids
This is a wonderful introduction
To the Ballet Theatre
For young readers
It would make a perfect present
For little dancers who dream of one day
Performing on a stage like the one in this
Stunning non fiction book
Are you ready to join the VIP tour?
We begin in the auditorium
Looking out at the stalls
The boxes and balconies
Next we head backstage
To the costume department
Where little readers can learn about
Costume design and decoration
Costume care
All weaved through the story
Of Cinderella
Behind the scenes
We also sneak a peek in
The Shoe Room
Where every dancer has
Their own specially made shoes
Little readers join the ballet company
For a morning class
It begins with a warm up
Technical exercises
Male dancers practise
Spins, leaps and landings
The morning class
Builds strength
And prepares the dancers
For the performance ahead
Turning the page to
The Rehearsal Studio
Where readers can learn
The Firebird Story
Then readers visit
The Healthcare Suite
A place for dancers to workout
Maintain their strength
And receive treatment
For any injuries
Next The Dancer’s Canteen
It is so fascinating exploring
All the parts that make up the whole
Of a production in the Ballet Theatre
The book is beautifully illustrated
With double fold out pages
Making large richly detailed scenes
We adore The Nutcracker
And so The Set Building Workshop
Is our favourite fold out
Seeing the familiar set
Being brought to life on stage
My children were also intrigued by
The Lighting Department
And the girls loved learning about
The Makeup Studio and
The Wig Room
There is so much to see, read and learn
In the pages of this book
It is certain to enchant young readers
And dancers of all ages
It would be just the thing to read
Before or after seeing a ballet
This festive season
As the orchestra warms up in the pit
And the dancers gather in the wings
As the audience settles into their seats
It is time for the ballet to begin
On The Stage
The Swan Lake Story
After The Performance
The audience head home
With their heads and hearts
Filled with the awe and wonder
Of the ballet
As the stage goes dark
And the curtains close
The dancers hurry to
The Dressing Room
They rehydrate and stretch
Change and chat
As they start to relax
Then they too
Leave the theatre
At The Stage Door
Time for the dancers
To eat and sleep
In readiness for a new day
And another show
And as the dancers sleep
The book reaches its conclusion
Little readers leave the theatre
And ask their grown ups
Which ballet shall we go and see?
Produced in consultation with
English National Ballet’s
Ballet Futures programme
This is an incredibly inspiring read
For aspiring dancers
And for all of us
Who love the magic of
The Ballet Theatre
This is an invitation
That cannot be refused
An Invitation to the Ballet Theatre
If you love the ballet
And you love books
You might like to read some of these!