My children have all been dancers at one time through their childhood
For five years we danced with The Charlotte Hudson School of Dance
Which we loved because of the principal Charlotte
She ran a school open to all
Boys, girls, mixed ages and mixed abilities
She truly believed that everyone could dance
That everyone should dance
She was incredibly kind and impossibly patient
It was because of Charlotte that all my children tried a wide range of dance styles
Acro, Jazz, Tap, Street, Modern, Musical Theatre
And of course, ballet
If like me, you have a house filled with tiny dancers
I have the perfect book for you
A cute, funny book
With an inclusive cast of characters
And a mum and a teacher we can all relate to
A book that shows children that anyone can dance
Being a real ballerina is not about being perfect
It is about showing up and having a go
It is about how dancing makes you feel
If your heart feels like it’s flying when you perform
You will know that you’re a real ballerina
Is about a young dancer’s earliest days of ballet
As she learns the positions
Gets used to her uniform and having to wear her hair in a smart ballet bun
This is a story about a girl, much like Bea
Who is strong willed and determined
Who likes to do things her way
A little dancer who knows what she wants
But is not quite sure yet of the rules and routines of dance class
This is a little dancer with some helpful hints for other young wannabe ballerinas
The illustrations are filled with joy and gentle humour
Bea loves the little grey cat
This is a story of how practise may not always make perfect
How new things can sometimes be tricky
It is also a story of the magical feeling of performing on stage
And how wonderful it feels when all your hard work comes together
An inspirational story for tiny dancers just beginning classes
Or for a fond look back with bigger ballerinas to the cute little preschoolers they once were
We have LOVED exploring this wonderful book together
It has definitely made us feel like we have Christmas-tree lights in our tummy
