INTRODUCTION

Ballet is a pretty pleasure beneath which lurks an iron discipline. It can instil in children a sense of poise, confidence and musicality that will last their entire lives. It can train and physically condition their bodies. It can give them a sense of living history and tradition, a sense of craft, even a casual brush with French. They can enjoy it as a once a week pleasure or it can become a vocation, leading to a career as a dancer, a choreographer or a ballet teacher.

Children can begin ballet as soon as they are able to take instruction from a teacher. But ballet proper, taught with an attention to technique, requires a certain body strength which most children won't have until they are six or seven. Before that age they can still enjoy classes that concentrate on developing rhythm and body awareness.

In terms of getting started, your child will need a teacher - a good teacher - and a basic outfit, which in some cases will depend upon the teacher. For the most part girls will need a leotard. Boys will need a t-shirt and shorts. Older boys will need a dance belt (a sort of jock-strap). Some teachers might require that their class wear tights, mostly depending upon the age of the pupils. The clothes are important. They are designed to let the teacher see exactly how their pupil's body is moving and that they are performing the exercises correctly.

Both girls and boys will need ballet shoes. Fitting ballet shoes needs expert advice, in the first instance from the dancewear shop, but also check the fit with the teacher. Ballet shoes should feel tight and should stretch to fit. You'll also notice that there is no 'right' and 'left' when you buy the shoes: the feet shape them through wear.

Out of London, the cost of ballet classes will begin at about Ј4- Ј6 per hour. In London you should expect to pay a bit more. Leather ballet shoes begin at about Ј7.

Despite the efforts of the film 'Billy Elliot' ballet can still struggle to appeal to boys. One look at the virile muscularity of dancers such as Irek Mukhamedov should be enough to satisfy any quibbles. But it might also be worth remembering that some schools and teachers offer separate classes for boys, which might make some boys feel more comfortable in the early stages.

LOOKING FOR A CLASS

Even if your child is only interested in dancing for pleasure you should join a class with a properly qualified dance teacher. Ballet is physically demanding. It puts your children's bodies through exercises, which, if done incorrectly, can damage their bodies. Just consider the issue of when your daughter will go 'en pointe' - dance on point shoes. If this is done before her bones and muscles are able to support the weight of her body (for the most part around the age of 11) it could give her serious physical problems, not only now but for the rest of her life. Choosing a qualified teacher minimises the risk of this sort of injury.

There are a number of organisations that teachers can gain accreditation from, but the British ballet teaching scene is dominated by three main schools (i.e. systems) of dance - RAD, Ceccheti (pronounced Chechetti) and the Imperial - all with different adherents, syllabi and exams. Their differences come down to matters of style in the practice of ballet, and of emphasis in the syllabi. Some people say the differences matter a lot. Others say it matters very little. But everyone agrees that your teacher should be properly trained and accredited.

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) have their headquarters in Battersea in London. This base not only houses a school for the teaching of ballet, it is the headquarters of a vast network of teachers. If teachers are RAD trained they'll have the letters ARAD after their name. If the teacher additionally has the letters Dip PDTC after their name it tells you that they danced professionally. This doesn't necessarily make them better teachers but it can add a certain star quality as far as the pupils - and some parents - are concerned.

Teachers who follow the equally distinguished Cecchetti and Imperial teaching styles and syllabi have joined together under an umbrella body, The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, ISTD, which is also based in London. The letters ISTD will, in one form or another, appear after these teachers’ names. Some teachers may then add some extra letters denoting whether they are allied with the Ceccheti or Imperial faculties, but most won't bother. If you have a reason for wanting your child to pursue a specific style you should ask for a list of those teachers in particular. The ISTD website describes the various styles. The ISTD also hosts classes.

Both RAD and the ISTD can supply you with list of qualified teachers in your area. ISTD in particular are very helpful, notably willing to help find teachers to work with children with special needs. RAD has branches in Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

Contact:

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), 36 Battersea Square, London SW11 3RA. Telephone:

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD), Imperial House, 22 -26 Paul Street, London EC2A 4QE. Telephone:

Another useful website for finding a teacher is Dance Teachers On-Line, which lists teachers, the style of dancing they teach and their qualifications. However the site does state that they take no responsibility for the information provided and that they are not making a recommendation of either the teachers or the schools.

The British Theatre Dance Association in Leicester takes enquiries and can direct you to registered teachers throughout the UK. They also have a list of teachers who cater for disabled pupils. Just tell them the area in which you live and they will find the nearest teachers to you. Contact the British Theatre Dance Association, International Arts Centre, Garden Street, Leicester LE1 3UA. E-mail: info Telephone:

Once you've located a qualified teacher, ask to sit in on a class. And if you can't, all advice suggests you should look for another teacher. In terms of what to look for in a teacher or a class you are the best judge because you know your child. Ballet is a discipline: it is a system of movement that is based on an exacting technique. If it is to be done well it has to be learned properly. But it does not need to be taught joylessly.

Some teachers insist that the children practice courtly manners and control from the moment they enter the studio (and many children enjoy this polite discipline). Others prefer to keep the atmosphere light. There is no right way. But there probably is a right way for your child.

BALLET EXAMS

There are a number of examining boards for dance but the two main boards are RAD and the ISTD, which covers both the Cecchetti and the Imperial faculties of exams.

Most dancing schools follow one of these syllabi (although some follow their own systems, while others, such as The Central School of Ballet, begin with RAD then switches over to the Russian Vaganova system). In broad terms the ISTD syllabi tends to favour musicality and artistic expression whereas the RAD syllabus tends to focus more on technical excellence. Both, taken to their highest level, can qualify a child to dance professionally or can lead a child-dancer towards becoming a teacher. And both can be followed by those who wish to dance for pleasure alone.

The examination systems with their many different grades and major syllabi (the major syllabus is one designed for the serious student) can seem complicated. But they are all spelt out on the RAD or ISTD websites, and teachers will be able to talk you through the exam system that they work within.

It's worth bearing in mind that exams are not compulsory for pupils wishing to dance just for pleasure (although teachers must submit candidates for examination in order to remain accredited) but they do give a sense of achievement and an indication of progress.

GETTING SERIOUS

If you think your child might be interested in a professional career as a dancer (or even as a choreographer or teacher) you should probably start off by talking to your child's teacher. They will probably be able to satisfy any training needs your child has until at least the age of 11 or 12. After that you might want to consider getting your child into a school that teaches ballet as part of its curriculum.

Until your child is about 11 you won't be able to tell whether they are physically equipped to tackle ballet on a serious level. The hard truth is that no matter how committed your child is to a career in dance, their physique will determine as much as their training or commitment. A too-long back, or an instep that doesn't arch enough can be all that it takes to disqualify a pupil from being taken on by one of the top ballet schools.

SCHOOLS

Some schools teach ballet only. Others offer other dance or movement subjects as well. Some schools have links with professional ballet companies, which can mean that your child will have a chance to take part in some professional performances whilst still a student. It can also help if that child is hoping to join that particular company after graduating from school.

Schools offer different ages and levels of entry; some take children from primary school age, others only for the 6th form. Most offer residential and non-residential tuition. For many if not all, entry is by audition. Most offer guidance about ways in which you can get help paying for your child's training and education there.

All of the top schools have websites but a useful link is to Ballet Co, which has not only collected information about fees and associated costs but also notes the percentage of graduates who get work as professional dancers. With one exception, it only lists schools in London but they are planning to extend the list.

Each school tends to set out a mission statement in its print or on-line prospectus, and these give a good indication of the school’s priorities.

You can also study ballet as a GCSE, AS and A-level within some state schools. Check with the school or with the local education authority. Or again, contact RAD, which offers these examinations too.

See the Good Schools Guide’s advice on choosing a dance school for your child - look for 'How to Find a Good Arts, Music, Dance or Drama School' in the 'Articles' section.

Ballet Schools

The Royal Ballet School, 46 Floral Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DA. Telephone: or 7063. E-mail: info

English National Ballet School, Carlyle Building, Hortensia Road, London, SW10 0QS. Telephone: E-mail: info 

The Central School of Ballet, 10 Herbal Hill, London EC1R 5EJ Telephone: .

Scottish Ballet, 261 West Princes Street, Glasgow G4 9EE Telephone: E-mail: education

Schools Which Teach Ballet

Northern School of Contemporary Dance, 98 Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 4BH Telephone: E-mail: info

Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance Telephone:

Even though the Rambert School is based at Brunel University, students can begin their course aged 16.

Arts Educational School, London offers ballet classes for the under 16s. Telephone: .

The Dance School of Scotland at Knightswood Secondary School in Glasgow offers Scotland's first full-time vocational dance course, provided by Glasgow City Council within the comprehensive education system. The Dance School caters for pupils of secondary school age, offering specialist dance, singing and drama as well as the usual academic studies. It has close links with Scottish Ballet. There is accommodation for pupils who cannot travel daily to the school. For information contact The Director, The Dance School of Scotland, Knightswood Secondary, 60 Knightswood Road, Knightswood, Glasgow, G13 2XD. Telephone: .

Ballet studies can be continued into higher education too, sometimes within normal colleges and universities, but also at dance centres with links to universities. For example the London Studios Centre (Telephone: ) which offers a three-year Theatre Dance Course at the London Studio Centre accredited by the Council for Dance Education and Training (UK) and also has links and courses accredited by Middlesex University.

There are also Youth Ballet companies that help bridge the gap between schools and a professional performing life. Scottish Ballet has a youth ballet company. There is also the National Youth Ballet, where young and talented dancers from all over Britain get to work with young and equally talented costumiers, designers and musicians to produce productions of a very high calibre.

Summer Schools

Most of the ballet and dance schools have summer schools - Scottish Ballet has summer, Easter and October Schools - which tend to have policies that are moreaccess than their schools proper. For example, Ballet Ireland conducts workshops for a month every summer.

Also some professional companies - again Scottish Ballet is very energetic in this - have an education programme that tour alongside their company providing opportunities for children to experience ballet and dance. Check company websites and tour schedules.

BALLET FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

It might seem contradictory that such a disciplined dance style such as ballet can be liberating to disabled children but it can. The sheer physicality and musicality of ballet is at the core of this pleasure.

Companies that have an energetic education policy, such as Scottish Ballet, can be helpful in finding classes for children with special needs. Also the ISTD will help find teachers experienced in this area of teaching.

British Theatre Dance Association also has a register of those teachers who take disabled children. Telephone: .

Dance Base in Scotland promotes dance in Edinburgh and the Lothians to people of all ages and abilities, including disabled children. They run classes for children of two years old and up.

Also don't neglect organisations such as the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) whose regional groups can help you find ballet and dance opportunities in your own area. Contact them at e-mail: ndcs or at 15 Dufferin Street, London EC1Y 8UR. Freephone (voice or text): .

The contact details for the charities and organisations dedicated to arts for disabled people throughout the UK can be found in our section on Leisure for Disabled Children.

FINDING OUT MORE

The Ballet Co. is a useful British-based website offering links to ballet resources and companies around the world as well as profiles of famous dancers.

Tom Parson’s enthusiastic and informative US site covers many aspects of ballet. Its frequently asked questions (FAQs) pages give you a sense of its tone - Why is it all in French? Why don't men dance on Pointe? If a female dancer is called a ballerina, what is a male dancer called? It also has FAQs that contain advice on helping choose a class for your child.

Dance Books (London) is perhaps the only bookshop - certainly in Britain - dedicated to books on dance. They’re at The Old Bakery, 4 Lenten Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1HG or e-mail: dancebooks

The Dancing Times is a great supporter of ballet and ballet education. Its pages and websites offer listings and links for ballet schools and teachers as well as the usual news and reviews.

For more information about what’s going on in your area, visit your Local Authority’s website. It can provide details on activities, attractions and services available to you and your family.