Listening

Ballet is a special form of art. It’s a French word. It means “to dance”. There’s no talking or singing in ballet. The dancers use body language such as steps, gestures and the expressions on their faces to tell stories.

Ballet began in Western Europe in the 15th century. Today it has become popular all over the world.

One of the most famous ballets in the world is Swan Lake. The dancers tell the story and express feelings through their body language. For example, some of the dancers must give people the impression that they’re swans. They do this by moving their arms like wings and moving their necks like the long necks of swans.

It’s not easy to become a ballet dancer. Training usually starts at an early age, and the dancers have to practise very hard every day. They learn to use their bodies to communicate all kinds of messages with beauty.