Welcome to Ballet School

written by a professional ballerina

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date 04 Aug 2020 | Archive Date 04 Aug 2020

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Description

"Through it all, “Welcome” takes ballet seriously. Bouder explains ballet terminology with diagrams that resemble those in a training manual. (My younger self would have eaten it up.) She also moves beyond steps to the heart of dancing." — The New York Times

“A detailed and practical title for those interested in learning about ballet or to engage young readers in movement during story time” – School Library Journal

Welcome to your first day at ballet school! Put on your ballet shoes and let’s master your basics with author and New York City Ballet principal Ashley Bouder. Learn five basic lessons, then visit the costume room, before putting on your very own show of Sleeping Beauty at the end.

There's no admissions policy to our Ballet School. Whether you are already learning ballet, or thinking about starting, this class is for you. Learn your pliés, first positions, jetés, pirouettes, and grand battements.

But what happens if you fall? How do you stretch and look after your body? How do you get ready for class? No worries—it's all answered in this book from professional ballerina Ashley Bouder.

Then go on to learn the characters and interpretations of Sleeping Beauty—taught in an inclusive way so anyone can dance the parts they want to. A helpful glossary at the back provides a review of ballet terms.

Tutus are optional.

"Through it all, “Welcome” takes ballet seriously. Bouder explains ballet terminology with diagrams that resemble those in a training manual. (My younger self would have eaten it up.) She also moves...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780711251281
PRICE $19.99 (USD)
PAGES 64

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)

Average rating from 23 members


Featured Reviews

This charmingly illustrated book for children is written by a ballerina which lends it authenticity.  With multicultural students, the ballet teacher introduces them to dance. 


This book is packed with information.  The five positions, arm movements, twirls and more are all described and tried by the children.  They even learn about the author's favorite ballet, Sleeping Beauty.


This book for young students will give them lots to practice.  Hopefully, it will encourage a fun love of dance.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

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First of all, thank you very much to NetGalley for the copy to make the review.


The edition (I have read it digitally) is beautiful. At first sight it looks like just another illustrated story for kids. The truth is that everyone can enjoy the book, regardless of age. The fact of finding very different dancers among the students has enchanted me. It seems to me of utmost importance to introduce multicultural dancers to books that are mainly dedicated to children.

In this book we can find the different ways to create a dance, movements, positions and many other things related to ballet. It is a perfect book for someone who is starting out in the world of ballet.

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This book is adorable and will surely be a hit with any young dancer. Visually appealing illustrations take readers through an introduction to ballet class: what to wear, the basic positions of feet and arms, jumps, turns and much more. The latter half of the book envelopes the reader in the classic “Sleeping Beauty” and beautifully shows children how to make the story come alive through dance. The opportunity to turn the reading process into an interactive experience through dance will be a huge hit with children in the intended age range. As a non-fiction read about Ballet (coming right from the source of a principal dancer!) this book shines.

Even better though, are the subtleties in the illustrations and presentation of the students. Not only are the students ethnically and racially diverse, the book integrates dancers of all genders into all parts of the Sleeping Beauty ballet. Boys sometimes wear tutus and learn to dance as fairies, girls wear prince costumes and dress as woodland creatures. While it isn't the focus of the book, exposing children to the idea that dance is for everyone, in any capacity they chose, deeply enriches this introduction to dance.

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This was a super cute children’s book about a day in a ballet class. I loved that multiple races and genders were portrayed. The ballet definitions were beneficial and informative. The tale of sleeping beauty almost felt like a separate book to me, but overall this was a great read for the ballet obsessed in every child.

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This is a really nice book that features key moves and terms from ballet in a way that is easy to understand. I love how well made the illustrations work to back them up, and that this both have a story but also works as a manual on how to start doing ballet! Really good representation too!

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Welcome to ballet school is basically year one of ballet training in a cute, illustrated book. I was classically trained for twelve years, and I even learned a thing or two. As a young ballerina, we learned the French terms and what you were supposed to do when you hear them, but we didn’t always go over their direct translations, at least not that I can remember, so seeing a few new things in a sea of nostalgia was actually really cool.

I would recommend using this book as a training tool for teaching kids something new, rather than as a go-to for storytime. It’s intense in a good way, but it’s not designed to read through in one sitting. I would get the most enjoyment out of maybe on page per day and then having kiddos follow the instructions, and bonus points for doing it with them, like taking a day to learn the five positions, and another day for the barre exercises.

There’s a lot of absorb in this book, and it holds great “replay value” for those of us who are gaming nerds. You will be able to revisit again and again and help your children learn the basics of ballet. After all, ballet is for everyone, tall or short, large or small, young or old, everyone can benefit from learning and practicing ballet.

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I read this book thanks to NetGalley, they provided me a copy for an honest review.
I'm not sure about this book, I was very excited to read this book, because of the cover, the illustrations, and the author. But I think it has a lot of information for a little girl, maybe a young girl with some training will enjoy the most.
Maybe is missing the infant component, more play, and an approach to the kid's world of dance. Otherwise, I really liked the reading, I'm still believing the illustrations are lovely and the book has great potential for people like me with a knowledge of dance and deep love for kids' books.

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This is a beautiful book that is an introduction to ballet. It begins with a kind teacher and a diverse group of students. They learn about the clothing/costumes, positions, and vocabulary terms. A ballerina joins the class to teach them about the Sleeping Beauty ballet. The children are encouraged to choose a favorite costume for a show for parents.

The illustrations are wonderfully done. Each position is explained in kid friendly terms with diagrams. There is a glossary to refer to for definitions.

I would recommend this book for units on performance arts or for a student who wants to learn more about the ballet.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a detailed sophisticated book for young readers on introducing Ballet., tiny steps to preparing for an recital. Amazing book in depth and scope for young readers. The book also introduces the technical terms to the readers with short definitions. Illustrations featuring young dancers makes the material accessible and interesting to young readers. An engaging title for the youngest readers, recommended for all dance lovers.

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This book is very informative and young kids will be benefitted from this book. The illustrations are amazing!

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A lot more informative than I thought it would be. The story is a good mix of narrative, and vocabulary with great and diverse illustrations for all.

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This was lovely - I wish it had existed when I was little and wanted to be a ballerina! Great for kids in lockdown too, as it actually teaches the first five positions (both feet and arms), as well as a few other basic steps. Educational and fun and with gorgeous illustrations!

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This is a beautifully illustrated book that young ballet enthusiasts will love!

Not only the illustrations are beautiful, but the characters are quite diverse. The book is well-written and I believe kids interested in learning ballet or starting to take ballet lessons would find it quite useful and entertaining. There are a lot of very specific descriptions about the five positions and how to combine them.

The book starts kind of like a story book, but it isn't. It doesn't fly as story and it makes a terrible bed time book. It has a lot of text and it's too factual. On the other hand, it is quite fun to use it for play time! You can read the descriptions, look at the pictures, and get your kid to try the positions. It's probably even better for kids who already know how to read so they can try things on their own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

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'Welcome to Ballet School' is a perfect introduction for children interested in ballet! It tells a story with beautiful illustrations and includes multiple pages of instruction regarding positions and stretches. This would be a great book for children starting ballet lessons. I'd recommend this book for children about 4 to 7 years old.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books

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Practical book with lovely illustrations to teach students about the foundations of ballet. I love the representations of races and genders and the mix of storytelling with practical direction.

Lovely picture book!

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