0:00:07 > 0:00:08Hello, my name is Nihal.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12I've come to read you a bedtime story and tonight is one of my favourites.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16It's called Dogs Don't Do Ballet and it's by Anna Kemp
0:00:16 > 0:00:18with pictures by Sara Ogilvie.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22My dog is not like other dogs.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26He doesn't do dog stuff, like weeing on lampposts,
0:00:26 > 0:00:28scratching his fleas,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31or drinking out of the toilet. Ugh.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35If I throw him a stick, he looks at me like I'm crazy,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37so I have to fetch it myself.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42No, my dog likes music and moonlight
0:00:42 > 0:00:45and walking on his tiptoes.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48You see, my dog doesn't think he's a dog.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50My dog thinks he's a ballerina.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57When I get ready for ballet class, he looks longingly at my tutu
0:00:57 > 0:01:01and ballet shoes and I just know he's dreaming of his name in lights.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07"Dad?" I say, "Can Biff come, too? He loves ballet."
0:01:07 > 0:01:09"Not a chance." says Dad.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12"Dogs don't do ballet."
0:01:12 > 0:01:18Then, one Saturday on my way to class, I get a funny feeling.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24A funny feeling that I am being watched.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27A funny feeling that I am being followed.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32When Miss Polly is teaching us a new routine,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35I think I see something peeking in at the window.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Something with a wet nose.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Something with a tail.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45"Right, girls." says Miss Polly.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49"Who's going to demonstrate first position?"
0:01:49 > 0:01:51But before anyone can step forward,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54there is a loud bark from the back of the hall
0:01:54 > 0:01:57and something furry rushes to the front.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02"What is this?" asks Miss Polly, peering over her glasses.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04"This," I say, "is my dog."
0:02:04 > 0:02:09"Well, take it away at once," says Miss Polly wrinkling up her nose.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13"Dogs don't do ballet."
0:02:13 > 0:02:14BIFF WHIMPERS
0:02:14 > 0:02:16My poor dog stops wagging his tail
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and his ears drooped down at the ends.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23I take my dog home and give him a bowl of Doggy Donuts,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25but he won't touch them.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28He just stays in his kennel for days and days and at night,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31he howls at the moon.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35For my birthday, I get tickets for the Royal Ballet.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38"Can Biff come, too?" I asked Dad. "He loves ballet!"
0:02:38 > 0:02:41My dog pricks up his ears and wags his tail.
0:02:41 > 0:02:47"No," says Dad. "If I've told you once, I've told you 1,000 times,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50"dogs don't do ballet."
0:02:52 > 0:02:57As we wait for the bus, I think about my poor old dog all on his own
0:02:57 > 0:03:00howling at the moon.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05Then I get a funny feeling, a funny feeling that I'm being watched.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09A funny feeling that I'm not alone.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11BIFF PANTS
0:03:11 > 0:03:14The ballet is magical.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19The orchestra plays as the prima ballerina dances and prances
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and twirls and whirls and skips and...
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Oh, no! She trips!
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Disaster. Calamity!
0:03:26 > 0:03:29It's all over, I think.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32But somebody doesn't think it is over.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37No, somebody thinks it is just beginning.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Somebody with big, black eyes.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Somebody with pointy ears.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Somebody wearing my tutu!
0:03:45 > 0:03:47The audience gasps.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50"It's a dog!" someone shouts.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53"Dogs don't do ballet!"
0:03:53 > 0:03:56My dog turns bright red and looks at his feet.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59"That's what I've always said," Dad mutters.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02But then the orchestra starts to play
0:04:02 > 0:04:06and my dog dances like no dog has ever danced before.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Plie, jete, arabesque, pirouette.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13He is as light as a Sugar Puff. As pretty as a fairy.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18The audience can't believe it. "Hurray!" I shout. "That's my dog!"
0:04:22 > 0:04:26When the music stops, my dog gives a hopeful curtsy
0:04:26 > 0:04:29and blinks nervously into the spotlight.
0:04:29 > 0:04:35The theatre is so very quiet that you could hear a bubble pop.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Then, the lady in the front row stands up.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42"It's a dog!" she shouts. Biff's ears start to droop again.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47"A dog that does ballet!" she adds.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50"Bravo!"
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Suddenly, the whole audience cheers and throws bunches of roses.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56My dog glows pink with happiness.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59"I don't believe it!" says Dad, shaking his head.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02"Biff is a ballerina, after all."
0:05:02 > 0:05:08"See?" I say proudly, ruffling Biff's ears, "Dogs do do ballet."
0:05:08 > 0:05:10"Bravo, Biff!"
0:05:12 > 0:05:15That story was called Dogs Don't Do Ballet.
0:05:15 > 0:05:21And as we found out, actually, some dogs do.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Good on you, Biff.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I did.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30But it's time now for you to get tucked up in bed.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35I'll be back again soon to read you another bedtime story.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Goodnight.