0:00:20 > 0:00:25This story belongs to Maria and her brother Jonathan.
0:00:29 > 0:00:35It's a tiny tale about Jonathan's life and the things he used to do.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Now it's time for him to share his memories
0:00:39 > 0:00:42and take Maria on a journey of discovery.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Jonathan and Maria are in their living room.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Maria is showing Jonathan her fairy runs.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Wow!
0:00:58 > 0:01:02That was very good. You're getting very good at dancing.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05A dancer sometimes dances with these.
0:01:05 > 0:01:06What's this?
0:01:06 > 0:01:09A candy cane from the ballet The Nutcracker.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Ballet dancers dance with it in the Land of Sweets.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Do you want to hold it? Good girl.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- Did you know that I've danced in The Nutcracker?- No.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21I have. I've danced since I was very young
0:01:21 > 0:01:26and now I get to dance on stage all over the world.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30- I also teach ballet. Would you like to teach sometime?- Yes.
0:01:30 > 0:01:31Good.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35And they talked some more about the candy cane.
0:01:36 > 0:01:42And what it was like to be a ballet dancer, dancing on the stage.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53I started dancing when I was ten years old.
0:01:53 > 0:02:01I got into it because our mum was a ballet dancer and started teaching.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04She was teaching our sister Sarah.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07There always needed boys for their shows,
0:02:07 > 0:02:12so myself and a few of my friends got roped into it.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Jonathan started dancing for fun when he was ten years old,
0:02:16 > 0:02:21but by the time he was 15, he realised that he loved ballet
0:02:21 > 0:02:24and he wanted to become a professional dancer,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27which takes lots and lots of practice every day.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31And that's Jonathan with his sister, Sara Marie,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33who's also a ballet dancer.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44Jonathan has so much to show Maria. Where are they off to now?
0:02:44 > 0:02:45Let's find out.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Do you know where we are just now?
0:02:49 > 0:02:52- In the studio.- That's right.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56- And what do we do in the studio? - Dance.- We do.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Do you see anything funny about this room?
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Why is there mirrors in here?
0:03:01 > 0:03:02Why are there mirrors here?
0:03:02 > 0:03:05These mirrors are so we can look in them
0:03:05 > 0:03:09and practice our dance steps like this.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Dancers can look at themselves in these big mirrors,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15which let them see how well they're doing.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Oh, what's this for?
0:03:17 > 0:03:20This pole is called the bar, Maria.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24We use this when we're learning new steps to find our balance.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26It helps us not to fall down.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Have you ever fallen down, Jonathan?
0:03:28 > 0:03:35I've fallen down lots. But you know what the most important thing is?
0:03:35 > 0:03:38When you fall down you get back up.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Ballet dancers have always had to work very hard.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Look at these old pictures.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Ballet dancers will spend hours making one move just right.
0:04:00 > 0:04:01Ballet is a very old type of dancing,
0:04:01 > 0:04:05and the words that ballet dancers still use
0:04:05 > 0:04:08are from a long time ago in a different language.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12That language is French. Listen.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Croisee. Les jambes...
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Ballet dancers will special shoes called point shoes.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25They're not soft at the toes, they're hard.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29This helps the ballet dancer stand on their tip toes.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Ah, so that's how they do it.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Amazing!
0:04:34 > 0:04:37A girl ballet dancer is called a ballerina.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40She wears fancy dresses on stage,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43and one very special type is called a tutu.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46This allows everyone to see how good the ballerina is.
0:04:46 > 0:04:52Ballet dancing isn't just for girls. Lots of boys love it too.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57Just look at this dancer, how high he jumps. He's almost flying!
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Big brother Jonathan tells Maria about another part of his job.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Jonathan teaches other people how to ballet dance.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- Did you know that I also teach ballet?- Yes.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14- Would you like to have a bit of fun? - Yes.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- How about you teach the ballet class? - OK.- OK?
0:05:19 > 0:05:25OK, class. Today you have a new teacher. Her name is Maria.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28She's a very good and wonderful teacher.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Hi, Maria.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Maria is going to teach the ballerinas a new dance.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37They need to copy what she does.
0:05:38 > 0:05:39Over to you, Maria.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45CLASSICAL MUSIC
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Point those toes, girls!
0:06:02 > 0:06:06And now it's time for the fairy run.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12What lovely twirls.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Well done, Maria.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20That was a fun dance and difficult.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22- Did they do a good job?- Yes.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Maria is a wonderful teacher. What a good job she did.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Look at Jonathan teaching in these pictures.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40He helps young dancers get better at dancing.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45He watches very closely to see that they're doing everything just right.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49When Jonathan thinks his pupils are ready, they do exams,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51which are a bit like tests.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55This is one of Jonathan's pupils doing her exam on the stage.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Dancers dance in front of people on a stage
0:07:00 > 0:07:03when they're performing a ballet.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07This is Jonathan on the stage in these pictures.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10When ballet dancers dance on the stage,
0:07:10 > 0:07:12they're telling a story.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Jonathan started doing this all the time,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18and would dance as the main character in the story,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and he wore lots of costumes.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Ballet dancers now dance for longer than they used to.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28They jump higher and further and do more difficult dances.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Jonathan is now taking Maria to the theatre.
0:07:33 > 0:07:40This is where people come to watch the dancers perform in a ballet.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43This is the place where I first danced on stage
0:07:43 > 0:07:46- when I was younger. - Do you still dance here?
0:07:46 > 0:07:48I do. Let's go and stand on stage.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52The stage is high off the ground
0:07:52 > 0:07:58so that the people in the seats watching the dancers can see them.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59We're on stage!
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Imagine those seats full of people watching.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- Would you like that?- Yes.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09We should put on our own show. But what's missing?
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Our costumes.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Yeah, we're not dressed right. Let's go backstage and get ready.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Backstage is where the dancers get ready.
0:08:23 > 0:08:29They put on make-up and change their clothes into fancy costumes.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Jonathan isn't the only ballet dancer in the family.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35This is my sister!
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Maria's big sister Sarah Marie is also a ballet dancer
0:08:39 > 0:08:43and she often dances with Jonathan.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46- Have you been having fun with Jonathan?- Yeah.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- Do you like these costumes?- Yeah.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54Which is your favourite? Ah, that's the one that her big sister wore
0:08:54 > 0:08:57on the famous ballet Swan Lake.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01- Would you like to dress up as a ballet dancer?- Yeah.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Let's get you ready for the stage.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06I'll go get ready too.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Sarah's going to put make-up on Maria.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Ballet dancers wear make-up on stage
0:09:12 > 0:09:15so that people watching at the very back of the theatre
0:09:15 > 0:09:18can see them better.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Sarah puts eyeshadow on Maria.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Then she puts some blusher to make her cheeks look nice and rosy.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34Last of all, Sarah puts on lipstick, and Maria now has very red lips.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42What do you think? Have a look up close.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Pretty as a picture.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Sarah is putting Maria's hair into a bun.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Ballerinas wear their hair in a bun because it looks tidy
0:09:52 > 0:09:57and keeps their hair out of their eyes when they're dancing.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08And to finish Maria's hair, Sarah puts on a lovely, sparkly tiara.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Doesn't Maria look just like a princess?
0:10:13 > 0:10:19With her own very special pink tutu on, Maria is nearly ready,
0:10:19 > 0:10:24but the last thing she needs on our her own special ballet shoes.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33All ready for the stage.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38We'll go and get Jonathan.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Big brother Jonathan has also got changed into his special costume.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53He's now ready to dance with Maria on the stage.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58You look fantastic, Maria! You look just a ballet dancer now.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- Can we do a dance together? - Of course we can.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Jonathan and Maria are ready to perform their very special dance
0:11:06 > 0:11:09for the first time on the stage.
0:11:09 > 0:11:15The music is from the famous ballet called The Nutcracker.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19SONG: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
0:11:59 > 0:12:04Well done, Maria. That was wonderful.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07For doing such a lovely job being Jonathan's dance partner,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Jonathan has a present for Maria.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Do you know what, Maria?
0:12:12 > 0:12:16Ballet dancers often get flowers at the end of a performance
0:12:16 > 0:12:18and I have flowers for you.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Your flowers.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54- Well, Maria, did you enjoy finding out more about my story?- Yes.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- What was your favourite bit? - Teaching the girls.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00Teaching the girls!
0:13:00 > 0:13:03You were good at that. I enjoyed spending time with you.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Come give me a big hug.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15What a fabulous heap of fun!
0:13:15 > 0:13:19That was Maria and her big brother Jonathan's tiny tale
0:13:19 > 0:13:23about the things Jonathan used to do and still does,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25and why he has a candy cane.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Big brother Jonathan has shared his story with Maria
0:13:30 > 0:13:34and now Maria is starting her own story.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Do you know someone who has a story to share?
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd