Every dancer will gain from doing more Pilates, whether your 'thing' is hip hop, ballet or something else entirely!

This is the Pre-Entry class for the Vaganova Academy, the world-renowned Russian Ballet School. These girls are 10 years old and have prepared this class to audition for entry into the school. I think any ballet student would gain a lot from following along with this class; it is simple to follow as none of the exercises are complicated. But just try to do it with posture and feet as beautiful as the girls in the video :-).
Many Oasis Ballet students will be familiar with their warmup as we do this before most of our classes.

Teenagers are like sponges. They are hungry for new experiences that will help them define their self-image, in a time of rapid change they struggle to understand. I found a brilliant article from Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, where they run a programme for young people called "Life Pulse". They describe their experiences with young people so beautifully:

"As they move through adolescence, teenagers experience changes in their bodies and minds. They develop an increasing sense of self, and become curious about, and sensitive to, their bodies. At this time, dance can be a vehicle to help young people understand their bodies and identify themselves. Dance allows them a channel through which they can confidently express their emotions, while encouraging creativity and cultivating an appreciation for the arts. "

"... through dance education, adolescents can grow physically and mentally. It allows them to confidently express their views of the world, get recognition from others, and show their emotions. It inspires their creativity and their sensibility to art. In a study of young dancers, Susan Hoyle, Director of Dance of Arts Council England, observes that adolescents naturally enjoy dancing and learning something new. They also like to create and perform their own dances and be part of a dance group (Brinson, 1991).   "

"Adolescence is a time between childhood and adulthood; it is a time when everything suddenly changes and young people look for corresponding fulfillment physically, psychologically, emotionally, and socially. During this time, teenagers become sensitive to rapid growth in appearance, including height, weight, muscles and bones, and sexual characteristics.   
During such a transitional period in their internal mindset and external appearance, teenagers tend to care much about peer interaction. They expect to be noticed and easily come up with an imaginary audience with which to practice social interaction. Sometimes they exaggerate their behaviors or thoughts to fulfill a personal dream. In this transitional period, it is key for them to remain comfortable with their growing bodies (Wang & Ke, 1999). "

"In MRT stations, the Taipei Main Station shopping mall, or any other public space in downtown Taipei, it is a common sight to see adolescents grouping together to practice dance. They get together, play popular music on a portable player, and practice different styles of street dance, cheerleading, or even new styles that they have created. They are not inhibited or embarrassed to show their bodies moving to music in public. Yen & Lee (2011) describe it as something that shapes youth culture. "

"Teenagers face huge changes in their bodies and minds. They get emotional and energetic. They become isolated from their parents and family as they seek to explore the world, which switches from parents to peers. Having a positive understanding of the body can help adolescents strengthen their ego and self-worth, peer relationships, parental relationships, and further educational study. "

"Body movement is a form of language; it is a choice beyond words. Dance courses in regular schools, free street dance groups, and classes in private schools allow teenagers more choices to get close to dancing. Through such courses, it is expected that they will become more confident in interacting with others and expressing their viewpoints or emotions. In addition, by experiencing body movement, they will become sensitive to their own physical and mental conditions. With this experience, they can further listen to their inner voice and find their own identity and ego."

I have just taken excerpts that apply to us all generally but you can read the full study here:  http://ausdance.org.au/uploads/content/publications/2012-global-summit/dance-learning-rp/when-young-people-meet-dance-a-case-study-from-the-life-pulse-course.pdf