Note: This is a three-part series. Please also see Music Show and Art Show.
If you and your family are fans of HBO Family, then you are probably familiar with their “Classical Baby” animated series. This series takes you and your child on a journey through pieces of classical music, works of art, and dances inspired by famous choreographers, all under the conduction of a cute little animated diapered wonder. Each episode begins with our diapered host conducting an orchestra of all baby animals through Piano Concerto No. 1 by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. One episode of “Classical Baby” that is available on DVD is “The Dance Show.”
The first segment after the introduction is called “Dancing Sheep to Sheep” and is set to the song “Cheek to Cheek” composed by Irving Berlin. It begins with a sheep eating grass on a hill when he spots a cloud shaped like a ewe. He dreams about dancing with other sheep and they are on a dance floor on a balcony. They gently sway and spin floating on the music.
Another segment is entitled “Mambo” and features “Mambo #5” by Perez Prado. In this segment, our diapered host is attempting to teach other babies how to do the Mambo. He has a dance step instruction sheet on his podium and is pointing to the different steps. You and your child will laugh as you watch these animated babies who can barely walk try to learn how to dance.
“The Scarecrow” is another feature in this episode. With music from Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” this clip features dance inspired by choreographer Martha Graham. A young girl dances around a scarecrow in a field and as she moves, he comes to life. They dance together for a while until finally he must return to being a still scarecrow.
“Classical Baby: The Dance Show” is a phenomenal way to help your child learn about appreciating dance. As your child gets older, s/he can learn about the different choreographers featured in this video. It is a great way for your child and you to learn about dance.
For more information about the “Classical Baby” series, please visit HBO Family.
“Classical Baby: The Dance Show” is available for purchase separately or in a three-disc box set with “The Music Show” and “The Art Show” from the HBO Store, Wal-Mart, Amazon, and other retailers.
Complete Segment List for “Classical Baby: The Art Show”
- Open, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Waltz of the Flowers, dance inspired by George Balanchine, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Dancing Sheep to Sheep, featuring Cheek to Cheek, composed by Irving Berlin
- Barn Dance, dance inspired by the Dance of the Little Swans, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Mambo, with music by Perez Prado
- The Swan, dance inspired by Anna Pavlova, with music by Camille Saint-Saens
- The Rectangles, dance inspired by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein
- The Scarecrow, dance inspired by Martha Graham, with music by Aaron Copland
- Tap Dance, dance inspired by the Nicholas Brothers, with music by George and Ira Gershwin
- Sleepy Lion, with music performed by Miriam Makeba
- Dancers, dance inspired by Pilobolus, with music by Erik Satie
- The Hippo Dance, with music by Duke Ellington
- Dancin’ in the Rain