Meanwhile, our 16-month-old grandson is pretty obsessed with music and dance, apparently (lol). Daughter went to pick him up from daycare, where all the toddlers were quietly sitting for Circle Time, listening to a recording of Old McDonald. Except for Levi—who was in the middle of the circle, dancing and bopping his sweet little head off, curls bouncing.

I was one.
These kids should be allowed to geek out.

The operating principle of childrearing (and marriage, but in a different sense) is:

“If it’s important to you it’s important to me.”

A Rabbi who has great lectures on family and parenting loves to tell the story of the guy who took his baseball-geek son to a game in every city of the league.

Wow says the guy’s friend – you must really love baseball.

No answers the guy, I really love my son.

As far as the second little girl goes – perhaps it would help to see an older dancer do the same variation. The “Silver” variation is from Sleeping Beauty, and it looks light and simple but is not easy because the timing, the arms, and the head are very tricky. It’s fairly subtle and that requires musicality and charm. It’s a bit of a tongue twister in a way (arm and head twister?). Take a look:

I think I understand why you prefer the 3rd adult dancer in that video – she is actually moving her torso and arms in flexible, live expression. The girl is also flexible, perhaps because of her youth – her arched back at 0:33 reminds me of clips you showed us of Plisetskaya dancing with similar abandon.

And the extreme motions may not be appropriate, but that girl has presence and musicality…. the girl in the later clip may be dancing something more suitable, but she is not on the music… she is charming but I would not describe this as “flow of movement”.

On the contrary; EVERYONE expects it. 🙂

I’m beginning to think they require it.