Figure 1.--Here we see the children from the School Age Ensemble dancing the 'Chikdren's Polka, part of the 2021, one of the '60 Years of Dancing Childhood' program. Click on the image for a dancing scene.

Russia is particularly noted for ballet, of course a dance of French origins. This meant children playing roles in classical balet before advancing to major adult parts as they grew up. We note a recent balet created to showcase childhood (2021). This was the work of the School Age Ensemble. This is one of the oldest children's dance groups in Russia, the ensemble was established in 1960 on the initiative of the City Committee of the Road Transport and Highway Workers' Union. From the very beginning, the Ensemble welcomed students in grades 1 through 10, meaning age 6-16 years old. For this reason they adopted the name "School Years" ('Shkolnye Gody') -- a name the group proudly bears to this day (though a dance circle affiliated with the Moscow Drivers' Club had actually begun operating much earlier, in 1949). According to the creators, "After a one-year hiatus, and in just a few rehearsals, the School Years Ensemble prepared the program "60 Years of Dancing Childhood," dedicated to the ensemble's 60th anniversary!" One of the presentations was 'Children's Polka'.