Allison Rose Dances on Her Toes

Children love to move, to skip, to twirl, and to dance. Dancing is one of the purest expressions of joy, and sometimes it takes just one free-spirited child to remind everyone of its magic. Meet Allison Rose, a little girl who can’t stop dancing. From the moment she wakes until the stars appear, she’s on her toes — inviting the whole world to join her in the celebration of movement.

The Story of Allison Rose
Allison Rose dances on her toes,
And all she ever wears are dancing clothes.
She dances on her bed when she gets up in the morning,
Donning her clothes, which are never boring.
She dances in the kitchen where she goes to eat.
She dances in the living room, waking her cat from its sleep.

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She dances in the garden. She dances at school.
She even dances underwater in the swimming pool.
She dances all day until late at night.
Others thought it was an extraordinary sight.
Anyone could see that Allison Rose
Is a dancer from the bottom of her feet to the tip of her nose.

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But why? Why do you dance wherever you go?”
A growing crowd wants to know.
Then she turns and speaks to the baffled collection,
Who are keeping her under their close-eyed inspection.
“Dancing keeps me on my toes.
That’s all I have to say about that,” says Allison Rose.

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But then she thinks it would be more fun
If she were not the only one.
“Why not join me?” she asks.
“What kind of dancing would you choose,
If you had on dancing shoes?”
Hmmm, they think,
What a most tantalizing thought.
So, she offers a number of suggestions,
Hoping that they will make some interesting selections.

“There is toe dancing, sometimes called ballet,
And slow dancing in which the dancers sway.
There is square dancing, which requires a group to participate,
And chair dancing in which your arms must hesitate.
In this dance you never leave your seat
And are only allowed to move your feet.

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Germans like their polkas and schottische,
And there are jigs for the Irish and Scottish.
There is dancing like Zorba the Greek,
And to do the limbo, the Jamaicans must not be weak.
The proper English prefer tea dancing,
And some at rock concerts swear by free dancing.
There are dances for the bride and groom,
And waltzes that fill a ballroom.

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There are rumbas and sambas and tangos,
And even flamboyant fandangos.
The South Americans never stop with just a few.
They are always coming up with something new.
You might like the cha-cha-cha,
Or their delightful cucaracha-cha.
How about a lovely quadrille,
Or a simpler dance in the form of a reel?

---

In France the ladies do the can-can,
But don’t try it unless you think you can can.
There are some silly dances like belly dances,
Grizzly bear dances, and tarantella dances.
And there are even dances for loafers called clogging,
And dances for loggers on logs called logging.
There is, of course, fox-trotting, bunny hopping,
Jitterbugging, and hip hopping.

---

Then again you might prefer a line dance,
Every cowboy considers it a fine chance.
Tap dancing was popular long ago.
So was the colorful Caribbean calypso.
You might not be up to the Polish mazurka dance,
And would wish to join in a more peaceful May pole dance.

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Keep in mind that there are many dances with dips,
And many others requiring flips,
And still other dances that wiggle hips.
As Allison Rose rattles on,
Her suggestions begin to catch on.

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The crowd begins to pick up their feet.
They discover that dancing is indeed a treat.
She calls out, “It doesn’t matter. Choose any style.
Each will lead you to a smile.”
As they boogie-woogie to their hearts’ delight,
They find that even cowgirls love dancing in the moonlight.

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Then they all yell, “Thank you, Allison Rose,
For unlocking our dancing toes.”
Now which dance would you choose,
If you had on dancing shoes?

The end… but not the end of dancing.
“Dancing with the feet is one thing.
Dancing with the heart is another.”

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Why This Story Matters
Children naturally respond to rhythm and movement, and dancing builds both body and spirit. This story celebrates:

• Self-expression — encouraging children to move in ways that feel natural and joyful.
• Cultural awareness — highlighting many styles of dance from around the world.
• Confidence — showing that one child’s enthusiasm can inspire a whole community.
• Creativity — inviting young readers to imagine what style of dancing they might choose.

Allison Rose shows us that dance is more than movement. It’s joy, connection, and freedom — all rolled into one.

A Closing Thought
Allison Rose reminds us that dancing is more than steps and styles — it is joy in motion. Whether twirling in the kitchen, gliding across a garden, or simply tapping to a tune, dance gives children a way to express themselves freely. Her story is a celebration of imagination, movement, and the happiness that spreads when one child’s delight inspires others to join in.

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