Episode 1405

	Sesame Street
	Big Bird takes ballet lessons
Air date	March 28, 1980
Season	Season 11 (1979-1980)
Directed by	Jon Stone
Sponsors	I, M, 11
	This episode guide has been compiled from script materials provided by a trusted source. ⓘ

Picture	Segment	Description
	Muppets	Sesame Street News Flash: Kermit witnesses as Old King Cole calls for his pipe and bowl (both of which he rejects), followed by his fiddlers three (along with a drummer, a saxophone player, and a bass player). (First: Episode 0922)
	Cartoon	Sign Cartoon: STOP. After the man reads the sign, two cars screech to a stop, one on each side of him. (First: Episode 1163)
	Insert	Bob and Linda make up after having an argument. (First: Episode 1072)
	Cartoon	A girl goes around the city to look for her lost kitty, and sees its image in a variety of signs and in nature. Artists: Don Duga and Irra Verbitsky (First: Episode 1231)
	Film	Some kids watch a film of a man working in a greenhouse, and try to guess what his job is. (First: Episode 0772)
	Muppets	Four monsters sing "We Are All Monsters."
	Cartoon	Today's Secret Drawing is a policeman. (First: Episode 0223)
	Celebrity	Edith Ann says she can count to five, but won't. (First: Episode 0926)
	Film	"Noises" A boy named Chris uses "magic glasses" to see invisible things that make noises, including construction equipment, a baby crying, people coughing and sneezing, a car honking, a telephone, and a typewriter. Can you make those noises? (First: Episode 0004)
	SCENE 1	Big Bird, Bob and David watch a ballet performance of Swan Lake on television. Big Bird is very impressed with the way the dancers almost seem like they're flying and is even more amazed that one can get paid to dance. Bob and David inform him that dancing such as that takes years of practice and mention that Marcus goes to ballet classes. Big Bird attempts some leaps and imagines being a great ballet dancer. He finds Marcus and accompanies him to class.
	Cartoon	A girl imagines herself as a car that rescues fire victims. (EKA: Episode 0598)
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Ernie gets Bert to participate in a rhyme game, but ends the game just as Bert is starting to enjoy it. (First: Episode 0798)
	Film	A bulldozer moves dirt up a construction site. (First: Episode 0799)
	SCENE 2	At the ballet studio, the teacher (played by Carmen de Lavallade) permits Big Bird to hang around for today's lesson, provided that he remains quiet and does not overstrain himself. The dancers take their places and start practicing their foot positions. Big Bird, despite feeling cocksure about his dancing ability, steps on his toe in the process. "Ballet hurts...but I love it."
	Cartoon	Speech Balloon: M for Mail (First: Episode 0013)
	Film	A turtle swims in a tank. Music: Joe Raposo (EKA: Episode 0372)
	Muppets	Old West sketches: The town doctor ("Doc") comes to a saloon to meet Mean Manny and his gang, even though Manny is the toughest guy in town and plans to have a "shootin' party." Manny and his posse arrive on time and meet with Doc and his medicine...he gives them all measles shots. (First: Episode 1166)
	Cartoon	M is for Moo Music: Larry Rosen and Charles Myers (First: Episode 0276)
	Film	A female vocalist sings about the many different types of flowers found all over. (First: Episode 0141)
	Cartoon	Typewriter: M for magic Artist: Jeff Hale (First: Episode 0841)
	SCENE 3	The teacher goes over some basic exercises with the class, as Big Bird counts along with her steps. He takes a big leap and crashes into the coat rack.
	Cartoon	Thelma Thumb: Thelma rescues a kitten from a building that's about to be destroyed with a wrecking ball. Artist: John Korty (First: Episode 1313)
	Muppets	Grover sings "Over, Under, Around and Through." (First: Episode 0258)
	Film	Over (silent film) (First: Episode 0517)
	Cartoon	I - ice cream (First: Episode 0033)
	Muppets	Muppet & Kid Moment — The Count asks Ingrid to teach him how to count to 20 in Spanish. (First: Episode 0477)
	Film	George the Farmer demonstrates over and under. (First: Episode 0230)
	SCENE 4	Big Bird still thinks he'll be able to perform "Swan Lake" by the end of the day. The teacher calls for them to practice the dances they learned in the last session, while Big Bird thinks he can just watch what they do and follow along. He falls behind quickly and ends up pirouetting much longer than everyone else.
	Cartoon	At the circus, Tommy Trueheart displays his 11 trick-performing lions. (First: Episode 0816)
	Film	The Mad Painter #11 (First: Episode 0329)
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Bert finds it difficult to listen to Pigeons in the News while Ernie and the Sesame Street Citizens' Band are outside practicing. In yet another case of miscommunication between the two, since Bert doesn't like it when they practice outside, Ernie leads the band into the apartment so they can practice inside. (First: Episode 0982)
	Cartoon	I for idea (EKA: Episode 1077)
	Film	A little girl gets herself a glass of AGUA. (First: Episode 0929)
	Cartoon	Speech Balloon: A for Agua (EKA: Episode 0839)
	Muppets	The Two-Headed Monster learns to use manners while eating with a spoon. (First: Episode 1340)
	Cartoon	Dot Bridge #1 (First: Episode 0001)
	SCENE 5	Susan and David wonder how Big Bird's session went. They hear classical music coming from his nest and take a peek inside. Big Bird has his feet soaking in water, while conducting his phonograph for Marcus to dance to. Big Bird has resolved to become a conductor instead and let Marcus be the dancer, adding that he wouldn't even be able to swim for Swan Lake anyhow.