Herbie was a young hippopotamus who loved to dance ballet. He was shy, sensitive, and kind-hearted. He dreamed of becoming a famous dancer someday, but he was afraid of being ridiculed by others.
Every Wednesday afternoon, he went to Mrs. Flatpaws’ dance class with his sister Katie. Mrs. Flatpaws was a polar bear who ran a dance class for young animals. She was friendly, patient, and wise. She taught her students various dance styles and techniques and organized dance recitals for them.
Herbie enjoyed learning from Mrs. Flatpaws and dancing with Katie. Katie was Herbie’s older sister who also loved to dance ballet. She was supportive, cheerful, and brave. She always encouraged Herbie to pursue his passion and helped him overcome his fear.
However, not everyone in the class was nice to Herbie. Giorgio was a gorilla who attended Mrs. Flatpaws’ dance class with Herbie and Katie. He was rude, arrogant, and mean-spirited. He liked to bully Herbie and make fun of him for liking ballet.
“Hey, Herbie,” Giorgio would say with a sneer. “Why do you dance like a girl? Ballet is sissy. Ballet is for girls.”
Giorgio had a friend called Ernest Elephant who was just as silly as he was. Ernest would laugh at Giorgio’s jokes and join him in teasing Herbie.
“Look at Herbie,” Ernest would say with a snort. “He thinks he’s a swan. He should be a hippo instead.”
Herbie felt hurt by Giorgio’s and Ernest’s words. He wished they would leave him alone and let him dance in peace
characters
erbie: Herbie is a young hippopotamus with a light gray skin and a pink belly. He has small ears, a big nose, and a wide mouth. He wears a blue leotard and a white tutu when he dances ballet. He has a gentle expression and a shy smile.
Katie: Katie is Herbie’s younger sister who also loves ballet. She is a smaller hippopotamus with a dark gray skin and a purple belly. She has long eyelashes, a cute nose, and a cheerful grin. She wears a pink leotard and a yellow tutu when she dances ballet. She has a lively expression and a confident posture.
Mrs. Flatpaws: Mrs. Flatpaws is a polar bear who runs a dance class for young animals. She is a large and fluffy bear with a white fur and black eyes. She wears a red dress and a green scarf when she teaches dance. She has a friendly expression and a gentle voice.
Ernest: Ernest is an elephant who attends Mrs. Flatpaws’ dance class with Herbie and Katie. He is a silly elephant who thinks Herbie is silly. He has a gray skin and large ears. He wears a green shirt and blue pants when he dances. He has a mischievous expression and a loud laugh.
Giorgio: Giorgio is a gorilla who attends Mrs. Flatpaws’ dance class with Herbie and Katie. He is rude, arrogant, and mean-spirited. He likes to bully Herbie and make fun of him for liking ballet. He has a black fur and muscular arms. He wears a red jacket and black jeans when he dances. He has an angry expression and a mean smirk.
Mrs. Hippo: Mrs. Hippo is Herbie’s mum who supports his passion for ballet. She is an older hippopotamus with a gray skin and brown spots. She wears glasses, earrings, and a necklace. She wears a purple dress and a hat when she attends Herbie’s dance recital. She has a proud expression and a warm smile. she only makes a cameo