Barbie’s 12 Dancing Princesses Party Theme

Barbie is such a popular toy for kids, and the Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses movie underscores that! Ever since its DVD release, it has been very popular, especially for kids’ birthdays. If you are looking to put together this particular Barbie theme, here are ideas to bring it alive:

Barbie stars as the beautiful princess, Genevieve. Have the birthday girl play the role of Genevieve at the party, and invite 11 princesses to join her. Hopefully, all of them will attend so you have the full set!

In the invitation, ask the guests to wear a fanciful dress that they will enjoy dancing in.

For decorations, use beautiful pastel pink, green and blue balloons, streamers, and tableware.

In the movie, the princesses must dance in a special land that is attached to their room and accessed by a gateway. Make your own gateway by hanging multi-colored streamers from the ceiling that the kids must cross through to move into the dancing room.

As the guests arrive, give them each a name of one of the eleven princesses: Ashlyn, Blair, Courtney, Delia, Edeline, Fallon, Hadley, Isla, Janessa, Kathleen and Lacey. As an opening activity, have the kids make name tags that reflect their special names, and have them use these names throughout the party.

If boys are attending, there are also roles for them to play. In the movie, after the third day of dancing, the princesses only can pass though the gateway with their prince counterparts. Check out this listing of the entire cast of characters.

When the kids arrive, dust their faces with gold powder (this is the magic that grants wishes to the princesses in the movie) and give them a small tiara to wear.

In the movie, Rowena comes to help with the group’s upbringing and teaches them proper etiquette, such as how to fan themselves. Make paper fans and provide them to the princesses, or have them make their own. Afterwards, teach the kids how to properly fan themselves, and have them practice.

Play the DVD. The kids will love to have it on throughout the party!

Have the kids dance to the music on the DVD, or play your own fanciful music. In the movie, they must dance for three days, so it would be fun to have the kids get into teams and make up different dances. Then they can teach the others their unique dances.

The princesses in the movie dance like ballerinas. Give the kids a ballet lesson.

Play Pin the Tiara on Genevieve.

A kitten and monkey “fight” to get into the gateway. Play Hot Kitten like Hot Potato and Monkey Says like Simon Says (after all, the monkey is Rowena’s talking pet!).

Check out this princess cake. It can easily be made with a Genevieve Barbie Doll.

For a perfect party favor, give away small plastic bottles filled with colored water. This is the magical water that quickly heals the princesses and revives the king. Provide the guests with their own special water to use for their magical purposes.