Many children are interested in dance and, although it is still predominantly female-orientated you may be surprised to learn there are over 41,000 male dancers in Australia alone. The point is that any child can enjoy and benefit from pre school dance lessons.
It doesn’t just lead to a career in dance, it can build appreciation for the arts and will help improve a child’s balance, coordination, and motor skills. In short, it’s something that every child, and parent, should be trying.
Where to Start
The hardest question is where to start. After all, there are many different types of dance, simply listing them isn’t going to be enough.
You need to show your child, through videos, the different types of dancing. This will allow them to see how people move, what the music sounds like, and which style appeals to them the most.
This gives you a starting class but remember that it is comparatively easy to switch between styles if you or your child want to.
Consider the Goal
Are you enrolling your child into a dance class in order for them to be able to dance or make some friends? Perhaps you and your child have dreams of making it bigµ Providing you’re not forcing this dream on your child you’ll find it is best to let them choose between contemporary and ballet, both of which can lead to high-profile roles. Perhaps you find you are actually looking for dance lessons for couples and need to rethink everything all together.
It’s worth spending a few moments watching them free dance, it will help you understand their strengths and weaknesses.
Style Of Learning
Children can learn alone in individual lessons or in a group as part of a class. Although the class option is generally recommended to boost social skills, make friends, and even get into competitions, you’ll need to consider in which environment your child learns best. This will help you to choose the right learning style for them, and for you.
Age
You need to spend a few moments considering the age of your child. This can make a difference in which dance you choose. Young children have less developed coordination and motor skills. While dancing can help with these, it does mean that some dances need to wait until they are a little older.
The older they are the easier it will be to talk to them about what they want and why. This can really help you to choose the right dance class.
Styles Of Dance
Of course, it helps to know the main dance styles:
- Creative
This is a basic level aimed at young children that allows them to move as they wish and get a feel for how their body moves.
- Jazz
The ultimate example of jazz dancing is probably Michael Jackson. It’s comparatively easy to learn and can be inspirational.
- Hip Hop
This is the most effective way to burn calories that may be relevant for you and your child. It’s also a great dance class to maintain your own style and rhythm.
- Ballet
Ballet needs no explanation! It’s precise and very structured.
- Contemporary
Contemporary basically means no rules, a great way to tell a story through dance.
- Tap
Tap can be tricky but it can also be a lot of fun. Just remember, they’ll be practicing with their noisy shoes at home.
- Ballroom
Ballroom is still popular in various circles and there is no better way for your child to feel like Cinderella or Prince Charming.
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