Ballet class can be a very beneficial after school activity for your child. It is great exercise for them and it can be a great social activity for them as well. It helps them academically and creatively. But there are several questions that swarm around the idea of young children taking ballet lessons. Here are three things you should know before you consider your child starting ballet class.
- You need to decide if it is a good activity for your child. Consider your child’s personality and interests. If they are interested, trying a ballet class or dance camp is a great way to figure out if it will work in your everyday routine. Watch them as they participate in class. Make sure they are smiling and having fun. Dance can be hard work, but it should be enjoyable too!
- You need to decide if they are ready for starting ballet classes or not. Many teachers think that three years old is a good age for students to start because they are usually potty trained and more confident to be separated from their parents to take direction from someone else. If they are in preschool or daycare, they are used to the group environment. But be careful; it is not good for children to start too early. Wrong patterns of body development, reinforced over years of training, can be difficult to overcome and can cause damage to the ankles and toe joints.
If you are unsure about whether you child should start at a young age, discuss your concerns with a ballet instructor and get their input. Sometimes three year old’s don’t have the attention span and physical strength needed for ballet yet. Everyone develops differently.
- You should check out the studio before signing up for classes. Talk with the teachers or owner about how instruction is given and what is expected of the students. Ask what the teacher’s background is when it comes to education and their emphasis on style they use in class. Remember that ballet becomes more challenging and demanding as students improve, and knowing the teacher’s teaching techniques would be beneficial. It would also be a good idea to find out what other dance activities the teacher is involved in. If they are performing somewhere you could take your child to see them and what they can do!
One thing you want to be sure to check out is if the studio believes in doing
Bodywork. The emphasis of bodywork is on learning how to work with your body so that technical demands are more easily met. This makes the body more suitably fit for ballet. The emphasis in the early years should be the bodywork, not learning and perfecting dance techniques.
If you think your child is ready to take ballet classes, check out our website and get them registered today!! https://omahaschoolofmusicanddance.com/ballet-classes-for-kids-ages-3-5/
