Dancing, you may only do it when no one is looking. You might be cooking, crank up the radio, and dance around your kitchen. Your kids might dance when they hear a good, strong beat in the car. How many times have you found yourself tapping your toes or moving your shoulders when a great song comes on? It’s natural to dance and for kids to explore dance in a controlled environment, like a ballet or jazz class. There are many things to love about dancing. Here are a few of the top things.
Ballet for Development
Ballet teaches a child about commitment, dedication, and concentration, and instills grace and self-confidence. It has been proven that children who take ballet tend to do better in school. It improves their emotional health and gives them a social outlet. Older kids who may also be involved in sports will benefit as athletes. Studies have shown that 15% of professional athletes take ballet classes to improve their performance. For children, it can help with shyness, lots of energy, exposure to classical music, strength training, and family bonding.
The Clothes
You have to admit that the tutus that are worn by little girls in ballet class are adorable. There is nothing more precious than seeing your little one in pink tights, pink ballet slippers, and her hair in a ponytail with a frilly tutu. Hands down, this is off the chart when it comes to cuteness factors. As they get older, the adorableness then turns to beauty. The first time you see your daughter is a ballet leotard and her hair in a bun, she will look like ‘grace’ and elegance. She will carry herself in a way you’ve not yet seen her walk before. You will see what she is ‘capable’ of from the clothes she has on, and you will begin to dream, hope, and wish for her, as a mother or a father does for their children.
The music
Our children don’t get to listen to classical music very often. And you can’t blame yourself as a parent. If your child plays an instrument, they may have more exposure to classical music than other kids their age. Classical is played on the radio, but a lot of kids don’t want to listen to the ‘boring’ music. It’s definitely now a genre you can dance to, but it’s one you can dance, think, and dream to. If your kids do take ballet, find a radio station you can play in the car sometimes. Let them feel the music and see themselves dancing in it. Classical music is also great music to study to. Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, and Schubert have nothing on contemporary lyrics like “Baby Got Back.”
Dancing as Exercise
Let’s face it. When Pepsi and Coke get together and put out a commercial trying to educate kids about calorie consumption relative to the amount of exercise they get each day, you know we have a problem. You won’t find too many kids who would prefer a run in the neighborhood to a Disney TV show or playing with a social media app on their phone. So we have to schedule exercise for them. The graceful movements of ballet may not look like a good workout from where you sit in the parents’ section, but it most certainly is. The plié, tendu, bourrée, and relevé all use controlled leg muscles to perform. Ballet dancers hold their arms either close to their bodies in an oval shape, fingers touching, or extend them to the sides at shoulder height, elbows slightly bent, or hold them above their heads, which takes strength. Have you ever done Yoga? It is like that. Your child is developing self-confidence, grace, and strength all at one time!
Dancing is natural. There are times when you can’t help but move your body to the music around you. Ballet takes an interest in dancing and gives it something more to love!