Dances are gaining more and more popularity every year. No matter how much people talk about the fact that dances are good for children, as they help to develop plastic, teach the ability to control one’s own body and communicate with peers, still many parents doubt whether it’s worth attending a dance school for a child. What can these activities contribute to? How to choose the right dance school? Such questions are often of concern to many dads and moms. In this article we will try to clear the doubts and discuss how to choose the dance school.
What age is the best to start dance training?
There are practically no age restrictions in this issue. Although recently a fashionable position has become: the earlier the parents bring the child to the dance studio – the better. This extreme is sometimes manifested in the fact that the child is brought into the dance class, just before he turns two years old. We think this is wrong. In 2-3 years the child only begins to walk, to master the floor and the explanation of the teacher, are not always clear.
If your baby is very active, it is probably worth starting to attend dance classes from the age of three, provided that the group of children in which (s)he will be engaged will be his/her age so that the teacher will pay attention to him/her on an equal basis with the others.
At the same, we consider the optimal age to begin learning how to dance is five years. At this time, the child easily navigates, where the left and right, controls his/her own body. And most importantly, (s)he will understand what the choreographer explains.
How to choose the dance school?
First of all, you have to decide what kind of dances your child is going to attend. There are many different styles: ballroom dances and hip-hop, folk, pop, etc. If it is important for you that the child achieve outstanding results and take part in competitions and concerts, you should choose the school where children are prepared for contests. And if you just want to improve the physical state of your child, it is better to choose a sports school or a fitness center. With such requirements, the main criterion for selection should be comfortable conditions and the ability of a choreographer to find an individual approach to the child.
Secondly, consider that the dance school has bright spacious dance rooms with good airing and filled with all the necessary equipment.
And the last, but not least – pay attention at the professional level of choreographers. Your child should be safe and feel convenient while attending the classes.
How the dance classes begin?
The very beginning is the simplest – classical choreography. At the first lessons the child should feel, how his/her neck moves, his/her shoulders rise and fall. Children at this stage should understand: they can perfectly master their body. As a rule, modern children are slouched, due to the fact that they have a weak spine. To eliminate this lack of development, the coach gives the children simple sets of exercises that strengthen the back.
Many parents are afraid that dance classes can interfere the proper formation of the child’s health, is that true?
If there are any doubts that dances will be healthy for the child, you can ask to attend classes, talk to the teacher. It is better to do this repeatedly to exclude the human factor – the teacher can have a different level of inspiration, and with it, the effort.
But you should also prepare your child for such a visit. You can say: “Dear, today I will attend your lesson, but do not pay attention to me. Behave as you normally do. ” Such a conversation will help to avoid excessive stiffness or, conversely, the activity of the child.
Is it worth to attend dance classes if my child is too weak or a bit overweight?
The ideal option is to visit the trial lesson and to have a talk with one of our choreographers. A specialist will examine a child’s plastic, the way (s)he hears music, will advise the direction of dance classes. Will tell what difficulties your child will have and what will be easy for him/her..
For example, the overweight children can still attend the ballroom dancing classes. The desire to dance sometimes leads to the fact that after several years of training the child can make the dance figure much better than the one who was originally slender.
What clothes are better for dance trainings?
The best are cotton things: T-shirts, shorts, unitards and skirts for girls. Be sure to pin hair so that they do not interfere, do not distract and that the child doesn’t have a sweat neck.
And what about the shoes?
You should buy special gym and dance shoes. Sneakers are comfortable for physical exercises, but not for dancing. It’s a tough, rubber-soled shoes that does not allow to pull the leg and hold it on the floor properly.
How to build a diet for a child who is attending dance classes? Such exercises are an additional burden on the children’s body.
It is necessarily to have a systematic nutrition. There are no strict limitations here. It is best to feed the child an hour before and after classes, when he returns home. Usually at dances children spend a lot of energy, so do not limit the child. Children will eat as much as their body requires. I will also note that in 5-6 years the child has a period when the “stretching” of the body occurs. It is advisable at this time to include in the diet cottage cheese, yogurt and cheese, for the better growth.
In conclusion, we would like to say: Dear parents, do not be afraid to bring your children to a dance school. Such activities will only strengthen their physical condition, allow them to liberate themselves, help to gain self-confidence. And for all the questions that arise, you can always contact us additionally.
