Getting started with dance for the first time...

 

First of all, BRAVO for signing your young child up for dance. In case you didn't know, there are tons of benefits that stretch far beyond their 45 minutes in the studio (here are a few.) Please enjoy educating yourself with the text below as The Dance Academy's learned philosophy from 17 years in dance education.  

 

Introducing your child to a structured activity for the first time can be a challenging but wonderful time. While your child may LOVE dancing to music at home, dancing in a class is a whole other experience. Most Little Beats dance classes require grown-up involvement so expect to have a caregiver participate WITH your little one. Not only will this help them thrive, but it will also help you understand what they're learning and practice at home!

 

It is important to remember that age 2-4 is a time of rapid growth and the goal of dance at this age to build confidence, gross motor skills, social skills, listening skills, and of course, make wonderfully HAPPY memories in the studio. Don't be discouraged if your child has trouble adjusting to the dance class setting, it can take some time but you will be amazed at the progress your child will make each week. 

 

As your child grows, we are here to provide and guide you through the best dance track for your child whether he/she is bound for a competitive dance program, a fun extracurricular outlet, or if we're figuring it out as we go!

 

Here are some tips to help prepare you for your first grown-up-and-me class:

 

1. Talk about dance class in advance of class

 

The more you can expose your child to dance before they get to class, the more excited and mentally prepared they will be when it finally comes time to start. Reading dance books and dancing at home is all GREAT. But don't forget to mention the details of being in a dance class. All great dancers do a lot more than just show up to a stage and dance. They go to dance class where there are other friends who love to dance, they learn new dance moves to have strong bodies, they have dance teachers who love them, they have super good 'listening ears' so they can get stickers at the end of class. All these little details help de-mystify the experience so be sure to discuss often and feel free to reach out if your child asks any questions you're not sure the answer to!

 

2. It takes a few classes to get acclimated

 

Depending on your child's personality and former experiences in group class settings, your little one might be literally taken aback by the experience of day 1 at dance class. There are lots of people in the room, loud music, and movements being done that they've never seen or done before. Not to mention, they will be asked to step into the spotlight (with you) during the across-the-floor portion of the class. This can be scary for a little one so if it takes a few weeks for them to build up the confidence to participate, that is OK! Just keep cheering them on and showing them that dance class is a safe, fun place to be. 

 

3. For your child's sake, please arrive to dance class 5 minutes early

 

Believe it or not, arriving on time is a key way to get your child started on the right foot each week. When children arrive to class late, they do not get to experiene of being greeted at the door by their teacher and properly transitioning into class. Furthermore, walking into a class that has already begun can be quite uncomfortable as it forces them to 'jump right in' to a situation that they have not yet acclimiated to. For some little ones, this can set a challenging tone for the entire class and can be easily avoided. 

 

4. Show by example

 

In the dance studio setting, the phrase 'monkey see monkey do' truly comes to light. In a grown-up-and-me class, you play a crucial role in helping your child learn. Not only should you be following the teacher's instruction with your child, but you should also set a good example by showing you are engaged. Depending on the age, developmental stage, and learning style of the child, there may be times when you will need to manipulate their body for them to give their muscles an understanding of what to do. Showing by example also means re-engaging your child when their attention drifts and not chatting with other parents during times when the teacher is instructing. Of course, no cell phone use in class and big huge smiles! 

 

5. Don't be ashamed to use breaks to 'reset' during class

 

Some children enter the dance studio filled with more excitement than they can contain. They might try to run around the room, and before they learn the concept of listening and waiting turns, they will be fully dependent on you to keep them focused on the activity at hand. We must teach the little ones that running (along with any defiant behavior) is not acceptable in the studio and that if they do not want to participate in what the group is doing, they will need to take a break until they are ready to join back in. This is perfectly OK! This is how we teach them how to be a good student in dance class which will help them thrive and ulimately increase their passion for dance.

 

6. Positive reinforcement is EVERYTHING

 

In our youngest dance classes, building confidence is the key to happy dancers. In this unique time of dance education, we are teaching how to be a dance student just as much as we are teaching skills and the progress week to week is amazing! So please join us in applauding good work and celebrating all the little successes that a child has during class. At the end of class, the children take a bow and collect a sticker for a job well done. We make it a point to ALWAYS part ways in a positive manner, eagerly awaiting our next class together.

 

Even if you are not sure if your child is destined for an intensive dance future, their experience learning, growing, and having positive memories in class will be invaluable for their development no matter what activity they persue. The Dance Academy appreciates your committment to making our class as successful as possible for your child and can't wait to dance with you!

 

To dancing through life,

 

Emily Siagel Jabbawy

emily@spevents.com