OT: DD3 Starts Dance Next Week! Karate too.....

[princessmom29]

My DD4 started dance last year and loves it. We do a 1.5 hour ballet/tap/tumbling combo. She really enjoyed the recital and has a great time in class. One word of warning, make sure you agree with the studio's philosophy before starting. Our studio does not compete b/c in order to be competitve around here you have to use what we consider questionable costumes and dances even for the young girls. Our director refuses to put young girls in skimy outfits and have them do tacky dances just to win. Some studios do it and I would watch a competition before I enrolled at a competition studio!

 

[disneymom8589]

My DD started a ballet/tap combo class when she was 3 1/2 and took dance classes (mainly jazz and tap) through her senior year in high school. She was a shy toddler and dance really helped develop her confidence and poise, especially performing in front of 600+ people at recitals. She danced through her senior year in high school and took some dance classes in college. She is now 22 and really misses it! She and my DH are going to dance to Steven Curtis Chapman's "Cinderella" at her wedding next summer.

 

[chrysdrew]

I have been teaching dance for more than twenty years. Three year olds are one of my favorite ages to teach because they are so open to the creative side. I think the most important thing is to just expect her to have fun. The real technique doesn't start until she is older. Also, I have seen many children who are not ready at three, but a year or two later they are very into the classes and often quick learners because they are a little older.