| The bodies of young children are growing and | | | | What do you need to look for in choosing a school? |
| changing fast. So it is very important not to demand | | | | Having made the decision to let your child learn to |
| more physically, and intellectually than they can safely | | | | dance how do you find a suitable teacher? First of all |
| manage. The pre-school years are a time to | | | | take on board that retired dancers do not as a |
| encourage motor skills through a wide range of | | | | matter of course make good teachers. It is |
| activities taking place in a variety of settings. There is | | | | necessary to understand the social and physical |
| no doubt that it is beneficial to establish an interest in | | | | developments of childhood as well as child |
| movement and exercise as early in life as possible. | | | | psychology. A teacher must like the younger age |
| Childhood obesity and its risk to health is a growing | | | | groups and be able to strike a rapport with them. |
| problem in many areas of the world. | | | | The late, great Dame Margot Fonteyn said "The art |
| Informed opinion is that toddlers and pre-schoolers | | | | of teaching ballet and the art of dancing are two |
| should have a minimum of sixty minutes up to | | | | different arts, not always achieved by the same |
| several hours of daily, unstructured physical activity. | | | | person." Teaching is a vocation and needs training, |
| They also should not be sedentary for longer than an | | | | knowledge and experience. Those practising must |
| hour at a time except when sleeping. Perhaps some | | | | hae sound teaching methods, imagination and |
| children labelled as "hyper-active" actually are not but | | | | boundless enthusiasm. The person in charge needs to |
| have parents who cannot cope with their energy | | | | be able to stay in control of the class without getting |
| levels. | | | | flustered or raising his or her voice unduly. |
| Toddlers at about eighteen months old will | | | | Parents should be allowed to watch the class through |
| experience music by dancing with happy enthusiasm. | | | | a window or TV monitor. Their presence in the studio |
| This does not mean they are ready for formal | | | | itself would be a distraction. |
| classes. They are not usually sufficiently mature to | | | | Numerous types of movement come into |
| follow the instructions issued in a session, nor do | | | | consideration for example as already mentioned |
| they have the necesssary physical control. We must | | | | ballet,and jazz, also improvisational, rhythmic |
| remember that children develop at different rates. | | | | gymnastics (a combination of dance and gymnastics) |
| Reputable schools will not usually take little ones for | | | | and tap dance to name but a few. |
| ballet or tap until they are three or four years old. All | | | | What are the benefits for young children who attend |
| instruction in dance forms such as ballet, tap and jazz | | | | dance classes? They learn such skills are listening |
| should directly relate to the childs physical | | | | carefully and not talking while instructions are being |
| development. Physical development and chronological | | | | given. Furthermore they also learn to be a member |
| age do not necessarily go hand in hand. | | | | of a group and to take turns. Classes offer the |
| The one to two year old can safely attend "Mommy | | | | opportuity to move to a beat, increase musicality and |
| and Me" sessions where they have the re-assuring | | | | the use of the imagination. Those taking part learn to |
| presence of someone well-known to them. Some | | | | express their feelings and emotions physically in a |
| establishments allow two year olds to take part in a | | | | non-aggressive manner. Pupils are helped to become |
| weekly thirty minute class. There are schools which | | | | more familiar with their bodies and to use their bodies |
| start with simple formal ballet lessons at three and a | | | | creatively. Sessions can also offer experiences of |
| half. This is not necessarily a good idea. It is easy to | | | | different cultures. To this list of benefits we must |
| damage young bodies through faulty teaching. In | | | | add physical flexibility, co-ordination and cardiovascular |
| ballet the "turnout" if undertaken too early can cause | | | | and general fitness are improved. Dance lessons are |
| problems. The "turnout" is the external rotation of | | | | also a team-building and confidence-enhancing activity. |
| the leg from the hip so that the dancers knees and | | | | Dance classes are helpful to all including children with |
| toes are facing away from the body. Undertaking | | | | special needs. The Children's Hospital in Boston in the |
| "pointe" (where the dancer rises to the tips of the | | | | United States set up a dance program for children |
| toes while performing ballet steps) work too early | | | | with Downs Syndrome. At the end of the program |
| can lead to deformation of the feet. | | | | the participants showed decreased body mass index |
| Two to three year olds do not need formal lessons. | | | | as well as social benefits, improved general health and |
| They need creative movement classes where they | | | | increased self-confidence. |
| can let off steam, have fun and use their | | | | To give your young kids the opportunity to learn |
| imaginations. Pupils under the age of seven should not | | | | about dance at a young age is to give them a |
| take part in recitals. Performing for strangers can be | | | | wonderful introduction to the aesthetic aspects of |
| a negative experience for some. | | | | life. |