Question: What do I wear to a Trial Class?
Answer:
Tee shirt and footless tights/shorts or your favourite fairy/ballet dress and bare feet.
We do provide a tutu (if available) if you wish to wear one of ours.
Mums, Dads and Caregivers are very welcome to participate in the class too!!
Question: Are You Ready for Class?
Answer: Did you:
Arrive 5 minutes before class?
With:Tutu/Leotard/Skirt
Socks/Tights
Ballet shoes with shoe ties tucked in
A water bottle
Go to the bathroom?
Is your hair secured away from face?
Take off any distracting clothing or jewellery?
Put your things neatly away?
Collect your name badge?
Question: Is Three Too Young to Start Dance Classes?
Answer:
Most dance instructors require children to be at least three years old to attend dance classes. Before the age of three, bones are too soft and attention spans are too little to meet the challenges of formal dance training. A dance class of three-year-olds, would focus on creative movement and basic body control. Beginning dance steps would be introduced in a fun, recreational way.
If you think your three-year-old would enjoy dance classes, go ahead and try it. Baby ballerinas are adorable, and the memories are priceless.
nb Children who are turning three before June 2011 may be accepted into the Baby Program at the discretion of the Director(s).
Question: How will Pre Ballet Classes Benefit my Child?
Answer:
Starting dance lessons is exciting for children as well as parents. Dance is a wonderful activity for children, capable of fostering a positive self image in both girls and boys. Dance lessons can teach a child self confidence, self discipline, poise and grace. A child introduced to dance at an early age will likely develop a love of the arts and a passion for rhythm and movement. Most importantly, dancing is lots of fun!
Having Fun:
Dancing is a joy, but it is also hard work. When your child is young, dance classes should be viewed as a fun experience, not as a chore. Watch your child during a class to make sure he or she is smiling and having fun.
Probably the highlight of the year will be the annual dance concert. Most dance teachers hold a concert at the end of the dance year (usually right before summer) to allow their students to show off their moves and to gain a little stage experience. Dance concerts are a fantastic experience for children.
Getting Ready for Ballet Class:
If you are very new to ballet, you are probably a little anxious about starting ballet classes. You may be wondering about a lot of things, like what you should wear and how to style your hair. You may wonder what ballet class will be like, and what kinds of things you will be learning. Keep in mind that most of the other students in your class will probably be new to ballet, too. Relax and enjoy this special time of your life, your first experiences in ballet.
Many positive benefits are associated with learning the art of ballet. Besides learning the traditional techniques of ballet, ballet lessons can also foster a positive self image in young girls, as well as young boys. Ballet teaches skill, grace, poise, self discipline and self confidence. If your dream is to become a ballerina, you must practice a lot in order to master the many challenging poses and steps of ballet. You will begin by learning the rules and traditional techniques of ballet which have been handed down over the centuries.
When Boys Want to Dance
Parents must remember that dancing is a physically beneficial activity for both boys and girls. Dancing helps build strength, muscle tone, balance, and coordination. Some boys decide early on that they would rather take dance lessons in a studio than play sports on a field. The following tips may help your son deal with frustrations he may feel as a male dancer.
· Encourage his motivations to dance.Your son may be truly talented as a dancer. Encourage him to try several styles of dance to find out what he really loves.
· Give your son male role models.Take him to see professional male dancers on stage or rent movies with men in dancing roles. Show him that men really do dance, and they dance well.
· Compare dance to other sports.Remind your son that dancing is a physical sport that requires lots of strength.
· Let him choose to stop dancing.If your son suddenly begins to struggle with peer pressure, allow him the freedom to try something else. If he truly wants to be a dancer, he will find his way back as he matures.
Question: What should I look for in a Creative Dance class?
Answer:
Creative dance for small children approaches many ways of learning. Inherently kinesthetic, a solid creative dance class should be appealing to both boys and girls, offering ample opportunity to hop, bound, run, dive, leap, jump, turn, kick, and stretch. Kids, of course, love to move. As an educational model, dance uses rhythm, honing children's aural skills, and giving them a chance to approach conceptual ideas through their bodies. Creative dance also relies on linguistic play like rhymes and games that involve the use of fun new language and vocabulary. Academically speaking, in a ten-week session of creative dance for preschoolers, your child can and should be exposed to most of the basic academic bases they'll climb to in their elementary education. But they'll tackle these new ideas not through tests and standards, but through fun, playful and engaging activities.
Question: What can I hope to see from consistent attendance?
Answer:
When children dance together, something amazing happens. Creative dance is a tremendous learning modality for the individual, but what's thrilling to see as a teacher and parent is the way children begin to embrace new ideas that foster community building and social connections. Under the care of a dedicated teacher, even the tiniest dancers can look at and appreciate each other's choreographic efforts, applaud each other's determination and zeal and work together to solve problems. While they're just having a great time singing and dancing and being silly, they're also addressing important meta-cognitive learning needs. Simply put, these small dancers can begin to see the differences in the way they think and feel compared to other people, to accept and celebrate these differences, and to have the necessary vocabulary to sort out their experiences. This level of objectivity about other people is something that will serve any child well as he or she encounters the larger classes and variety of experiences that loom in early educational experiences. The creative dance method offers children and their caregivers tools for learning for a lifetime.
As with any enriching educational activity, consistency is key. You and your child can play at the pool once or twice over the course of a few months, and have a great time. But if your goal is to have your child become safe and comfortable in the water, you're probably going to want to take regular lessons. That's why it's recommended that children be involved in a regular creative dance class, so they can get to know the teacher and his/her classmates, so they have the chance to build on the conceptual vocabulary that has been worked with in previous weeks and so they can gain a greater understanding of the material. But most importantly, consistency and the repetition and affirmation it affords will provide your child with a wider launch pad for their own creativity both in and out of class.
"Movement is as necessary to mental and physical development as food."
-- Grace Nash
Rudolph Laban, considered the founder of movement and dance education, stated in his book Modern Educational Dance (1948) that educators need to guide children's natural urge to dance-like movement and preserve their movement spontaneity into adult life. Our urban environment has many physical limitations on the growing child. It is difficult for children to become physically sturdy and agile without vigorous movement. It is difficult for a child to become co-ordinated without a variety of movement experiences. And it is difficult for a child to be emotionally responsive if the nonverbal part of their development is not recognized. Early childhood educators are in a unique position to provide an environment where children are encouraged to learn and grow through movement and dance activities.
Gisela Loeffler (BFA, MALS) teaches movement and dance education in early childhood education programs at several colleges in British Columbia and Washington. She continues to be involved with children in preschool and day care settings, too.
Choosing a Dance Studio
How to Stand Like a Ballerina
The 5 Basic Positions of Ballet
Turnout
When will I be ready for pointe?
A Guide for Parents and Young Ballerinas
