The benefits of formal dance training
With so many different activities available today, it’s hard to choose which ones are worth signing your child up for. As a dance instructor, I am constantly competing with other childhood commitments such as basketball, tennis, gymnastics, and tennis, but as a parent, how do you know which activity will suit your child best?
I may be a bit biased, but there are many benefits to enrolling your child in formal dance training.
Before deciding which activity to allow your child to participate in, you should assess your child’s likes and dislikes and his or her personality. Dance is a highly disciplined art form, and if your child is a free spirit, he may struggle with the rigidity of ballet. A hip-hop class may be a more suitable option. Or maybe something like swimming or tennis would suit them better. Obviously, her son has to enjoy the activities of her choice, or there will be no interest or effort, and time and money will be wasted.
Formal dance training is highly beneficial as a form of exercise for physical conditioning as well as for developing muscle control and coordination. In the early years of a child’s development, this is essential. A few years of good ballet training will set you apart and help you in all aspects of your balance and control, strength, and general fitness.
Dancing also adds that poise, posture, and grace that you won’t get from participating in any other form of sport. You can always see the dancers as they appear taller and more confident in the crowd. Formal dance training will teach you how to stand tall, improve your core strength, and correct faulty posture before it becomes a problem. Dancing makes you more aware of your own body and you learn what you are capable of and what kind of movement is not good for your body.
If you have formal ballet training, you will be able to learn any of the other dance forms with ease. Ballet gives you that basic foundation and good technique that will serve you well, whether you want to do modern jazz or even ballroom and Latin dance. The world will be at your disposal, as you can easily adapt to any type of dance you really want to do.
In addition to all the benefits one gets from formal dance training, it’s also a lot of fun. I have yet to meet a child who doesn’t enjoy being a princess, fairy, or king for a day, or one who doesn’t love visiting magical fantasy realms that dancing can transport you to.