Many parents are enrolling their young children in dance class with hopes of dance stardom in their kids' futures without realizing the many other benefits dance class has for these kids.
Dance is not just for the aspiring professional performer.
There is a place for recreational dancers in the world of dance and these students can benefit just as greatly from classes.
For the youngest dancers, class teaches them not only basic dance steps and creative movement curriculum, but peer interaction.
For many young children this is the first group activity where they have the chance to interact with others their age and learn the dynamics of being in a group, all very important life skills.
Students learn to take turns, they learn about personal space, when it is appropriate to hold hands in, say a partner dance or a circle dance with the class, and when it is necessary to leave their hands to themselves.
All these skills are learned while enjoying the thrills of movement, new steps and fun "game like" activities that teach the fundamentals of dance.
Young dancers also get to practice educational basics that are learned at school such as counting as the teacher asks them to do 4 plies or 8 tendus.
They learn things such as colors, left vs.
right and other movement opposites such as fast vs.
slow, hard vs.
soft.
Being able to repeat and put into practice the basics they learn at school in a fun environment outside of their normal learning place can greatly increase the amount of information they retain and how well they can use this information.
As dancers get a little older and their dance class begins to increase in difficulty it becomes a great tool for exercise and personal fitness as well as increasing flexibility and improving balance and coordination.
The balance, coordination and flexibility will be greatly beneficial to any sports they decide to play later in their childhood.
It also teaches the importance of a healthy lifestyle at a young age.
Keeping kids active and making them realize the importance of staying active, whether it be through dance or other exercise, will be greatly beneficial to them as they continue to grow.
There are of course many activities that have similar benefits, but the beauty of dance for young children is all of the skills can be practiced and improved upon while dancing to music and having fun.
Making learning fun for kids is the biggest obstacle.
If you can make it fun and enjoyable for them and get them interested, they are ready and willing to learn new things.
Most of the time these young dancers don't even realize they learning.
These dance classes for young children are great for personal growth and learning regardless of their desire to continue dancing in the future.
All young kids can benefit from a dance class and learn things that they will take with them for the rest of their lives.