Dance lessons provide children with a fun outlet for expressing themselves physically in a supportive and structured environment. As an added benefit, dancing helps reduce stress levels by releasing feel good hormones known as endorphins.
As with other sports or activities, dance teaches your child to set goals and stick to them. It also encourages the development of other life skills such as teamwork, accountability and dedication.
A key component of any dance class is to help students appreciate and value their unique attributes, whether physical or artistic. If only physique related qualities are discussed (such as extreme flexibility or perfect proportions), the dancer may come to believe that he or she is not a good dancer. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and frustration. Teachers can help their students develop a balanced approach to skill mastery by integrating discussions of anatomy, kinesiology and other sciences that support the dancer’s self-efficacy and motivation.
All dancers should be able to perform their movements with confidence. To build this confidence, dancers need to be allowed to experiment and make mistakes in a safe, encouraging environment. This type of experimental approach to learning accelerates progress and increases motor control.
Most dance schools offer group classes with anywhere from 10-20 students learning together with one teacher guiding the class. While this allows for a more social experience, it is important that your child be comfortable in this type of setting and able to stay focused and listen to the teacher’s instructions without being distracted by other children or chatty parents. If a student is not comfortable in this setting, ask the studio about their drop-off policy or see if they offer video viewing options.
