Looking at getting 6 year old daughter involved in dance school..?

Question

Hi,

Can any one recomend the best or safest way to introduce a 6 year old into a Dance or Performance group?

Previous experiance is appreciated... I am in the Berkshire area of UK..

Thanks in advance..

Answer 1

Touching, first, on what some others have said....

1) Dance is MOST CERTAINLY about performance! For heaven's sake, it's a PERFORMING ART! At the very least, find a school that will at least offer an end-of-year studio recital, if not one final, costumed recital. However, do avoid competition studios, if the UK has caught this craze. The idea is to find a school that puts the greatest focus on technique training without sacrificing the joyous experience of connecting with an audience. A dancer can't hone their stage presence without annual opportunities to perform from a young age.

2) Yes, check out all the dance schools in your area. My experience has been that friends and classmates aren't very good at offering meaningful advice in terms of discerning quality dance training. You are very wise to be looking for "best" AND "safe," and that can only come from teachers who have had professional performing experience. It can sometimes come from teachers who only hold certification from well known dance organizations, but I think you're taking your chances in those cases. Essentially, there is only one right way to develop proper "turnout" (hip rotation) and many, many wrong ways that will lead to serious injuries. You also do not want a studio that frequently puts children younger than 12 on pointe.

3) Look for a dress code and a sense of order and respect for the teacher. Serious ballet instruction can start as young as 6, so children that young are capable of taking dance class seriously. On the other hand, do not stand for teachers who verbally harass students with hurtful comments and make negative comparisons between students. Also do not enroll your child in a school that concerns itself with students who might be overweight. (Underweight is another matter.) Weight can be a factor in getting to perform, but not for simply studying dance.

In general, you want to find a teacher who understands the needs of young children, as you would anywhere. Whether or not your daughter ever intends to become a professional, her body is her instrument, so you owe it to her to find the best training possible in order to avoid injuries.

Answer 2

Being a ballet academy alumni, I'd advice you to visit some of the local balletscools with your daughter. The school will usually let her take a class for free. You can discuss with her later what school/group she liked most.
I think kids love to perform at a young age, also because they're not shy.. as most grown ups are. I know I did. It is important however that you daughter learns to dance well, performance should come on the second place.
You would want to look out for a school that challanges, but is not too pushy. It's good for kids to do something that's difficult, but they need to be able to enjoy it.
Also, and this is personal experience, if your daughter aspires to become professional with her hobby, make sure she will always feel that she's not failing when she decides to stop dancing. It's important to let her know that if she doesn't like it, she can just stop, no matter what.
Other than that, DANCING is great! I still miss it every day!! (I'm injured... so can't dance anymore)

Answer 3

First of all, I am a teacher of various dance disciplines, but primarily ballet. A six year old can start in a pre-ballet class--serious study should not start till at least 8 yrs. old. Too much too soon can do two things--ruin a child's body or turn them off. The classes should be informative, but light. Your RAD system in the UK is very good and they do have a program for younger dancers which is quite creative. Check out the Angelina Ballerina series and you will get a sampling of what they do.

If your daughter is interested in dance let her tell you. However, dance is good for many things--educates a child in various ways and connects them with the arts.

Not to worry about performance--that will come when the child is ready.

Answer 4

6 years old is a great age to start dance... I would suggest looking around for different schools and looking into their programs. Any good, competent studio or school should be able to give you specifics about their program, including curriculum, class objectives, and performance opportunities. Everyone's suggestions have been excellent, so rather than restating points, I will add some of my own.

Ballet is an art and requires discipline and commitment, which 6 year olds may or may not enjoy. If she expresses disinterest in ballet class after she tries it, you may want to get her into a tap or jazz class to begin with.

Talk to the instructor before she starts the class. You can usually get a great idea of what the class is like by just speaking with an instructor. If you daughter is with you, make sure the instructor acknowledges your daughter and tries to make her comfortable. I have been teaching children for 10 years and I am always sure to speak to the child as well as the parent, and make sure the child is comfortable and happy.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Many instructors, myself included, will ramble on and on about points that do not neccesarily interest you, while not speaking about what you are truly interested in. If you have questions or concerns, please don't be afraid to ask.

Hope this helps, I am from the US so not sure if it will. Good luck!

Answer 5

I don't recommend performance. But dancing is great. Try a group that isn't big into performance, that doesn't make you buy those costumes. Dance is not about performance. We have a great kids dance thing here called stardanceswan. Try the local university, some of the professors can make good recommendations. I thought of that because the leader of stardanceswan teaches sometimes at the university children's dance. Look at universities first.

Answer 6

My daughters both are in dance school and the way I start was there was a dance class for a couple weeks during the summer and my daughters loved it and wanted to do more. If there are any schools around you that do that I would suggest you try it.

Answer 7

I recommend The Warren School of Dance in Sandhurst. Many of their students have gone on to dance professionally with The Royal Opera House Covent Garden. They offer Ballet, Tap, Modern Dance, Drama, and Singing. "Children aged 6 and under are allowed to take part in classes for two weeks to see if they enjoy it before parents have to decide whether to continue."

Their telephone number is: 01276 66969 if you're interested.

Cheers!

Blessed Be!
Coven of Witches
http://www.thecovenofwitches.com

Answer 8

Call the best dance school in the UK - Elmhurst! It has just moved to Birmingham and is one of the most respected in Europe and they will be able to advise you.
Elmhurst
Bristol Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham

The principle as John McNamara

Answer 9

Most reputable dance schools will offer age specific classes, and be able to advise you accordingly. Ask parents of your child's friends and classmates if they can recommend a local dance school. I would also go around and visit a couple of these schools to see what the atmosphere is like, and if you like the instructors and the methods they use.

Answer 10

My daughter started dance right before she turned 4, she has been in dance for 5 years now and its great. The experience is wonderful. She has one recital a year and she practices so hard for it. She has learned jazz, ballet, tap, and now is thinking about learning river dancing.