did you put your child into dance classes?

Question

at what age and what were your results?

Answer 1

*MY* results? That makes my daughter sound like a cake batter that you put in the oven and then hope it comes out springy and fluffly. ;-)

It was my husband's suggestion that we put our daughter into ballet classes at 3. This was after the lady in the nursery at a family camp program signed my daughter up for the kids' talent show and my daughter caught the performing bug. At home, she was forever flitting and dancing around the house. So I started her in ballet class. Seventeen years later, "my" results are that I'm tens of thousands of dollars poorer and routinely stressed about what my daughter goes through to complete her pre-professional dance training.

Right now, she's thousands of miles away in a major city at a summer dance program and I get phone calls about the crazy people on the bus who are always close to threatening her if she accidently makes eye contact with them. She started living and traveling on her own to major cities to study dance at 16. Other phone calls over the years are about her various physical aches and pains and the internal politics and competition amongst her fellow dancers. It's a constant source of stress and worry.

As for MY DAUGHTER'S results, dance is her life. Now we can only hope she can earn some money from her passion.

Answer 2

I'm not a parent, but my mom started me in dance when I was 2... the only thing that we found was that at 2 I was still a bit too young to understand what was going on, so she took me out and tried again at 3. That worked a lot better and I have been dancing ever since. All I do is ballet, but as a 17 year old, I would really recommend putting your kids in. Really, throughout high school it's been great knowing that if I ever need to get away or talk to someone, I can always go to my studio. I spend so much time there just with classes it's become a kind of second home. It's also been really good for my self esteem because one of the keys to great dancing is confidence! We spend a lot of time being lectured to by my main dance teacher about how we are perfect no matter how we look.

Answer 3

The truth of it is that a 3-year-old does not learn any critical technique for dancing. Generally, most of the leading schools (such as the School of American Ballet in New York, Paris Opera Ballet in France, and Stuttgart Academy in Germany) do not accept students below the age of 7 or 8. That is the time at which important basics of dance are truly learned. The pro of putting a child in a dance class at 3 years old are: ~The child will stop begging for dance classes ~The parent gains some time alone ~The child (hopefully) learns an appreciation for art, and dance in particular ~The studio makes money The cons are ~It is an expenditure that is not strictly necessary for the child's later development as a dancer ~Some students are placed in "pointe" classes earlier than they should because they have "been dancing since they were three" and this can be dangerous for the student's health (this concern does not arise until they are 10 or 11 years old, generally) ~J

Answer 4

First child - age 3 - she quit after 4 weeks and didn't go back until she was 8. Danced thru high school & then on a college dance team. Is now a dance teacher.
Second child - age 5 - danced until 15 when a heart problem forced her to quit.
Third child - age 3 - is still dancing & competing at age 16 and wants to open her own studio someday. Is an assistant teacher at her studio now.
Fourth child - age 3 - is still dancing & competing at age 7 & loves it!
Fifth child - age 3 - she's four now & loves it !
I have 2 boys that are 7 & 4 that may try a class next year if they still want to when fall gets here.

Answer 5

My mom put me into a dance class when I was two years old. I've been dancing for thirteen years now and keep increasing the classes I take. I love dance and can't imagine life without it.

However, it really depends on your child. Whether they want to dance, whether they decide to continue with it when they get older and more and more activities are available to them, etc. But I'd reccommend at least letting your kid try dance. Because if they never try it, they'll never know if they love it or hate it.

Answer 6

well, i dont have a child, but i dance!!!! i started when i was 3. now im 14 and im in competition dance, and go to 1 of the top 50 dance studios in the USA. if they start dance classes to late, your child may be behind.

Answer 7

Hi!

I was put in ballet when I was 2. I have been dancing ever since, and I love it. It is a great way to stay in shape, and it is so fun to meet friends and stuff. I am now 13 years old, and am still dancing!

I thank my mom for putting me in ballet. I love it! though some times i wanted to quit, she wouldnt let me, and I have grown to love it SOOO Much.

Answer 8

if you dont do it @ an early age....they will regret later my mom waited a few years and i wish soo much for her to have put me in earlier....some of my friends were put in earlier and they advanced quicker and are better than me and they are the same age and all the same classes since thrid grade and the ones who are put in earlier catch on quicker and know the basics better so they can excell at the harder stuff better and(sorry this is a major run-on sentence)even tho they will not like getting ready...etc. dont take them out they will go to love dance and will thank you l;ater.....hope this helps

Answer 9

yes I did, when they were going into kindergarten. None of the three ended up in professional dance, but all three stuck with it for years and benefited from it, so that when they got into high school and college they would be in simple high school drama, musical dance productions, which built up their circle of friends, and also it help build their stage presence and self confidence. All three of them now wish they had stuck with it longer. It was a great experience.

Answer 10

My parent put me in ballet when I was 5. I wanted to do it, it was my choice. Now dance is my WHOLE life. It keeps you in shape, and when you dont get good grades.... you cant dance. So your kids will aslways want to do good in school. But its not for everyone. If you kid wants to play pee wee football and not dance, let him/her do it. You cant force them to like anything.