I can tell I'm happy.....I'm dancin!

When your pre-school child comes into a dance class, they just “gotta dance.” They generally come in with a pre-conceived idea of what the class is going to be. They most likely think they are going to come in and dance around to the music. Doing whatever they want to the music. It is important for the parent to tell them ahead of time that there is an instructor and they will follow the instructor through some fun exercises and movement. The class should include a little time for creative movement. During that time, they can do “their own thing”. Some other tips to prepare your child for class:

To find out if they are interested:

• Expose them to dance films, books and see a live dance show if possible. (some dance studios might let you borrow a recital video from a previous year)
• Play music, music, music of all styles and encourage them to dance around the house!

When you see their interest is real:

• Visit the studio with your pre-schooler and take a tour of the studio and meet the instructor.
• Watch a class…it doesn’t even need to be a pre-school class.

Before they begin their class:

• Make sure they are well rested and ready to dance and feeling well. Also have them use the rest room right before they go into class.
• Explain to the child that they are in the class with other children and that you will be staying in the waiting room during class. You will be very excited to hear about how much fun they had in class with their instructor when they are done.

During the pre-school years, dance instruction is all about learning:

• to follow directions
• basic feet and arm positions in ballet
• simple ballet moves
• coordination exercises
• flexibility exercises
• strength exercises
• working in a group

These should all be presented in a fun way. The class should not be longer than 45 minutes. Coming to the dance studio as a pre-schooler should be magical. The hope is that the student will enjoy learning to expand their love for music and dance and continue the art form for years to come.