Many young dancers long to pick out their first leotard, slip into pink tights for the first time, and try on that perfect pair of soft, pink ballet slippers. But, the benefits of enrolling your young dancer into a ballet class goes beyond just how cute they'll look in a tutu.
Here are the Top 10 benefits that your child will receive from participating in a ballet class:
1. Ballet Boosts Confidence
By participating in a ballet class at a young age, your child will become comfortable performing in front of an audience. This is a skill that lasts a lifetime. Whether or not your child chooses to continue their dance training into adulthood, the confidence that they learn from ballet will help them with their public speaking, leadership skills, and more!
2. Ballet Improves Posture and Coordination
From the very first demi plié your ballet student does at the barre, he or she will learn to engage their muscles, stand up tall, and coordinate their arms, legs, head, and centre. As the young dancer advances in their ballet training, he or she will gain postural alignment and control over the body. These physical benefits are crucial to your child's health in and out of the dance studio, especially in the age of computers. Help your child overcome the keyboard slouch by enrolling them in a ballet class today!
3. Ballet Enhances Focus
In ballet class, your child will be asked to follow instructions, develop a strong attention to detail, remain focused, and extend his or her attention span. Children who take ballet classes will often see more success in their school classroom, as well, as they are more likely to be able to focus on a particular lesson for an extended period of time.
4. Ballet Sharpens Critical Thinking Skills
Every time your young dancer makes a mistake in a ballet class, he or she will have to think critically about what went wrong and how to fix it. Whether the solution is physical (I pointed my right foot instead of my left foot) or mental (I forgot what to do from counts 4-8), being able to identify the problem, come up with a solution, and apply it to the next try is an invaluable skill that will benefit your child for the rest of their life.
5. Ballet Educates
Learning classical ballet terminology will give your child an understanding of the French language. Becoming familiar with famous ballets will introduce the young dancer to some of history's most important classical composers. Studying different styles of ballet from across the ages will show your student how dance has played a role in history. Studying ballet will give your student a more well-rounded cultural education.
6. Ballet Promotes a Healthy Lifestyle
Ballet is an intense physical activity, one that requires muscular strength, flexibility, and stamina. In order to achieve the skills required of them as they progress in their training, young dancers will be encouraged to stay healthy and fit. By starting your child in ballet classes, you'll help them learn good physical and nutritional habits that can help them throughout their life.
7. Ballet Encourages Bonding
When a new student enrols in a ballet class, he or she is immediately introduced to a studio full of other kids who have similar interests! This is a wonderful way for your child to meet new friends and bond over a shared hobby. Friendships built in the dance studio are lasting relationships that your child will remember and appreciate for years to come.
8. Ballet Fosters a Great Work Ethic
Every single ballet class, your child will be challenged. As the dancer is faced with increasingly difficult skills, exercises, and combinations to perform, they will learn just how much difference hard work makes toward his or her ability to succeed. Ballet training is never over and perfection is never achieved. Their will always be improvements to work toward, and that sense of dedication will stay with your child and extend beyond the dance studio.
9. Ballet Increases Flexibility
Throughout his or her ballet training, your child will develop long, lean, flexible muscles. Not only will this allow your dancer to create stunning lines, it will help him or her remain free muscle pain. Flexibility is a key component in injury and pain prevention, so they flexibility your dancer gains in ballet class will benefit them and their body for years.
10. Ballet is Fun!
At the end of the day, learning, practicing, and performing ballet is great fun. In the ballet studio, young dancers have the opportunity to express themselves creatively, test their bodies' potential, and strive toward a common goal. The joy of dance is something that will live in them for their entire lives, whether they choose to pursue classical ballet, try another dance form, or simply light it up on the dance floor at social events.
Love, Staphanie Mun Chen
012-385-1501
Founder of At The Barre Lifestyle
