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Health Benefits of Ballet for Kids

In Malaysia, it is common to have parents sign up their children for ballet dance classes. This may be due to the growing awareness of the benefits of dancing. They include physical, mental and social benefits that allow your child to have a holistic development.

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Physical benefits

Research shows that partaking in regular dancing can increase muscle strength especially at the lower body and legs. Additionally, one’s flexibility is also improved alongside strength, agility and stamina. The health benefits are even more astounding. Regular dancing decreases the chances of cardiovascular diseases as well as improves balance. The health benefits affect the choices of many elderly, and have made dancing a popular sport for them. This is especially so as many elderly have bone conditions and thus cannot participate in high-impact activities like running or weight lifting.

Mental benefits

Furthermore, dancing helps with children’s coping mechanism for stress. This is incredibly important, considering that we live in an increasingly stressful environment. Dancing thus gives children an avenue to express themselves, deal with their stressful circumstances, and prevent them from going to other unhealthy alternatives.

 

Social benefits

Dancing in a group increases one’s social circle and allows children to develop good social skills while interacting with others. Being exposed to different groups of people, cultures and more allow children to be comfortable with such differences and grow in appreciation for them.

Additionally, regular dancing is linked to a healthy level of self-esteem for participants. Having a sense of self-efficacy builds confidence in other areas of life alongside one’sexpanding social circle in dancing.

If your child is inherently good at dancing, that may open career or coaching opportunities for his or her future. This is relevant in today’s society that emphasizes a lot on visual appearances and aesthetics; videos are constantly made showcasing the talents of dancers.

 

Where do I start?

The benefits of dancing are endless, with physical, mental and social benefits contributing to overall wellness in children. However, where can you find a suitable place for all these to develop? Amare Dance Academy is able to provide children with a safe environment to enjoy dancing and even develop their skills if they choose to excel further in this sport. For more information on ballet classes for kids. Feel free to contact us.

What are the Commonly Used Ballet Terms?

Ballet dance, to a non-dancer, seems like doing a range of movements that looks nice and seemingly impossible. However, there are certain basic movements and positions that form the art of ballet dancing.

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The Barre

The barre is a long handrail that provides the dancer with support while he or she tries to accomplish a certain movement. It is used during warm-up.  as well as for preparations for jumps, turns and balances.

 

Turnout positions

The “turnout” is likely the most common jargon ballet dancers use. A “turnout” is the sideward rotation of the dancer’s thighbones while the toes are pointing at the opposite direction. A good turnout will form a 180-degree angle. A turnout position prevents injury from straining one’s knee and requires a lot of work to master. It also allows for greater freedom and stretches, and allows one to do movements involving spinning and jumping.

There are five variations of the turnout. The first position is when the heels are together while the toes are pointed outwards in a 180 degree angle. The second position is when the first position is adopted, except that the heels are spaced apart, approximately to the width of the dancer’s hip. The third position is like the first position, except that one foot is placed in front of the other such that the front foot covers the back foot’s heel. The fourth position involves one foot placed in front of the other, with a distance of about one and a half of the dancer’s foot size. Lastly, the fifth position involves the heel of the back foot touching the last toe of the front foot.

 

Plié

Plié means “bend”. When a dancer bends, her knees open outwardly away from her hips. This is done to increase the flexibility and strength of muscles. A dancer begins a jump and ends it with a plié. Pirouettes are also prepared from a plié.

The grand plié involves bending one’s knees fully such that the thighs are horizontal to the ground. For the demi-plié, the dancer bends but his or her heels remain flat on the ground.

 

Battement

A battement is a beating movement of the legs. A grand battement (or a large beating) involves swishing one’s leg as high as possible before bringing it back down. This loosens the hip points. A petit battement (or a small beat) starts out with the foot placed below the calf of the other leg, just around the ankle, and the angle of the knee changes while the thigh remains still.

 

Attitude

The attitude is a dance position that is executed when a dancer stands on one leg, while his or her working leg is in the air. While doing so, the dancer’s arm is curved.

 

Spotting

Spotting is done to prevent the dancer from being dizzy while doing many spins, turns, whirls or leaps. This is done by focusing one’s gaze on a stationary point and taking it as a reference point.

 

Pas jeté

Pas jeté means to throw one’s step. It is usually used to refer to a jump or leap from one position to another. When doing this, the dancer jumps from one foot to the other, brushing one’s foot into the air.

 

Pirouette

A pirouette (pronounced as peer-oo-et) is a spin. The dancer often makes at least one complete turn.

 

Improving your moves

Ballet dancing is a sport that requires commitment and energy. The moves mentioned can be challenging. Thus, ballet classes for kids at Amare Dance Academy can provide your child with a holistic learning experience to acquire the necessary skillsets required for the execution of the variety of ballet steps. Feel free to contact Amare Dance Academy for more information regarding ballet classes for kids.

What can parents expect at a preschool ballet class?

You have just finalized all the arrangements of taking your kid for ballet classes and you are having cold feet. It is quite normal for a parent to have reservations when leaving your child under somebody’s care but you have to brace yourself. This will happen sooner or later when it is time to start school. Knowing what to expect on the other hand, could go a long way in keeping you calm about this change. What to expect include:

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Day One Blues

If you are a parent of two or three children you have a pretty idea what this is all about. Kids are not very good with first day at school so will it be with the kids ballet class. As much as you will be anxious to let your child go on her own, just remember that taking that step will help your child to achieve independence.

At Amare Dance Academy, we offer trial classes for all our ballet classes. For little ones, our teachers are also equipped with ensuring that the child can easily ease into the class. You can email of call us to make an arrangement for that.

 

How Will The Teacher Be?

This is a question that troubles almost every parent. You must be wondering; will my child like her? Will she be friendly to kids? All these are queries that must be troubling you. Trust the teacher and ensure yourself that your child is in safe hands. Ask your child about the class to find out if he or she feels comfortable or likes the teacher. It is important for little ones to feel comfortable in the ballet class that he or she is enrolling is. At Amare Dance Academy, teachers are happy to provide feedback to parents about their child’s progress. Feel free to always speak to us if you have any concerns.

 

Are Parents Allowed To Watch?

All parents would want to watch the first dance class to get a feel of how a normal class will be. However, sometimes, an additional to another adult in the class may distract the young children. Hence, for the well being of the children, it is advisable to trust the school and the teachers and let them handle your child in class. At Amare Dance Academy, we conduct annual Open House. During Open House, parents are invited to watch their children’s classes. In addition, Amare Dance Academy also holds Performances and Concerts where parents will be informed in advance.

 

Will My Kid Learn?

Of course parents will want to confirm if the children are learning because after all, they have invested both time and money. At the beginning children will get to learn the moves step by step and with time you can gauge the progress. Most dance schools have performances and examinations or grading. These are when you can gauge your child’s progress. At Amare Dance Academy, we have performances and yearly examinations. We also have Open Houses where parents can watch their kids in class.

 

Do Parents Have To Stay Until Class Is Over?

Another query you will have as a parent is whether you should stay for the class or not. This again is wholly dependent on the specific school. Some schools are equipped with waiting areas for you to wait for your child while others do not allow as such. At Amare Dance Academy, we have a spacious waiting area for parents to wait for their child.

 

Will My Child Have Fun?

This is the most important question that you would be concerned about. You know your child better. While ballet classes can be very structured and disciplined, they can be very fun as well. The onus is on the teachers to ensure the best learning experience for your child. Find out from your child about his or her experience after the class to gauge if he or she had a fun ballet lesson.

Now let’s calm down, relax and let your child enjoy the ballet classes, which you have chosen for him or her.

What is the best age for my child to start on ballet classes?

The question of what age should a child start on ballet class is very common with parents wanting to harness their kid’s talent fast. Being a parent of an aspiring dancer could be both exciting and daunting. It is exciting because your child is slowly warming up for a brighter future. Daunting due to the many advises you get from ballet websites or instructor recommendations. Once you get a feel of what to do next, you can easily decide on which step to take. Read on a few pointers to help your decision-making.

Toddlers

As a parent of a toddler you may be too excited to enroll your young one to the ballet classes. However, children at age of three tend to not be keen to take instructions given by the ballet teacher. This compromises their learning abilities and it will be hard for them to understand the dance steps. However, it does not mean that you can do nothing about it since there are other options that as a parent you can explore:

 

Pre ballet classes

Ever heard of pre ballet classes? This is a kid’s ballet class, which caters to the abilities of very young dancers just starting out their journey as a little ballerina. Three-year-olds can be enrolled but their low concentration will not work in their favor but if your child is exceptionally talented, why not? The best age for this levels are the four year olds who are more attentive and have better understanding and comprehending abilities than the younger kids. A common pre-ballet class involves kids being asked to move across the class while supervised by the instructor.

At Amare Dance Academy, we have Baby Ballet classes for kids as young as three years old, as well as Pre-Ballet classes for kids who have turned five. The distinction allows for differentiated teaching that best caters to the learning abilities of the different age groups.

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Delay training

Who said there is a fixed age for starting ballet? No one and if there is, he or she is not being honest with you. There is no time limit to starting ballet classes for your kid. Whether you take your child early or not there is absolutely no reason to bar him or her from starting at any age. At ten or twelve, your child like all the rest can start learning. Therefore, you can still enroll your child and with the guidance from the instructor/teachers, she will catch up with the rest of the class. Better late than never, right?

At Amare Dance Academy, we welcome children who have decided to pick up ballet classes at a much later age. Rest assured that our teachers and staff will provide the best recommendation for the most appropriate class for your child’s learning. Contact us.

By now you are not as confused as before. Make an informed decision to help your child acquire skills but at the same time, ensure that their development is priority. Doing so keeps your child active, attentive and fit for other tasks. Ballet classes for kids should therefore be fully embraced.

What should my kid prepare for before their first ballet class?

The first ballet class is a memorable day in your little one’s life and therefore, every detail counts. There are a number of preparations you should be equipped with for this occasion. What does your kid need?

Ballet Outfit

First things first, you need to know what outfit is needed for the initial class. Depending on the dance school’s policies you may either be required to have specific attire or not.

For typical ballet classes, you will have to get your child leotard and tights. This allows the instructor/teachers to properly see the posture of your child and make appropriate corrections. Wearing a leotard and tights also ensures that extra clothing does not unnecessarily hinder the movements.

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Ballet Shoes

There is no ballet dance without ballet shoes. These dancing slippers keep ballet distinct from other contemporary dances. Remember not to get shoes that are too big for them as your child might slip and fall if they are too big.

 

Encourage Your Child

Beginners tend to get cold feet when the day comes, your child may feel so too. Get into the encouraging parent role to boost your child’s confidence. Assure her that ballet classes for children are not as scary as she may think. Another tip is to assure her that she will make lots of new friends.

When is my child ready to go for ballet lesson?
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You know your child has a dancer’s feet immediately they start taking a few steps and responding to a music beat. The first parental instinct is to find the best ballet classes for children but is your child ready? As a parent, the anxiety to see your child glide gracefully in her little tights one day could be very overwhelming. Moreover, you are also aware of the many benefits that come with dancing such as confidence boosting, instilling discipline as well as entertaining kids.  That is why even if your child is still young; he or she can still start early. What can you do?

 

First step classes

When your child is three, you can start sourcing for ballet classes for him or her. Baby Ballet classes are offered at Amare Dance Academy to provide these really young ones with some knowledge of basic movement to ease the child into the foundations of ballet.

The instructor/teachers has good knowledge on which moves are safe for your little one. Depending on whether your champ wants to be a recreational dancer or a star in future, you can discuss with the instructor/teachers. Amare Dance Academy are able to provide the program best suited for your child.

 

Shy kids

If you are a parent of a shy kid then you will need to be extra patient for them to get comfortable with the new faces. Your child may be dancing pretty well at home in your presence but refuses to do so when in class. Do not be distressed or give up, instead try to talk to your child and encourage him or her in their daily struggles. Work closely with the instructor/teachers to boost confidence in your little champ. Be ready to be more encouraging and patient than usual with your kid as the parental support is extremely crucial in boosting his or her confidence. Slowly but surely your child will mingle with other kids and once she gets friends then be sure it will be your last class.

 

Older kids

Just because your child did not get to start early, does not mean that you cannot enroll him or her to a dance school near you. Do your research well and get to know which institution will be helpful to sharpen your kid’s skill. Since your child is old enough understanding moves will be easy for her and soon she will be at per with her mates.

Lastly, get started with hunting down for a dance school for your kid’s bright future. At Amare Dance Academy, instructors/teachers are able to help those who did not get a head start and help them along, whether its through private lessons, or group classes. We will be able to find a class suitable for your child.

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