Ballet/Dance Classes

If she has an interest and you can afford it I would try it. You will either find out she likes it and can develop a real love of dance, or you learn now it's not worth spending the money later. My DD is 24 months old and has been in swimming in the summer since 4 months and tumbing every week at school since 16 months. I don't regret the expense 1 bit.

My daughter is 3 (April 1st) and LOVES her ballet/tap class. It is funny when she yells "Shapay" (something like that) and really knows what she is doing! I guess if you are expecting a "real" tiptoe ballet experience it's probably not time, but if you expect 3 year olds to look and behave as such you would LOVE it!!:) Hope that helps...

I disagree with Pamela - you do not have to start your daughter at three for them to conform later.

If I were you, I'd look into classes in your town and see if you can find a cheap one - maybe a summer session. If she's aking, I'm sure she'll have fun.

If you don't allow her to start now, she will have a harder time conforming to dance class structure and etiquette. Having fun while learning some dancing is important, it makes them realize dancing is fun, not just work. She will have many years to work hard, and have have blood sweat and tears if she continues in dance - but allow her fun time now.

My daughter started at 3 and is doing a great job now at almost 6 y/o... I'm not sure I will allow her to do pointe ballet but I have at least 3 years to worry about that.

I have to address one post -- It is not true that you must start at 3 to dance properly. We attend a lot of ballet performances and one company frequently interviews dancers after the show, on stage. Many of these professionals started lessons at six or eight or in some cases 10 or older.

But you're not asking about whether your chiild is going to be a prima ballerina! She just wants to dance. Yes, many "ballet" classes for kids this age are actually "creative movement" -- and that is just fine. Let her try it.

Look for a program that teaches children appreciation for the music; the concept of moving in time to music; flexibility; and creativity. Try local dance schools but also try your local recreation centers for this age; rec centers or community centers often offer shorter classes (six or 10 weeks, etc.) that let your daughter test out how she likes things. Keep signing up for the next session if she likes it. These classes are usually inexpensive -- It sounds like you might be concerned that dance will be expensive at this level but it's not.

When she's about five, six or seven, if she really is turned on by dance, look at local dance schools. Be aware that there are very different types of schools. Some are all about just ballet. Others are into "dance teams" that do jazz/hip-hop/"Broadway dance" and go to competitions. Yet others offer a variety of styles but don't do competitions. (I'm not a fan of the competitive dance team thing but some kids love it; my daughter is interested really only in classical ballet but also takes a modern dance class and likes that. However, she's 10 so is better able to make her own choices about dance.)

At your daughter's age she should just have fun, move around a lot, learn some very basic steps and enjoy the whole process. I would not worry about "I'll spend the money later." She will benefit from kinderballet or creative movement or kiddie ballet and tap programs now, even if she decides later to move on to another interest. The benefits are body awareness, coordination, appreciation for music, and a positive experience using their bodies and their creativity.

My daughter is 2.5y/o, she started a tap/ballet combo class in March, and she loves it! She is actually learning how to dance. Their recital is in 2 weeks, and she will perform the entire dance for us in the living room, and it's pretty close to what it should be lol! My advice is to ask about recital fees and policies before deciding where to enroll her : )

My now 14 DD went to dance class at 3 - it's really dance readiness. for us it worked out becuae the dance school was in the same building as her day care and she could walk down the hall with a few other little girls and they offered a discount. She continued until mid-2nd grade. Once it became more work and required practice she was no longer interested. Overall I think it did help her a little with being graceful (she was kind of clumsy) but overall it didnt' really give her dance lessons. all that being said, I don't think it was a bad thing - and it was less costly than karate or something like that. But this dance school did not do recitals so we didn't have a huge expense at the end of the year with the cosumes and tickets, etc. They would just do an exhibition (fee) to show parents what they learned.

Good luck!

my daughter started classes when she turned 4, in march. i myself didnt know if she was ready, but she had been wanting this for a long time. i am SO glad that we made the decision to let her do this, because if just makes her world. and suprisingly, she IS learning...... so i would recomend that if you have the extra money, call around and try to get her in it, it is great for her.......

Many of our children at our preschool start dance lessons at 3 years and really enjoy it! The key thing is that the teacher doesn't place a lot of stress upon the child and that lessons are age appropriate. Here's our link if you'd like more info:
http://tinyurl.com/2e547kc

I would try to find a class that is geared for her age. My niece started when she was three and even had a recital. She did great and has been doing it since. (She is only 4 now)

My daughter just started after turning 5. She is doing great also.

I think its up to you, but I don't think it would hurt her to start early.

I believe that starting them in organized activities at a young age helps them strenghthen their motor skills and works on their listening skills.

I agree it is mostly for fun but at the same time, they are working on the above.

If it is out of your reach financially, hold on to your money but if it is not, go ahead. I think you will realize how much enjoyment you will get watching her.

My daughter is 3 and we just finished up soccer at the YMCA. It was hilarious and at the same time, she learned a little about kicking the soccer ball into a goal. The only thing they never got was which goal to kick it into. One game they ended up on another team's field and made a goal there.

A last note is that my daughter has been in swim lessons year around since she was 1. When we are with other kids her age who have never taken a lesson, I really see how much she has learned and accomplished. I have no question that she will be able to swim next summer on her own with supervision.

As a former dance teacher I can tell you that age 3 is a great age for creative movement classes specially designed for 2-4 years olds. These ages are not ideal for traditional structured dance class. When I taught I only accepted students at age 5 (or close to 5) due to the coordination and attention span needed to learn choreography.

With that said there are places that have creative movement classes when they concentrate on rhythm, moving to the music and imaginations. I think some YMCA's may offer these classes, but this is definitely what you want to look for. Then she can transition easily to a more structured dance class later.

Good luck!

Edit: Oh and I also disagree with Pamela! Individual progress is based on ability and hard work and will vary from student to student and has very little to do with age!

I am going to let our daughter take dance lessons from three to six. it seems after six the style of dance is very stripper pole with out the pole. it really creeps me out and i look around praying there arent any perves in the crowd!! but if your going to be serious about just ballet i would ask some pros or see what the abc dance academy's standards are.

It's up to you but if you think you should wait, I would wait til maybe around age 6 or 7. Each time I've seen a recital, whether it be dance or 'choir' or whatever type, the wee ones always seem 'lost'....looking around, not really paying much attention. The teacher is standing in the wings of the stage telling them what to do & some follow, some don't, the ones that do, are not on cue, just copying what they're seeing but they truly don't really seem to 'get it' even tho they're having fun. IMO, it seems to me that wouldn't it be better to wait til they actually comprehend what's going on? & really actually 'learn' what they're being taught? That's just my opinion, I'm sure there are parents here that will disagree w/me but I remember being age 4 or 5 in kindergarten & being on stage in a class concert of sorts & I had NO clue what was going on, I didn't even comprehend a lot at that age, maybe I was just 'slower' at learning than others. Some kids are very intelligent at that age or earlier. If you think she'd do okay, then enroll her, see how she does. If she seems like she's just not learning anything, just having fun, take her out of classes & wait a couple of years. Good luck!

Alot of people start too young and then they are burned out before they actually get to the age when they can really begin learning.

My daughter started at 2.5 at Joyce Willett School of Dance in Austin. It is a combo class where they do a little ballet, tap and tumbling. She too was the one who wanted to dance so we looked into and found this school which is very affordable. Look them up online. They have two locations, one north and one central east close to Mueller. You are allowed to take your daughter to a class for a "test run" to see if she likes it. The current session is almost over (we have a recital in mid-June). But you could still take her to try it . They are starting the next session in July and are registering dancers now.

I am very grateful that my mother enrolled me in ballet lessons when I was that age. I learned much more than dance: poise, posture, etc. I stayed with it into my teenage years. Even if she doesn't become a ballerina she will surely learn good things about controlling her body. And remember, dance, in it's various forms, is a form of exercise that she can take into her adult life.

My daughter started taking dance at age 4 (she would have started at 3, but her sitter did not have access to a car, since the lessons were during the school day and I was teaching my class), and continued all through H.S.
She was on the dance line in M.S. and H.S. and received many awards at dance camp each summer BECAUSE she knew the dance terms and how to do the steps/turns. This was VERY HELPFUL when she auditioned and made the college dance line. She took a dance class opened to the 'public' from the Houston prima ballerina, Lauren Anderson, who was very impressed by her skill and grace, coming from a small rural city.
Now her daughter (now into her 3rd year) is taking dance (started at age 3) from the same teacher (who has been formally trained), and you can see her mother's gracefulness and dance ability in her. She has such grace and her co-ordination is above most children her age.
She is also taking twirl/cheer/gymnatics from a local teacher. Her teacher could not believe how well co-ordinated and how quickly she learned the basic twirling skills. I am aware that she needs a professional if she wants to continue in any of these 3 areas, but she was just taking lessons for the experience.
She also asked to take piano lessons, and luckily for us, a very experienced musician with her Master in Music moved to town and began offering lessons. I am just amazed how well she has progressed since November, and she is beginning to practice on her own, without me just sitting down with her while she practices (I have no musical ability).

It's definitely a financial decision. If money is tight, it will be hard to not see great improvement or to let her stay home sometimes if she is just not in the mood to go. But if money is no object, let her have fun and learn some basics.

And, please, do not over do it. She is young and doesn't need to be involved in too much so soon.

They can learn at that age. If nothing else they learn the discipline of dance class. The best thing to do when going to a studio is see not only how their baby classes are, but how good their older dancers are.

If you lived closer, I would tell you to come take class from me :P