CLASS PLACEMENT
Our dance instructors are responsible for placing the dancers in the appropriate classes. Parents often ask what classes should my child take or why is my child not dancing with his/her friends. We hope the following information will help you understand the development of dance.
Dancers progress at different levels for various reasons. First, the natural ability (flexibility/turnout/ muscle and tendon structure, etc) is what the student starts with prior to any formal instruction. Second, is the commitment and dedication of the student to the study of dance. The child with all the natural ability and little dedication does not reach the same level as a student that consistently works in and out of classes to excel and is enrolled in a complete training program. Third, all dancers experience growth spurts which may set back the child’s development, as we must wait for the muscles to catch up to the bone growth which occurs first, leaving the muscles weaker (less body control) then prior to the growth spurt. This process can take from 1 to 3 years depending on the child. Pushing a child through this period when their bodies are not ready can result in injuries to the ankles, knees, hips and back which may cause permanent damage to the dancer’s body. To all dancers there is no substitution for the study of ballet. Ballet is a fundamental. It is the repetition that develops the dancer’s body.
Many parents enroll their child in a dance discipline at an early age and with little personal experience of the evolution required to develop and train a dancer. In a second or later year the parents or child choose to either change disciplines or add a second discipline.
The dancer’s second class regardless of their first discipline should be ballet. This is based on developing your child to be the best dancer they can be – not saying they will be professionals – just that while they are dancing they will be doing the best they can. Every beginner dancer should be taking one class of ballet per week by age 7.
Dancers by the age of 9 with at least 3 years training should be taking 2 ballet classes per week with the introduction of jumps & turns for jazz dancers. By the age of 11 with at least 5 years training, a dancer should be taking 2 - 3 ballet classes per week, stretch classes and jumps & turns for jazz dancers.
The course of study you and your child choose to make is a personal one and is based on the time commitment you are willing to make along with the financial commitment you are able to make. A recreational dancer taking one class a week receives the same quality of instruction as a child studying ten hours per week.
Our dance instructors are responsible for placing the dancers in the appropriate classes. Parents often ask what classes should my child take or why is my child not dancing with his/her friends. We hope the following information will help you understand the development of dance.
Dancers progress at different levels for various reasons. First, the natural ability (flexibility/turnout/ muscle and tendon structure, etc) is what the student starts with prior to any formal instruction. Second, is the commitment and dedication of the student to the study of dance. The child with all the natural ability and little dedication does not reach the same level as a student that consistently works in and out of classes to excel and is enrolled in a complete training program. Third, all dancers experience growth spurts which may set back the child’s development, as we must wait for the muscles to catch up to the bone growth which occurs first, leaving the muscles weaker (less body control) then prior to the growth spurt. This process can take from 1 to 3 years depending on the child. Pushing a child through this period when their bodies are not ready can result in injuries to the ankles, knees, hips and back which may cause permanent damage to the dancer’s body. To all dancers there is no substitution for the study of ballet. Ballet is a fundamental. It is the repetition that develops the dancer’s body.
Many parents enroll their child in a dance discipline at an early age and with little personal experience of the evolution required to develop and train a dancer. In a second or later year the parents or child choose to either change disciplines or add a second discipline.
The dancer’s second class regardless of their first discipline should be ballet. This is based on developing your child to be the best dancer they can be – not saying they will be professionals – just that while they are dancing they will be doing the best they can. Every beginner dancer should be taking one class of ballet per week by age 7.
Dancers by the age of 9 with at least 3 years training should be taking 2 ballet classes per week with the introduction of jumps & turns for jazz dancers. By the age of 11 with at least 5 years training, a dancer should be taking 2 - 3 ballet classes per week, stretch classes and jumps & turns for jazz dancers.
The course of study you and your child choose to make is a personal one and is based on the time commitment you are willing to make along with the financial commitment you are able to make. A recreational dancer taking one class a week receives the same quality of instruction as a child studying ten hours per week.
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Class Placement
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