If you’ve ever taken a dance class before, you know that it’s a bit of a balancing act… pun intended! Our classes are jam-packed with conditioning exercises, skill drills, and routines that require a diverse set of skills. As teachers, we are often helping our students apply several corrections at once to make them the BEST dancers they can be!
Because of all this, dancers are expert multi-taskers and versatile athletes. We know we are biased, but we truly believe that dance is unique because it cultivates a child’s whole self.
Dance is one of the most well-rounded kids activities out there, and we can’t wait to tell you why!
5 Reasons Why Dance Is a Well-Rounded Kids Activity:
1. All Elements of Physical Fitness
When it comes to athletic training, there are tons of ways to condition a working body. And of course, different athletes tailor their conditioning to whatever their specific sport needs most of. But dancers do it ALL!
Flexibility, strength, coordination, endurance, balance… you name it! In our dance classes, we do the splits, get our heart rates up, balance in difficult positions, build muscle, and so much more. We move our arms, legs, heads, and hips all at the same time, building impeccable coordination. It’s no surprise that dancers become extremely well-rounded athletes!
2. Both Individual & Team Goals
Learning how to be a team player is a lifelong benefit of many team sports and extracurriculars. But while most sports are strictly focused on winning as a team, dance offers a child chances to succeed both individually and in a group.
While drilling our pirouette turns across the floor, our dancers are focused on improving their own technique. If they nail a triple turn while the rest of the class is still working on singles, their individual success is celebrated. But while perfecting a recital routine, all dancers are working together as one to stay in sync and look amazing on stage!
3. Multitasking At Its Best!
In just one pirouette turn, a dancer must remember the following: high relevé, straight supporting leg, pointed toe, foot connected to knee, hip down, strong arms, abs engaged, vertical spine, spot your head, and find a clear landing. Talk about learning how to multitask and remember a million things all at once!
4. Body AND Mind Working Together
There are very few activities that exercise a person’s body and mind equally, but dancing is one of them! Our students' memory skills are put to the test during their 3-minute routines, while they also get their heart rates up to start and end strong. Patterns, pathways of the body, and spatial orientation are all things that dancers learn while moving.
5. Both Creative & Technical Elements
Of course, we saved the best for last! One of the most beneficial ways that dance cultivates a child’s whole self is through the creative element. Yes, we drill technique and condition our bodies with repetitive exercise like most sports, but we also leave room for personal choice and self-expression. It’s incredibly rewarding to see a dancer bring their heart and emotions into their movement, especially when they really let go and just dance!
Falling in love with dance (and sharing that love with young dancers) comes easy when it takes such a holistic approach to learning, moving, and expressing. But don’t take our word for it, try out a class today to see if your child loves it as much as we do!
