The Best Balancing Act: 5 Reasons Why Dance is a Well-Rounded Activity

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! 

Perfect Price, Perfect Pair: November Dance Class Special!

Dance classes are like slices of pie on Thanksgiving, two is ALWAYS better than one! Yes, we know, we are a little biased! However, we aren’t the only ones who feel this way. Check out this AWESOME article that explains why knowing multiple dance forms makes you a better dancer overall! 

This November, we are running an extra special promotion here at Positions Dance Studio! Add a class before the end of the month and receive 50% off your first month’s tuition of the additional class! This is a great opportunity for your child to try something new or finally enroll in that class they’ve been waiting for!

So today on the blog, we are outlining which dance styles go GREAT together and why! The following class combos will help your child excel in their favorite style and compliment their training PERFECTLY!

4 Perfect Dance Class Pairings:

1. Ballet + Acro

While ballet and acro may SEEM like opposites at first glance, they rely on many of the same technical elements. Posture, body placement, control, and strength are at the forefront of both of these styles. These dance genres both require tight core muscles to keep your upper body held during difficult motions. Enrolling in one of these classes will undoubtedly improve the other! 

2. Hip Hop + Tap

Because Hip Hop and Tap are both American art forms that emerged within African American communities, they have similar qualities. Both rely heavily on rhythm and groundedness. Bent knees and a relaxed upper body are key to success in both dance forms. Most importantly, they both include a heavy emphasis on social connection. Taking both is a great way to become grounded and musically in-tune! 

3. Jazz + Leaps & Turns

Jazz and Leaps & Turns are directly related and a PERFECT combination for our jazz lovers! For many of our dancers, leaps and turns are their favorite part of jazz class, which is why we have a class that is totally dedicated to perfecting them! Ready to have the BEST leaps in your jazz routine at recital? Take Leaps & Turns and we will help you accomplish ALL your goals!

4. Hip Hop & Acro

Hip Hop and Acro is a common combination because many Hip Hop dancers mix style and flavor with the coolest stunts and tricks. Breakdancing, a form of Hip Hop, requires the same strength and agility that we practice in our Acro classes! Both forms are high energy and GREAT for the dancer who loves showing off their coolest moves. 

While taking one dance class is a GREAT way to start, we LOVE encouraging all of our dancers to branch out. Being versatile is so important for a dancer’s technique, but also for kids looking to get the FULL dance experience! Sometimes it takes two (classes) to tango around here… pun intended. 

Ready to take advantage of this super-sweet November Special?! Create the perfect class pair for your little ones by viewing our class schedule today! Be sure to hurry, this deal is only good until the end of the month! 

Happy Thanksgiving and remember, two slices of pie is ALWAYS better than one! 

4 Reasons Why Being in a Dance Class is SO Important Right Now

Being a parent during a pandemic is not exactly a walk in the park. When a child is hungry, you feed them. When a child is sick, you take them to the doctor. When a child experiences a pandemic, sees the world flipped upside down, and probably doesn’t completely understand why, you…? 

Well, if you’re feeling lost on how to support your kids right now, check out this great article from the Child Mind Institute that we stumbled upon a few days ago. It’s got some great tips! When we read it, we couldn’t help but realize that dance class just so happens to check off quite a few things on that list. 

Dance is amazingly beneficial for kids. We’ve known this for years, which is why we’ve chosen to dedicate our lives to it. But when we think about what kids NEED during a pandemic, dance class seems even more magical than ever before. We are SO excited to dance with your children this Fall, especially because we know they will need it more than ever before. 

4 Reasons Why Being in a Dance Class is SO Important Right Now:

1. Back to a Routine

Kids need structure in their lives, and with almost nothing normal these days, finding that structure is super difficult. That’s why a weekly dance class that remains consistent throughout the ENTIRE school year is so valuable right now. 

We guarantee that when you sign up for one of our Fall Dance Classes, your child will have something to look forward to every week. They will settle into a groove when they have that consistency in their lives. More importantly, when they have consistent activities and structure, they will be less likely to act out and need YOUR attention at home. 

2. Socialization

In the year of social distancing, all of us are feeling the negative emotional impacts of isolation and being apart from others. While we may not be able to help your kids feel physically closer with their friends, we certainly can help them feel connected once again. 

In dance class, the smiles are contagious. The community feel is automatic and comes about organically. When you’re in a room dancing together, you feel together, no matter how far apart. We can’t wait to help your kids bloom into the social butterflies that they were before quarantine!

3. Physical Activity

With many sports cancelled, and A LOT more use of technology over the past couple months, I think we could ALL use some move-your-body time. Here at Positions Dance Studio, that is what we do BEST! 

Send your kids to us this Fall for a full body workout and a feel-good endorphins boost. In class, we get our heart rates up while also utilizing muscle control and flexibility. Dancing really is the whole package. Not to mention our adult fitness classes! Come move with us this Fall! 

4. Supportive and Positive Adults 

We KNOW you’re already doing this at home. But parents are humans too, and it’s unrealistic to expect yourself to stay positive for you kids 100% of the time (especially during a pandemic). That’s where we come in. 

It’s our JOB to be there for your kids. Our goal is to bring our students unwavering and unconditional positivity. At dance, we’re here to build them up for their own sake, but also so YOU don’t have to be the only one doing so. We’re here for both you and your child, now more than ever. 

Are you ready to make all of this magic happen for your child this Fall?! We are too! We are now accepting enrollment for our 2020/2021 Dance Season. Click here to view the schedule and register today! 

Making this list got our warm and fuzzies going, simply because we LOVE what we do. It’s time for another great year of dance at Positions Dance Studio, and we can’t wait to bring your children all the things that they need MOST right now. 

Why We Are Thankful for the Arts

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s almost time for Turkey! This time of year always makes us stop and think about how lucky we are. It’s the season of giving, the season of thanking, and for us, the season of DANCING! 

For most of us here at Positions Dance Studio, dancing is more than just a hobby. It’s what lights us up and keeps us going. We know that some of our dancers already feel the same way, and some of them are still figuring out what dance means to them. The arts can bring so much magic to a child’s life, whether they are just hobbies or lifelong passions. 

Today we are sharing the magic as we list 4 reasons why we are thankful for dance:

1. Self-Expression

Do you ever get sick of using words to explain how you feel? Us too! The arts let us take a break from the hectic world and dig down deep. Instead of talking, artists can make a dance, paint a picture, write a poem… the list goes on! 

We are thankful that we had dance growing up. It gave us an outlet for self-expression that made common struggles a whole lot easier. More importantly, it helped us learn how to think through our emotions and use them in a positive way. Artists of all kinds are usually pretty good at this skill because we have a safe space to explore the most vulnerable parts of ourselves. 

2. Performance Opportunities

Take it from us, there is NOTHING quite like getting up on stage and presenting your most lively self to an audience. Performing artists (like dancers, actors, and singers) rehearse long hours for performances as short as a couple of minutes. Why? Because the spark that happens at the theater is usually enough joy to last a lifetime. 

Witness the spark for yourself in just a few weeks at one of the best dance performances in Babylon! Our Positions Dancers are busy rehearsing for this year’s production of The Nutcracker! We are watching closely as these young, growing dancers step out of their shells and gain the confidence to dance on-stage with real professional ballerinas. Get your tickets online today!

3. Creativity

In today’s world, finding a time and place to be creative isn’t always easy. For those of us that have the privilege of a weekly dance (or painting, drama, etc.) class, we are able to break away from boring, every-day tasks. We get to create beautiful things and discover new ideas that come from the heart. 

Not only is being creative fun and exhilarating, but it also helps us celebrate our individuality. Even if two people are doing the same exact dance, it will never look exactly the same. Each dancer’s personality and individual style will shine through. The same thing goes with a painting or a spoken word poem. We are thankful that dance lets us be uniquely ourselves. 

4. Stress-Relief

We are confident that if you ask any of our older students how they feel BEFORE dance class, most of them will say “tired” or “stressed”. We are even MORE confident that if you ask them how they feel AFTER dance class, their answers will be a lot more positive. 

Dancing releases endorphins and gives you a chance to unwind. Creating something beautiful with your body makes you feel GOOD. Pushing yourself to try new things you’ve never done before is exhilarating. And above all else, a dance class is one hour of NOT thinking about your to-do lists, your personal drama, or whatever else is stressing you out. And for that, we are thankful. 

And with that, join us as we recite a big, giant THANK YOU. Thank you to the arts for making our lives brighter every day. Not everyone in the world has a chance to enjoy a dance class, experience dance performances in Babylon, or express themselves week after week. We are beyond thankful that we are the lucky ones! 

Be on the lookout for turkeys at the studio this month! We invite you to grab a feather and tell us what YOU are thankful for! 

Class Feature Time: Dance Abilities

At Positions Dance Studio, we believe that dance is for ALL. We hold this value close when planning our schedule for the year and deciding what we want to pass on to our kids. Striving to make dance accessible for everyone, we create classes that welcome students from all backgrounds. 

Our Dance Abilities class is one of the classes we are proud to offer at the studio. This weekly class is specifically tailored for students ages 7-adult with Down Syndrome, Autism, and other developmental disabilities. In class, dance allows students to gain balance between the two halves of the body, express emotion, and gain muscle control, all while having a ball and making some new friends. We absolutely LOVE watching our Dance Abilities students grow throughout the year. 

So today we wanted to take some time to feature this amazing class on the blog. We truly believe that this class does wonderful things for our participants. Read on to hear about the Top 3 Benefits of Dance Abilities!

1. Confidence Building

We see it all the time, dance brings people OUT of their shells. The nonverbal nature of dance offers a great opportunity for special needs populations to explore their senses. This often leads to a burst of self-confidence, as our students learn to express themselves and trust their body’s abilities! 

More importantly, dance can feel vulnerable sometimes! We often see our Dance Abilities students start out the year with small, shy movements. But by the end, they jump right in with huge, full-bodied dancing. That right there is the beauty of trusting oneself! It’s so rewarding to watch as our students learn self-confidence through dance. 

2. Improved Coordination and Motor Skills

Right & left, up & down, open & close… our Dance Abilities students learn it all! Dance requires focus and muscle control to execute skills. We meet students where they are by breaking down skills and modifying our requirements based on their skill levels. They learn to use both sides of their body, move their legs and arms together, and even move in opposition. The improvements we see are truly amazing! 

3. A Sense of Belonging

This one is by far our favorite! Everyone deserves to feel like they belong somewhere and fit in with their peers. And we sadly know that’s not always the case for special needs populations. That is exactly why we are proud to offer Dance Abilities.

In class each week, our students dance alongside their peers, learning how to share space with others and use their bodies to communicate. We watch as they make special connections with other dancers and build friendships that matter even beyond our studio doors. Bring your dancer to our class to give them a consistent group of dance friends that they look forward to dancing with each week. Dance brings people together!

We can’t wait to kick off our Dance Abilities class this month! It is not too late to register! Head over to our website and sign up online! 

This class is SO important to us and we hold it near and dear to our hearts! Come see for yourself what Dance Abilities can do for your family!

Why We LOVE to Dance!

February has arrived and you know what that means! Hearts, hearts and more hearts. Every year at Positions Dance Studio we host a fundraiser for Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition.  BBCC is a local organization that provides community education and direct support to cancer patients. Each year we sell Pink Hearts during the month of February to raise money for their organization. Our dancers write why they LOVE to dance on the Pink Hearts and we display them in our studio windows. To get your thoughts flowing, here are 4 reasons to LOVE dance.

1. Dance is a tool for self-expression.

Sometimes words just aren’t enough to express how we are feeling. Dance gives us the opportunity to express ourselves in a way that nothing else can. It is SO freeing to move our bodies and portray emotions without having to say a single word.

2. We can spread joy to others through dance.

Putting a smile on an audience member’s face while performing is one of the most rewarding feelings. Dance gives us something to share with others. We can entertain an audience and we can also make them feel powerful emotions just by dancing.

3. It helps you stay physically fit… in the most FUN way possible!

Who doesn’t LOVE getting up on their feet and grooving when they hear their favorite songs. Dancing makes it SO EASY to be active. Your body is having so much fun getting lost in the music that it forgets that it is even tired. Not to mention the strength, endurance, coordination, and flexibility that dancers achieve after years of being in the studio.

4. Dance builds confidence in a way that nothing else can.

Coming to class each day and seeing all the fabulous things our bodies are capable of is truly a gift. Nailing a pirouette or landing a perfect leap reminds us that we have so much potential when we work hard. More importantly, getting up on stage and performing for an audience makes us feel HUGE in a world that can sometimes make us feel very small. When you hear a giant round of applause, and that applause is for YOU, it builds confidence.

Those are just 4 of the MANY reasons why dance is easy to love. Now it’s your turn. Tell us why YOU love to dance by purchasing a Pink Heart for Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition at the front desk for the month of February. BBCC is a great organization and we really enjoy showing support for their cause. We also LOVE seeing our dance families get involved and reading all of the heartwarming reasons why you love to dance. Keep spreading the love, Positions Dance families!

The Positions Difference!

At Positions Dance Studio, we pride ourselves in being different, we are not your typical dance studio. While our dancers are busy learning discipline, grace, and focus, we are busy fostering a supportive, welcoming atmosphere. We firmly believe this allows our students to reach their full potential. Nothing makes us happier than watching our dancers grow year after year!

TUTORIAL ALERT: If you are ready to register for classes but aren't sure how, skip to the bottom of this post to view a quick tutorial!

So what exactly is the Positions difference? We thought today we would highlight a few of the things we love the MOST about our studio.

• We provide age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate classes, choreography, and costumes. It is a top priority to keep our kids, kids! We keep all song, costume, and choreography choices age-appropriate. We also offer a variety of technique levels along with a Dance Abilities class for students with special needs.

• Our staff is experienced and qualified with extensive training in dance and education. Our staff works together to provide the best training possible with putting a strong emphasis on injury prevention. They take great care in creating age-appropriate classes where each student receives individualized instruction and attention. You can read more about our amazing teachers here.

• Our customer service is top notch! From signing up for a trial class to moments at the big recital we want to make sure that our parents have an amazing experience as well. Our parent portal is available online 24/7 so you can always access your information and register for classes (see below!). We also keep our website and Facebook page up-to-date so our customers can depend on it for the latest information. Finally, our front desk is always receptive to questions and feedback. We really enjoy getting to know families at the studio and find that it helps us provide a better experience for our students.

At Positions Dance Studio, we LOVE what we do and we want to make sure our families feel a part of something amazing because they are! We know you will feel the Positions difference when you are here. Schedule a free trial to experience it for yourself.

Ready to register for classes but not sure how? We have made a quick tutorial to show you exactly how easy it is to register for our classes.