Jul 9, 2024 4 min read Blog

Unleash Your Child's Inner Star with Dance Classes in Sarasota

Is your little one turning the living room into a theater stage? Is she a burst of energy and movement that can't be contained? Why not channel that inner star that can't help but express itself?

Children's dance classes are the perfect activity to develop confidence, self-expression, and healthy exercise. It's not just about fancy footwork. Dance is a holistic approach to the mind-body-soul connection and a rewarding challenge for all young people.

Exploring Dance Styles for Young Stars

At SouL Dance Studio, we believe in a comprehensive approach to dancing. From ballet to ballroom, to acro and stretching, young dancers should experience the gamut of dancing styles. Without exploration, we wouldn't get to experience all the different and fun styles.

Dancing should be an adventure. To that end, let's explore some of the most popular children's dance classes.

Ballet: Ballet is all about grace, poise, and precision. It's the foundation of many dance styles. In ballet class, young dancers will learn basic positions while strengthening their core and their posture. Once the foundation is set, work begins to improve their musicality. Ballet classes typically start around age four.
Acro: Where are all the daredevils?! Acro is an exciting and thrilling combination of elegance and acrobatics. Kids will focus on strength-building and flexibility. Who doesn't like doing cool tricks like flips, rolls, and balances? To ensure proper development before doing advanced moves, we like to start our acro classes from around age six.
Ballroom: How are those social skills? It's never too early to enjoy social dancing. That's where ballroom offers a fun way to develop social skills, rhythm, and teamwork. Classes focus on introducing basic steps and patterns for styles like waltz, tango, and rumba. Ballroom is usually a good fit for children as young as five or six, depending on the studio.

Finding the Perfect Fit: Considerations for Parents

When considering enrolling your child in a dance class, make sure the studio you choose caters to children. Many studios prefer adults. Other than that, the most important factor is your child's interest.

If they love to twirl, ballet might be the best style. If they like to climb trees, couches, and kitchen cabinets, then acro could be the perfect outlet for their energy.

Talk to your children. Find out what excites them.

Many studios will offer trial classes or introductory rates. Ask as many questions as you can. Here are some suggestions:

Who is the instructor and what is his/her style of teaching?
What will the class structure look like?
Will there be mixed-level groups?
Is the environment welcoming, positive, and patient?

Experienced teachers can go a long way toward impacting your child's first impression of dance. Choose wisely so that they have a lifelong love of dance.

What Is the Best Age for Kids to Start Dance Classes?

This varies from studio to studio. In our experience at SouL Dance in Sarasota, we recommend ballet dancing from about the age of four onward. Depending on the maturity level of your child, we recommend ages five and up for ballroom and acro.

Ideally, children who are starting school and able to follow simple instructions will do much better in dance classes. More serious training shouldn't begin until around age 7-9.

What Is the Best Dance for Kids to Start?

Why not all of them? Seriously, any type of dance is great to get kids moving, inspire them, and allow them to express themselves.

Here's a quick list of some of the best dances for children just starting:

Ballet: classic poise, posture, and discipline
Ballroom: social skills and rhythm
Jazz: energetic expression
Acro: exhilarating acrobatics
Tap: creativity and precision
Contemporary: expressive and fluid
Fitness: fun exercise and flexibility

What Should My Child Wear to Dance Class?

As your child grows in his/her training their needs will depend on the specific style. But for beginners, here's a quick rundown of the most important items to bring to class:

Ballet: most commonly a leotard or tights
Acro: comfortable clothing like leggings
Ballroom: comfortable clothing that allows for good movement
Dance Shoes: anything appropriate like ballet slippers, jazz shoes
Hair Ties: be sure to secure long hair to avoid getting it in your face
Water Bottle: you have to stay hydrated!

Other optional items that have proven to be helpful:

Snacks: for longer classes to help replenish energy
Change of clothes: hey, sometimes accidents happen – especially with younger children
Small towel: dancing can get a little sweaty at times. A towel helps keep the sweat out of the eyes.

That's about it! Always check with your instructor or student before arrival for any specific dress code requirements. Label everything with your child's name to avoid losing items.

How Can SouL Dance Help?

Here at SouL Dance in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, Florida, we offer our own Kid's Dance Classes. Our schedule rotates, so be sure to reach out or check our calendar for more information.