Children and Dance

Photo by Leslie Duss

Throughout my career as a teacher I have had the opportunity and the pleasure to work with very young dancers. I’ve enjoyed being able to spark imaginations and encourage little ones in their discovery of movement and dance. These young students have taught me a lot too! When working with small children one must break-down and dissect movements that have for years been ingrained in one’s body and mind. It is a process that usually led me to new discoveries about myself, technique, and creativity. Young dancers have also taught me many valuable lessons in patience, working with parents, and not taking myself too seriously!

Some of what I have learned, I have shared in posts here at Dance Advantage. Here are the links (click on the headings) and a short description:

Dance of Independence

This article discusses situations a teacher or parent may encounter with the youngest dancers (preschool children) as they begin their dance experience. It offers some solutions on dealing with children who are not willing to participate at first, or hesitant to allow their parent(s) to leave. It also gives parents an idea of what they might encounter with their own child and help prepare them for dealing with their child’s, and possibly their own, feelings of uncertainty.

Creative Dance

I am a strong advocate of utilizing creative dance principles, not only in programs for young children, but for all age groups within a dance school. If you are not familiar with creative dance, its purpose, or its methods, this post serves as an introduction. If you know or have experience with creative dance, this article may assist you in discussing the benefits of creative dance with parents or others, and hopefully encourages you to consider its use for older dancers as well.

Fostering Artistry in Young or Beginning Dancers

This post offers an observation inspired by a post on another blog. The observation that dancers in studios are rarely asked to make art, to make their dancing personal, and to express their own thoughts and feelings through dance. Look for the follow-up to this editorial (long in the making) that will offer some solutions or suggestions as to how artistry can be fostered in young dancers.

The following posts relate to children and their pursuit of dance as a career. In many other careers, this discussion would not fit in a post about children but dancers often must start early if they want to pursue a life in dance or ballet.

What it Takes: Becoming a Ballerina

More accurately, this post offers insight and links that discuss what it takes to become a professional ballet dancer. It is important for students and parents of students to understand the challenges and pathways to becoming a professional performer in dance. And, in ballet, an early appreciation for the rigors of this pursuit is particularly helpful. Many youngsters dream of a career in ballet, and it is healthy to have some perspective of what that entails so one can make informed decisions. This post has recently been updated and re-vamped, so if you’ve seen this post before, you may want to take another look.