What to expect at your child’s first dance class
Ballet class is such a magical time for little ones. From wearing your first ballet shoes, to meeting your new dance friends, nothing beats the excitement of joining the dance world and starting on your dance journey.
Things you’ll need for the first lesson:
Once you’ve enrolled into your brand new studio, pop along to a dance store to get fitted correctly in your uniform. Ballet clothing is half the fun of class for little ones (and some of our big ones too)! Be sure to check with your chosen studio for their specific requirements, but we find most little ballerinas will need:
Leotard – make sure this is well fitting (similar to a swimming costume) and in the right style for your studio uniform
Ballet tights or socks – this will stop your dancer sweating straight into their ballet shoes, helping them stay in great condition for longer
Ballet shoes – again, these should be well fitting, without too much spare room. Remember ballet shoes are not designed to be worn outside. It’s a good idea to let your dancer wear regular street shoes to and from class, and change her shoes once she is inside the studio.
Skirt or tutu – again, make sure you’ve checked with your studio to see which colour and style is required for your new uniform
Hair – should always be worn back for ballet class. If your little ballerina has long enough hair, you can pop it into a bun or ponytail, if not a headband will work great at holding it off their face!
Dance bag – this will help keep all your important ballet things together. Pick up a size that your little ballerina can hold onto (you can always upgrade later when they grow). Little ballerinas take great pride in the ownership of their special dance things, we always find they love to hold their dance bags themselves!
Water bottle – ballet is hard work! Pack a drink of water for your little ballerina to enjoy after class
Things to know about your first lesson
Class and curriculum:
Every teacher in every studio will set their own classes. What you get in one studio may be different to another. They may use a pre-designed curriculum or follow their own – either way, a lot of care and thought about progression and learning goes into the lesson plans for dance classes. It is important to remember that lessons are planned with step progression in mind. A lot of this learning is based on repetition and mastering simple steps before moving on to the harder things. Don’t be disheartened if your little ballerina doesn’t seem to be ‘getting it’ straight away. Classes are planned to help them work through each stage!
It’s also important to remember that doing the term rather than a one off ‘trial’ lesson will give you a much greater understanding of whether your child ‘likes it’ or not. Often the very first lesson can be a little overwhelming for little ballerinas. They are meeting new people, in a new environment and connecting with a new teacher. These things take time to get used to. We’d always recommend doing a minimum of a month commitment before making the decision to withdraw. If, after a month you’ve decided that ballet class isn’t for you, have a chat with your studio and see what other options they may offer.
Watching class:
Many studios follow the idea of not allowing parents into a class to watch. This decision is usually made in the interest of the student learning experience. Don’t be upset if you’re not allowed in to watch their lesson. Students learn best when they can direct their full attention toward the teacher and immerse themselves fully in class – having parents and siblings inside the studio can be distracting not only for your own child, but the others in the class and the teacher too.
If your little ballerina is a bit shy about letting go of mum on her first lesson, a gentle introduction to the teacher and a special new friend in dance class may help ease her worries. You’ll find by the end of the lesson, she won’t even notice that you aren’t in the room with her!
Ballet is the perfect hobby to enrol your little one into. Whether or not dance will be a future career for your child, ballet is always good decision! Ballet class will teach children so much more than dance steps. It is the basic foundations of all genres of dance, and will even help with coordination and intricate footwork for other hobbies such as ball sports. Children in early childhood ballet classes develop socialisation skills, counting, and musicality. They’ll learn about turn taking and problem-solving skills, listening and communication, along with posture, strength, flexibility and discipline. Good dance training will go with your child for a lifetime! Plus, the friendships they make in ballet class are the most special kinds of friendships!
As always, if you have questions we’re always happy to help in store. Pop in for a chat if you’d like to know a little more about the magical world of dance!
Happy Dancing,
Alisa
