Why Every Child Should Learn To Dance

Why Every Child Should Learn To Dance

In an academically driven society as Singapore where every parent's primary concern with school-going children is their educational results, we are of the humble opinion that DANCE offers every child the perfect getaway from hitting assessment book after book, where they can kick back, let their hair down and enjoy themselves in an activity that is the perfect marriage of the mind and body. 

Highlight Video Of Our Dance Competition Students Showcases on 15th May 2022

While a simple Google search may yield you the Top 10 Reasons to learn dance, we want to go beyond that by offering our in-depth observation and experience of what we see first-hand on the 'dance floor' from our decade long of familiarity in this industry since we first opened our doors for classes back in May 2011. 

At it's simplest form, DANCE is a form of exercise which can only be beneficial for every every growing child in keeping healthy physically and mentally. With once a week classes where lesson time ranges from between 45 minutes to 1 hour, it also offers a consistent routine to a child's timetable and an activity that they can look forward to as a well-deserved break from their studies. Indeed, besides the outright benefits of learning dance, classes that are group-based in nature can offer every child the extended value of social interaction by making new friends and engaging in an activity that is all about teamwork (think dance formations and musicality). 
 

Highlight Video Of Our Dance Recital In 2019 Where Every Student Live A Day In The Life As A Dancer

At the frontline, most parents who enquire about our classes are looking for an activity as a complement to their child's tuition commitments. In essence, if academic studies are the YANG, then DANCE is the YIN that most parents are looking for to balance their child's growing years. We often hear first-hand from our parents (read their thoughts here: Parent's Reviews) that the main reason for enrolling their child is because they ENJOYED our dance classes. As compared to academic enrichment, DANCE is all about FUN thus it totally resonates that this is an activity that engages the student and makes them react positively! 

But does every child really love to dance? Our answer is a resounding YES. When our babies are growing up, most interactive toys are musical and touch-based in nature. It is common to see a young toddler moving organically to loud music in shopping malls or at public events, or that familiar sight of a tired parent who wants to squeeze in 5 minutes of mealtime at a restaurant and is left with no choice but to push a phone/tablet to their child with kids-friendly Youtube music videos. 

Then you may ask, why don't I just learn DANCE off Youtube then? Well, that is one option if your child is naturally gifted. The benefits of learning DANCE in a school is that it formalises the entire learning journey through the following channels: 

1. Training with qualified and experienced instructors;

2. Classes are conducted with progressive lesson plans and learning outcomes;

3. Increase in self-confidence through exposure in our Termly Showcases or Performances;

4. Be rewarded for your efforts in dance with internationally accredited Dance Examinations Certificates;

5. Push your own limits and maximise your potential through participation in Dance Competitions;

6. Use your achievements in dance for enrolment into your preferred Secondary School via DSA-SEC;

7. The value of social interaction and teamwork; 

8. And last but not least, Dance is taught in a safe environment with proper facilities that prevents injuries. 
 

Highlight Videos Of  Our Termly Showcases Which Offers Every Student A Regular & Consistent Performance Opportunity

  

 
Highlight Videos Of  Our Annual Dance Examinations & Student's Achievements From Dance Competitions

Like what you are reading thus far and keen to explore the options at your disposal? Please refer to the following for the Top 3 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and our response to  these FAQs: 

1. What is the best age for my child to start dancing? 

While we will encourage all students to start dancing from young, there is really no BEST age for a student to learn to dance. It all depends on the student's interest at the point in time (their passion may be piqued by watching a dance performance on TV) or in other cases, some parents wants to grow their child's enjoyment in this art form which instils discipline, diligence and teamwork while improving their posture, mental and physical wellbeing. 

What we can advise though is that the minimum age for learning Dance is from age 3 onwards and for students of this age group, only Ballet is suitable. Some schools might intake students as young as 2 or 2.5 years of age but we have decided against such an approach as from experience, students at that age group aren't really suitable for group classes of this nature (which is 45 minutes and once a week) and the teachers will end up performing babysitting rather than conducting a proper Ballet class. In addition, the nature of once a week classes where the environment, classmates and teachers aren't familiar faces that a toddler identifies with readily will pose anxiety issues to most children. Thus, our school approach is to only enroll students when they turn 3 (year of birth) to ensure a meaningful learning experience.

For other courses like Hip Hop or Jazz, the minimum age is from age 5 onwards. This is taking into consideration the duration of these classes (which are at 1 hour), the physical readiness, level of focus and energy for these dance genres which are dynamic by nature.

2. Do boys also learn and enjoy dancing? 

The short and quick answer is, YES, boys dance and enjoy it as well. 

There is a misconception that dance is an activity that is exclusive to girls. It is also unfortunate that programmes like Ballet gets labelled as a feminine art form when there are plenty of boys who are trained in Ballet including celebrities like Christian Bale of the Batman movies fame. Closer to home, please also refer to this link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCr40dYH-jM/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= to learn more about our Ballerino who has been learning Ballet with us since he was aged 4. 

For most boys though, Hip Hop dance is definitely a dance form that appeals to them with its loud booming music coupled with in-your-face cool grooves and poses. Please refer to this link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbCeqNWrzV_/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= for a write-up for our Champion Hip Hop dancer who has been learning dance with us since he was aged 5. 

3. What dance programme do you recommend for my child?

From a professional point of view, we will advise for all dance students to begin their training in Ballet. As a dance form that has been established since the 15th Century, Ballet lays the foundation for all types of dance and is therefore a complement to all other genres which also makes it easier for any students to crossover to in the future. 

Ultimately, all dance genres serve the same basic purpose of engaging their students in an activity that is fun and enjoyable thus the best recommendation that we would provide is to first attend a trial class and then take it from there. When your child attends a trial class with us, a parent can watch the entire progress of the trial class from our generous studio window so he/she can form an impression if your child is enjoying the lesson. More importantly, our teacher will assess your child during the trial and provide personalised feedback at the end of the class of your child's performance and if he/she is able to follow the pace of the class. Based on these observations and recommendations, a parent can then make the best-informed decision to enrol their child for our dance lessons. 

If you have been with us up to this point, we thank you for your attention to this article and we hope this sharing will provide you with better insights on why you would be keen to let your child explore DANCE as a weekly activity/enrichment. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] for further assistance and in the meantime, stay safe and keep on dancing!