| Enrolling in dance lessons is a rite of passage for | | | | • Children enrolled in dance or other similar |
| many children. Even if your child doesn’t desire | | | | activities can develop self-discipline. It takes time and |
| to be a professional dancer, they can still gain several | | | | effort on a consistent basis to develop new skills. |
| benefits from their time spent in dance shoes. | | | | Children who persevere while learning a difficult new |
| • Dance lessons offer a fun opportunity for | | | | position or step can apply that same patience |
| exercise at any age. Dancing can build muscle | | | | character development to homework or other |
| strength, agility, and balance. Dance can provide a | | | | challenging tasks. |
| good workout for the cardio-vascular system and | | | | • Exposure to the arts helps children develop their |
| some studies suggest that combining movement and | | | | natural creativity. Young children love to pretend, and |
| music increases the beneficial effects of exercise. | | | | creativity is an essential part of their learning process. |
| • Early exposure to music, rhythm and movement | | | | Dance and other arts help children harness that |
| help children develops language and math skills. | | | | creativity beyond the preschool years, which leads to |
| Dances and songs – even basic music and | | | | better problem solving and greater self-expression. |
| movement activities like the hokey-pokey – can | | | | • Dance lessons, unlike private music lessons or |
| help children build vocabulary and understand abstract | | | | hobbies, are often highly social environments. Children |
| concepts like tempo. | | | | learn to follow the instruction of authority figures, but |
| • Dance can help children develop confidence and | | | | they also learn teamwork and cooperation. |
| poise. Children who are comfortable with how their | | | | Any dance form can help children develop in these |
| bodies move tend to feel less clumsy. Body | | | | key areas, but since it lays the foundation for all |
| awareness can lead to better posture and overall | | | | others -- ballet dance lessons are usually the best |
| confidence. This confidence can carry over into social | | | | choice for beginning dancers. The time your children |
| situations and even result in improvements in the | | | | invest in dance lessons can return dividends in helping |
| classroom because children are less likely to feel | | | | them grown into confident, creative well-rounded |
| anxious during presentations and speeches. | | | | individuals. |