The newest sensation is ballroom dancing for teens and kids. This boom in popularity is due in part to hit TV shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” “Little Big Shots,” and “World of Dance.” It seems our current generation of kids dream about stardom. When they watch other kids like themselves featured on TV, doing ballroom dancing in their shiny rhinestone costumes, they think, “I can do that too!” Well, guess what? They are absolutely right, they CAN do that…and we can teach them!

Let them experience first-hand the joys of connecting with their partner and the music. Ballroom dancing is a safe and healthy way for teens to spend their time after school. It keeps them focused on teamwork and discipline. It’s great exercise, especially when contrasted with sitting on the couch, playing video games, being online, or watching TV. Plus, learning ballroom dancing will fill your teens with confidence for their school dances and proms.

Dance Styles for Teens & Kids

Ballroom classes focus on footwork, posture, timing, connection, technique, and performance. In our modern, high-tech world, with teens glued to screens, social interaction and communication skills are in decline. Ballroom dancing is a wonderful and positive way to reverse that awful trend. Instead of being couch potatoes, your kids will be moving, spinning, stepping, twisting, gliding, dipping, and turning. They will be learning grace, gaining confidence, and expressing themselves creatively.

Learning new skills

Dancing with a partner involves learning additional skills outside of what they get in their solo dance classes like ballet and hip-hop. Partner dancing really forces communication with the partner, both physically and verbally. This teamwork and interdependence is an important life-skill to be gained. Although having a partner is ultimately the goal for ballroom dancers, no partner is required to take classes. First, your teen needs to learn their individual part and then we will partner them with another student or instructor.

Dance styles teens & kids can learn

Some of the ballroom and partner dance styles we teach include Latin, Rhythm, Smooth, International Standard, Salsa, Country Western, Swing, and Tango. Take your child’s individual personality and preferences into account when choosing which style to start with. Although, no prior dance experience is necessary, any skills they may have acquired from their ballet and jazz classes (like spotting, turns, posture, turnout) will give them an edge in quickly picking up ballroom dancing.

Dance Shoes

Eventually you will want to invest in special ballroom dance shoes for your kids. Teens will typically wear higher heels. For females, 2.5-inch or 3-inch heels are appropriate. For male teens, a 1-inch or 1.5-inch heel is standard. Check out our previous blog on different types of dance shoes.

For your preteens, it is best to stick with half-inch heels. Typically, strappy sandal type heels worn with socks are best for young girls, while young boys usually wear closed-toed, short-heeled shoes with laces. Jazz shoes are fine in the beginning until kids are ready for heels. Balance is challenged in a whole new way once high heels are introduced.

Just about every adult who takes ballroom dancing lessons remarks, “I wish I had started this sooner!” So, don’t wait…give your kids that head-start everyone craves. And keep in mind…you as a parent can learn to dance right along with your children!

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Children’s dances lessons are a wonderful after-school activity for your children. Typically, they can begin any time after age three. Check out our blog on “Best Age to Start Dancing” for more information on this topic.

Dancing will improve social skills, confidence, strength, flexibility, and listening skills in your children. Building a strong mind-body connection in youth is a good way to give your kid a head-start in life. Dancing also helps children learn rhythm, beats, counts, and music appreciation.

Things to consider for children’s dance lessons

There are a few things you should think about when you are signing up your kids for dance classes.  These things include style of dance, level of difficulty, dress code, the child’s level of dedication, scheduling, studio location, instructor qualifications, the type of dance floor in the studio, class size, teacher/student ratio, length of the classes, and cost. Check out our blog on “How to Choose Dance Lessons for Kids” for more details about picking classes and what questions to ask your studio and instructors.

Dance Class Attire

It’s important to dress your child in appropriate dance attire for class. Of course, you can buy brand new dance outfits in a local dance store, and there are many options online. In addition, consider buying gently-used dance clothes and shoes from a children’s consignment store or local second-hand shop. They won’t be in these clothes for long! It is recommended to buy shoes and clothes slightly larger, as children’s bodies and feet grow so fast. Yet, you still want the fit to be good to reduce the risk of injury.

Children’s Ballet Lesson Attire

For ballet classes, usually a simple leotard, tights, and ballet shoes are appropriate. A nice tight bun to keep hair out of the face is best. You can look up bun tutorial videos on YouTube if you are new to this hairstyle. You will need a hairnet, bobby pins, and hair spray. Pointe shoes are needed for advanced ballet classes.

Children’s Jazz Class Attire

For jazz classes, stretchy leggings or tight shorts and a T-shirt or tank top are appropriate, as well as nude or black jazz slippers or sneakers. For hip-hop classes, baggy attire is usually trendier, and street sneakers or dance sneakers are typically worn. Special tap shoes are needed for tap classes.

Where to kind dance shoes for children

Some popular brands for children’s dance shoes and clothing include:

• Capezio
• Bloch
• Wear Moi
• Just for Kix

Encourage your child to stretch at home and review their routines before the start of class and in-between classes. Remember, for dancers, “Practice Makes Permanence!”

Dance is an excellent form of exercise that teaches grace, control, balance, coordination and self-expression. Whether your child wants to learn dance for competition, performance, or just for fun, we have the right class for everyone!

See what we have to offer at the Dance Louisville Jr Academy

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Your child’s behavior

Parents should always take into consideration a child’s behavior, personality, and attention span. In addition, there are some important milestones that your child should reach before beginning class. These include walking, being potty-trained, taking direction, and listening to someone other than a parent.

Typically, these milestones are achieved by age three maybe even by two and a half, and that’s a great time to start dance classes. It also happens to be about the same time children start preschool, or engage in other social activities, so a comfort level has already developed for being in a group setting. Usually 3-year-olds have overcome separation anxiety from their parents and have started to gain independence, allowing them to fully enjoy their dance classes. See which class is best for your child here.

If a child is younger than the age of three or has not yet reached these important milestones, dancing can still become a fun and vital part of their home life until they are ready for the dance studio. Play music regularly in your home and encourage your child to move freely, without direction or discipline. Dance with them and help them feel the beat and rhythm of the music.

Ready to get started? See what classes we have to offer

Dancing will develop confidence

Regardless of the best age for kids to start dance class – Dancing at a young age can help promote a child’s self-confidence, creativity, self-expression, and social skills. Research shows that an activity like dancing creates a strong mind-body connection, and promotes coordination, balance, and brain development.

Dancing will keep your toddler more active and more flexible than the average child. It is easy to build strength at a young age and dancing helps achieve this goal. Strength leads to greater body awareness, dexterity, physical control, and confidence that will yield positive results throughout their childhood.

Develop discipline 

Young dancers learn discipline and gain perseverance that will carry them through their adult life. Young dancers build an innate sense of rhythm and musicality skills.

Starting your kids in dance classes will help them become performers, which builds leadership skills and brings out their personalities. As a bonus, they will develop friendships with other boys and girls who share a common interest.

Has your son or daughter reached age 10 or older? It is NEVER too late to start them dancing! Contact us today to discuss which classes would be ideal for your child. We even offer ballroom dance lessons for 10 year olds to adults!

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Once you have chosen dancing as your child’s after-school activity, there are a few things to consider when choosing a studio, teacher, class, or even style of dance that best suits your child. 

Dance Studio Location

First, when considering a dance studio, location should be a priority, as you will be dropping off and picking up your child anywhere from once a week to five times a week. See where Dance Louisville’s Jr Academy for kids is located.

Sometimes a quality studio is worth the extra distance. To maximize your busy schedule, it’s a good idea to form a car pool with other parents to make drop-offs and pickups more convenient and efficient.

Lessons Pricing

Next, you should factor in cost. Typically, the more classes you attend each week, the more economical each class becomes. Also, practice makes permanence, so attending class multiple times per week will help reinforce brain connections and create faster muscle memory. Repetition is very important for dancers. In addition, most studios offer a discount for each additional family member, so having siblings dance together will save you money, with the added benefit of creating a bonding experience for the family. See our pricing here. PS we also offer ballroom dance lessons for adults

Instructors

Finding the right teacher is also a key factor in choosing dance lessons for your kids. Learn more about the Dance Louisville’s Junior Academy staff!

You want to find a teacher who is patient and kind. You also want a teacher who can inspire and give personal attention to each student. That is not an easy thing in very big studios, where teachers have a lot to deal with. It’s also very important to find a good role model who will help your child succeed and has your best interests in mind. Read the instructor bios online and get to know more about them.

Dance Styles

When choosing a dance style for your child, you will want to take into consideration their individual personality and preferences. Do they like hip-hop or would they be more interested in classical ballet? If unsure, perhaps a combo class of jazz, tap, and ballet would be a good start. This way they can try various styles, and eventually decide which ones they would like to specialize in. At that time, they can also opt for taking part in a performance or competition. But most importantly, the child should develop a love for dance itself. See the Kids Dance Class

Ability Level

Finally, it is important to pick the appropriate level for your child. You want the class to be challenging, but not so difficult that your child cannot keep up or becomes frustrated. 

We appreciate your trust in having us teach your beloved children how to dance. Please come in and meet our caring staff of experienced instructors.

Check out the different programs we offer at Dance Louisville’s Jr Academy!

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