When do I know if my child is ready for Pre-Ballet?
For ages under 5, readiness varies greatly from one child to the next. In order to start, a child must be able to:
* Follow instructions (listen and try to do as they are told)
* Have an attention span greater than 15 minutes
* Want to dance
How can I help my Pre-Ballet student have the best experience?
Make sure your child is:* Well rested* Dressed appropriately* Not hungry or thirsty* Been to the bathroom* On time for class, so that they don’t feel rushedHow can I keep my Pre-Ballet student interested in dance?
* Play classical music at home to encourage dancing.
* Take your child to as many live performances as possible.* Find books (DVD’s) about dance, especially ones that inspire and share stories about the classics , and how hard work pays of.How do I know when my child is ready for dance beyond preschool dance?
* When your child has developed enough sense of self to know if dance is something they want to do, their mind will be focused and body matured enough to start to develop technique, generally age 7.
* When their Pre-Ballet teacher tells you.What’s the worst/best way to communicate when I have a problem/concern?
* The worst way to deal with anything is to talk it over with parents in the hallway. No one except for staff knows any more than you about any situation. Mulling it around as a group just increases speculation and confusion, and every one detests gossip! As we all teach our children “Be part of the solution, not part of the problem”!* The best way to deal with any problem is to come directly to us (go directly to the desk and ask to make an appointment with either your teacher or the director). We will try to get together with you quickly with an answer.How do I help my child with competitiveness?
* As Diane Sawyer says, “Competition is easier to accept if you realize it is not an act of oppression or abrasion - I've worked with my best friends in direct competition” or Sarah Lamb who
dances with the Royal Ballet in London, “There’s always going to be someone who’s younger, can do
more turns or jump higher. The earlier you can accept that, the happier you can be”.
* Try and teach your child to not waste time on comparisons. They have to work for themselves, with
their teacher. Not to compare themselves constantly to someone else in class – as they will rarely have
a realistic idea of the differences, and what someone else does is quite irrelevant anyway. Martha
Graham has a famous quote about comparison and competition, “Remember, you are only in
competition with yourself and the person you could become”. The better your child’s peers do in
class, the better the whole class will be – including your daughter/son!
Why does my child complain about dance when he/she apparently loves it?
* Once your child gets to a certain level, they probably know much more about dance than you, and they work very hard in class. They give an intense focus and keen determination. Often after class, (when they get in your car) they need a chance to vent. Maybe they feel that they didn’t do as well as they
would have liked or that the teacher gave them too little attention or paid them too much attention by
correcting too many things. The important thing to remember is that they are venting not complaining.
Venting is just a release (what many adults do after a full days work) and does not have a call-to-action
attached to it. Your child usually does not want you to try to do anything to help (just like you would
not want your spouse to go talk to your boss) - they just need to get it out of their system. This is very
hard on us as parents. We feel the need to fix things, to make the road less bumpy for our children, but
experience shows that our children almost always just want us to listen and not act. Certainly, if this
behavior becomes chronic, then it’s time to address it.
How do I help them when they feel that they are not improving?
* In our fast paced society, we have found ways to speed up almost everything. Fortunately, or unfortunately, there are a few things that can not be sped up, and as this is unusual, our patience is
tested. As Ralph Waldo Edison once said, “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. Dance
skills, just like nature can’t be rushed. Dance is just too difficult and skilled to expect immediate skills.
True dance can only be achieved through constant work, time and training and as with other beautiful art forms, what we see as spectators is a culmination of arduous effort, extensive learning and talent
honed through dedication and patience.
How can I help my students have the best experience?
* Your child can only improve if they come to all of their classes regularly. Often the students have the ability to do well, but for various reasons, they miss a lot of classes. This is the main reason why they don’t advance and not accomplish what they could. So it is very important that they attend all of their
classes. But, of course it is impossible for them to attend all their classes unless they stay healthy.
Please assist them in getting enough sleep, a proper healthy diet and keeping a positive attitude - the
absolute necessities. Then, the last is for them to stay focused. Help them make each class happy
and productive by encouraging them to stay totally present and focused and believe in what they are
doing. Remind them that energy spent in negative thoughts during class is wasted energy. They
should take that energy and put it into making the next step better. Students who learn to work
intelligently, and who don’t get overly upset with themselves over mistakes are the ones who improve
the quickest. In order for your child to handle all the hours of dance and still get all of their schoolwork
done takes major organization and commitment on their part and a great deal of effort and cooperation
within your family. Thank you for helping your child develop a love of the arts.
My child loves to dance but loves other things too. How can he/she dance well without taking so many classes per week?
* Your child can develop a decent technique as a recreational dance student by only taking 1 to 2 classes a week, (if they are consistent in attending classes), but their ability will develop slower. They can
enjoy dancing and enjoy other activities as well. They may be able to enjoy performing at civic events
and dance competitions, as there are many non-professional opportunities to perform in every
community. However, if they have any desire to dance professionally (as a performer or an educator) they will need to focus on dance.
Do I need a piano at home to take piano lessons?
* It is ideal if you do have a piano at home, but you can start lessons by using an electric keyboard to practice on. Most of our students rent or buy small electric keyboards practice on at home. We recommend a keyboard that has regular sized keys and a touch sensitive response. A touch sensitive
keyboard means if you press a key harder it will play louder and if you press a key softer it will play
quieter.
How long does it take to learn an instrument?
* There is no set answer of how long it takes to learn an instrument. With regular practice a basic level of playing can be accomplished in a few months. Most of our students take lessons on a long term basis because they want to be constantly improving and they find the lessons enjoyable.
I don't have any musical background or ability; can I still help my child practice?
* Yes. Even if you don't have a musical background you can ask the teacher for advice on how to help your child practice. By simply monitoring that they are doing exercises a certain number of times per day the student will progress. Many parents occasionally sit in on their child's music lesson to get an idea of the proper way a song should sound or how the student should be positioning their hands.
