Ballet for Beginners

Ballet for Beginners: Maybe you want to become a professional ballet dancer, or maybe you're curious to try a few moves. Perhaps your child is begging to take ballet lessons. Ballet is fun no matter how old you are or what goals you wish to accomplish through ballet. Becoming a ballet dancer can be as simple as practicing moves in your bedroom, or as complex as becoming a major dancer in a ballet company. All ballet dancers have one thing in common: a love of the grace, beauty and discipline of ballet.

Ballet Shoes and Dancewear: Probably the most important part of a ballet dancer's equipment is ballet shoes. After several years of proper training, some female ballet dancers wear pointe shoes to make them appear lighter and more delicate. Ballet dancers wear dance tights and leotards to class and rehearsals, as tight, form-fitting clothing is best for dancing. Tutus, or ballet skirts, are usually reserved for performances and recitals.

Girl ballet shoes and girl dancewear is available online at Tootsies Children Dancewear. To go to our web site, click on the following link: http://www.tootsiesdancewear.com/

What your child should wear to ballet class?

When deciding what your child should wear to ballet class, keep the following in mind: comfort and simplicity. The clothes she wears to practice ballet must allow her to move and stretch easily. Her ballet clothing must also be tight enough for the teacher to check her body alignment during certain movements. Keep in mind, most ballet teachers prefer dancers to wear a cover-up of some sort to and from the studio. This is as simple as a pair of dance pants or a dance skirt paired with a crossover sweater or a sweatshirt worn over your leotard. Also, never wear girl ballet shoes as street shoes. Slip on a pair of sneakers or flip-flops instead, in order to prolong the life of your child ballet shoes.A simple child leotard and a pair of children dance tights is the best thing to wear to class. Leotards are available in several colors and designs, including sleeveless, short sleeved and long sleeved. Young dancers delight in wearing small dance skirts and tutus over their leotards, but most teachers discourage spending for additional items.

4 Tips to Buying Child Ballet Shoes

With so many ballet shoes to choose from, how do you know which ones are right for you? If you are new to ballet, or if you are buying your child's first pair, the following tips will help you find the perfect pair. 1. Make Sure They Fit Ballet shoes are designed to enhance the dancer's technique as well as protect the feet and ankles. Many people say that an adult ballet shoe should fit the foot "like a glove.", but children’s ballet shoes should be fitted with room to grow. When trying on child ballet shoes, raise up and balance on the balls of your feet. Your toes should not be crammed into the front of the shoe, but should be relaxed, with plenty of space to move around. If you are struggling between two close sizes, it's probably best to go with a slightly bigger size, rather than buying shoes that are a bit too snug. 2. Consider the Material Girl ballet shoes are available in leather and canvas. The material you choose is a matter of personal preference. Leather ballet shoes are more expensive, but are more durable and will probably last longer than the canvas variety. Some people believe that leather ballet shoes accentuate a pointed foot and simply appear more elegant than canvas shoes. However, some dancers prefer the feel of canvas ballet shoes. Canvas shoes are easiest to clean, as they can be thrown right into the washing machine. 3. Look at the Sole Ballet shoes are designed with full-soles or split-soles. Children’s ballet shoes are primarily full-sole ballet shoes. Half-sole ballet shoes are preferred by some adult dancers because they allow the foot to create a stronger point, as the sole is split between the heel and the toe. Sole preference is acquired through experience, and rarely makes much of a difference in dancing ability. 4. Check for Elastics When picking out child ballet shoes, keep in mind that some shoes are sold without elastics. Elastics are placed on ballet shoes to secure them to the feet. The elastics are purposely left off the shoe so the dancer can sew them on in exactly the right place, depending on the location of the arch of the foot. If you buy a pair without elastics, you'll have to sew them on yourself. It's not difficult to sew on the elastics, but some dancers, and especially parents of young dancers, prefer to buy them pre-sewn. If you find a pair of ballet shoes with pre-sewn elastics that happen to fit your foot well, consider yourself lucky to avoid threading a needle.

Girl ballet shoes are available online at: Tootsies Children Dancewear. You can visit our store by clicking on the following link: http://www.tootsiesdancewear.com/

Tootsies Children Dancewear

Once your child hits preschool, chances are your beginning to wonder what activities you should get them involved in. There are tons of youth activities that are very beneficial to the growth of your child. Many parents turn to youth soccer, football, t-ball and other sports related activities. Not all children love sports and not all parents feel comfortable exposing their little ones to the aggressive nature of those activities. Dance is a great alternative to sports and offers boys and girls the opportunity to express themselves, develop lifelong positive habits, and have a great time with their peers. Not convinced? Here are some great reasons you should enroll your son or daughter in dance classes.

Physically Fit: Children who partake in dance classes are constantly active. Dance, regardless of what style, helps children build endurance, strengthen muscles, and increase flexibility. Dancing also teaches children to appreciate and take care of their body. Instilling these healthy values in your child while they are young can have long term positive effects.

Friendships/Socialization Skills: Dance classes allow your son or daughter to interact with their peers in a positive manner. Joining in similar activities with like-minded individuals will give them bonding experiences that will last for a life time. Children who really enjoy dance will most likely end up growing together as performers.

Appreciation of the Arts: Dance is not limited to a series of movements performed to music, instead it is much more. Different styles of dance are influenced by different cultures. Dance classes will educate your children on several cultures and artistic movements throughout history.

Coordination: Enrolling your son or daughter in dance classes will help them acquire a keen sense of coordination. Coordination is imperative in the world of dance. Children are more apt to pick up and keep skills that they learn at an early age, so the dexterity of dance will become second nature to your child. It can also be an advantage as your child grows and decides to pursue other activities like sports.

Creativity: Dance classes will help your child get in touch with their creative sides by exposing them to the art of many cultures offering a wide variety of creative influences. Involving them in this kind of instruction so young will help them hone in on their own skills which can lead them to lifelong hobbies or even to their dream career.

Confidence: Performing in front of others is something a lot of teens and adults fear. Involving your child in dance will lead to performances in front of family and friends. As they progress in their dance career they will be on stage in front of larger audiences. Each well executed performance (be it in practice or on stage) will leave them more confident in themselves.

Responsibility: Dance classes require a certain amount of responsibility and dedication. Should your child become involved in dance they will learn the value of commitment in terms of progress. This life lesson is extremely important in all arenas and will help them succeed in the future.

This article was brought to you by Tootsies Stride Rite and our online dance store, Tootsies Children Dancewear. We specialize in child ballet shoes, child dance shoes, child dancewear, starting in toddler sizes and continuing to older child. For more information on Tootsies Children Dancewear, please visit us online at http://www.tootsiesdancewear.com/