At What Age Should My Child Begin Ballet Class

Parents often seem in a rush to enroll their children in toddler ballet classes. However, formal ballet training should not be introduced until the age of 8. Before then, a child's bones are too soft for the physical demands and exercises of ballet. It is actually possible to delay training until the age of 10 or 12 and still have a great future in ballet.

Pre-ballet classes are often offered to dancers between the ages of 4 and 8. Most teachers believe that the attention spans of 3-year-olds are too short to deal with, and prefer parents to wait until a child is at least 4. Pre-ballet classes have become quite popular in private dance studios. The classes are loosely organized and simple. Toddlers are encouraged to move around the room to the rhythms of different styles of music. Some pre-ballet classes may even introduce students to the five positions of ballet, stressing the importance of proper posture.

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.