I signed DD, 3 1/2 up for dance class. It's ballet, jazz and tumbling. It starts up in a few weeks and she's very excited. I'm just wondering how she will do following directions and such.

Did/do your kids enjoy dance class? I'm really curious.

Now, it looks like we need to go shopping for white shoes....

Ok, at this very moment, DD just put on her "tap shoes" and is dancing. Too bad she's not taking tap. LOL!

By Melissa on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 11:32 am:

It depends on the teacher and the class size but, we have always had good luck with it. My sisters dd is 3 and just did it all last year she did great and is quite a follower, she doesn't start trouble but can be led or distracted into it, she did fine. It is so cute at that age she'll have fun!

By Bellajoe on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 11:43 am:

My dd was 4 1/2 and her friend had just turned 4 when they took tap class together. They both loved it and did a great job. There were only 7 girls in the class. We went to the parents night and watched them perform what they learned, they all did a great job.

Sydney will probably do just fine and if she's a girly girl, which it sounds like she is, she will probably love it!

By Tonya on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 12:19 pm:

tIMMY TOOK GYMNASTICS AND HE LOVED IT AND THEY HAD A RECITAL AT THE END OF THE YR AND HE DID REALY GOOD AND HE WAS 4 AS WERE MOST OF THE KIDS IN THE CLASS.

OOPS sory for the caps.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 02:43 pm:

Jen danced and competed for 9 years. She loved it. But I think all the competitions the last couple of years burned her out, plus the cattyness that was going on..........

She took tap, modern jazz, ballet, pointe and tumbling, competed in tap, jazz, ballet & pointe.

It's a great confidence builder for kids, helps them learn what being part of a *team* is like, encourages talent if they have a talent for dance, increases mobility and balance, and is a great way to keep them occupied, besides being a lot of fun.

But, beware Eve, the costs can become staggering! The class fees are the least of it. The different shoes required for each different form of dance, plus the class attire, not to mention dance revue costumes and fees, and later on, competition costumes and fees. There are usually photos to go along with that.

It was a wonderful, albeit expensive experience though.

By Eve on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 09:06 am:

Thanks, everyone. We have an Open House to go to, so it will be nice to see more then and meet her teacher. I'll ask about the class size.

Karen, I was just thinking what a good deal it was, and now I get why they don't charge more! They get you in other areas! LOL!

By Tink on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 07:41 pm:

Eve, My sister and I started dance at 3 and loved it. I continued through high school, although my sister had to quit due to an unrelated hip injury. I started my oldest dd at 4 and will start my youngest next year. The school we are with doesn't accept them younger than that. The cost can become extreme. We only have two recitals each year and they do offer used shoes at our school, although I have chosen to get new. Pictures are only taken before the spring recital and I tell my dd that she can get the optional school photos offered in the spring or her dance pics. I hope Syd loves it. Let us know. I want to see pictures!

By Mommyathome on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 11:56 pm:

My girls have danced since they were 3. (I danced from age 3-18 and loved it) My girls both really really love it.
But yes, the cost can become overwhelming. Especially with 2! Shoes, costumes, competition fees etc.
I bet Sydney will love it! She'll be so cute. It will make you a very proud mommy to see her on stage dancing away!

By Amyj on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 04:15 pm:

My daughter took a creative movement/music class at 3 and 4. She is almost 5 and just started a ballet/tap class. I have taught dance for 20 years and because of my experience teaching, choose to wait to put her into a formal dance class. The music/movement class has no recital and is a parent/child class. During my years of teaching in dance studios, I watched many children quit because they didn't like the recitals. I caution parents to really check out the studio, teachers and how they do recitals before signing up. Dance is wonderful for children, but make sure the teachers are able to handle young children (often very young girls teach the 3 and 4 year olds). Good luck and I'm sure she will love dancing as much as my daughter (and I) do!

By Fraggle on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 08:42 am:

Eve, both of my girls take dancing lessons. My 3 yr. old started this summer after watching her sister take lessons last year. There are 3 dancing schools in my town-one is competition oriented and is very expensive and the cost for the recital is really high. We stayed away from that one and chose one that is owned and taught by just one woman. She only teaches children that are under 12 and the majority of classes are for 3-5 year olds. Both of my girls love taking dance class. They will start a new one in a couple of weeks. They are both taking a tap/ballet class. My oldest loved the recital last year and already can't wait for the one next spring.