Why Should I Send My Child to Dance School

by Suzanne Skeel

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Many people did not have the opportunity to attend dance school as children. But you may want this opportunity for your children without understanding why.

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1.)  Dance education must be thought of as any other form of learning. It should be understood that learning to dance is part of a person's education and not just something to do with kids after school. People often have said to me, "I do not expect my child to be a professional dancer..." No, bet that is no reason to keep a child from studying dance. After all, a child studies math with no intention of becoming an accountant. We all need to learn how to add. And we all need to learn music, without the thought of becoming a professional musician. We all need to learn geography without ever becoming world explorers.

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 2.)  Dance training has many benefits:

• Students learn to be more aware of themselves.

• They learn to control their bodies.

• They learn to discipline both mind and body.

• Doctors have found that people who were athletically active as children heal more quickly after surgery and have a higher threshold of pain.

• Basketball players and dancers have better peripheral vision.

• Move more gracefully

• Learn to play sports better (This is why most professional football players take ballet lessons and many colleges offer ballet to their players.)

• Dancers learn the importance of teamwork.

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3.)   In dance class, students progress with each lesson. Students taking more classes than once a week do make faster progress. But the once a week student will find the fun and self-satisfaction, which comes with learning to master steps and moving in a controlled stylistic manner (in other words, learning to look like a ballerina or jazz dancer.)

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4.)  Dance students are sometimes the most busy, active students on school campuses (elementary, junior, high school and college). They learn to budget their time because they know that their school lessons are important, but so are their dance lessons. So everything must be worked into that little bit of time each afternoon after school. Because of this and the physical activity involved, dancers tend to have more stamina. And after all, it is people with stamina who win life's races, battles and challenges.

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5.)  Dance class gives an appreciation for all arts because dance class should make the student aware of music and art. And through an introduction to the stories of ballet, stimulate an interest in literature.