Dance - Highlands,TX

With my daughter, what mattered most for her success was the teacher/class chemistry, and you don't know that until you try out a school. The one that was more "fun" was actually more chaotic, and she cried most of the time. I gave her 4 weeks and then pulled her out the next time tuition was due. I sent her to a ballet day camp at a ballet academy, and she did MUCH better. We don't live in the city, so I didn't send her there in the fall; too much driving. Now she is in a more "fun" program (a different one), but the class sizes are smaller, and she's doing fine.

Until she is 6, it's just going to be about having fun, no matter what school you choose. Nobody really teaches ballet to 3 year olds, it's just a dance readiness/ creative movement type thing until they are around 6 years old.

I would visit both schools and just see which one you like best - generally speaking, my daughters have gone to the schools where they take ballet pretty seriously - BUT that's not to say the classes aren't fun! The teachers are just very exacting in terms of how they teach, which is a GOOD thing. If kids don't have good basics, then they are more likely to be injured as they get to the higher levels of dance. Granted, you have many years before that becomes an issue, but I find it better to start with correct form, and you WILL get that at a dance school where they take ballet a little more seriously. My daughters go to the ballet school of a professional ballet company, so they have the opportunity to see professional ballerinas warming up in classrooms right next to theirs (a great inspiration to young ballerinas in training!), however the teachers do keep the classes very age-appropriate. My 5 year old always comes racing out of her class with a huge smile on her face - yet her positions are perfect. That's the combination you want if you can find it. Just my two cents as a "ballet mom." ;)

I am a dance instructior and have been for a long time. I have taught strict classes and fun classes and they both have their merit. Does either of the studio allow you to take a free trial class? If so, have her take both. I am sure the "strict" class isn't so completely strict and vice versa.

The best indicator of a studio is to look at the older dancers. I know that this may not be a life long commitment for your daughter, but she should a) be in a location where the dancers are comfortable and want to be there and b) be in a place where the older dancers can dance. Even if the class is totally fun it doesn't mean that they lack the proper training. They just may not get all the strict stuff at 3.

Am I being clear as mud? : )~

I know my answer will not be popular but that's ok with me. I am old enough to remember when we made our own fun and it didn't cost a dime. Dress up and dancing around the house and creating art on the sidewalk among many, many other things was all in a day's (childhood) work. This is what expands our minds, creativity, etc. So my question for you to ponder is this... Do I want my child to be entertained or do I want her to explore her creative side? Do I need someone else to guide her "danciful moments" or do I stop and dance with her creating positive/bonding memories? or just encourage her to keep dancing and smiling? Children are quite smart and capable of telling you when they have found something they would like to do in a more structured environment. I think kids just want to be free to be kids and we as parents go way overboard on busying their little lives when all they want to do is play and maybe have mom jump in ever so often. Just a thought.
KP

Do both places allow you to visit/observe the classes for your daughter's age group? I think that might give you a better sense of what might be the best fit for your daughter. Personally I'd lean towards a "fun" type class for a 3YO but I'm sure there are classical academies that do a good job of instructing 3YO's in an age-appropriate format. And with any thing that your child tries - it's not as though you're signing a lifetime contract - if the first place doesn't seem to be a good fit, you try another until you find one that's a good fit. Best wishes!

i would just look around. my daughter started ballet/tap at 4 and she loves it..... its a great environment thats structured but not too strict.... im sure that if you went and observed a few, you would find the right one for you, good luck....

I started my 4 year old daughter this past Spring at The Little Gym. They aren't super strict about attire and they really like to have fun while developing major skills and body mechanics. She LOVES it. There are several classes but the one my daughter takes is a tap/ballet/gymnastics combo... she gets a little of everything and then she can decide later if she wants to stay that way or concentrate on one thing. It's a good "taste" of everything. The teachers are responsible and caring. I totally trust them and have had only positive experiences there with my girl.
http://www.thelittlegym.com/AustinatLakelineTX/Pages/defa...
HOpe this helps!! :)

i am truly dissapointed in our selection of dance studios for our kids to take lessons at. i have watched my family members and complete strangers do a strip tease with the "fun"style of dancing. i am really searching for a place that would not teach a little girl of 7 yrs old to whip her skirt off and take her hair down then shake her non existant breasts while "shaking it" to " if your good to momma mommas good to you...." or dancing in home made cages like a club woman would. find out what that dance studio consider fun. i truly was looking around at the random men in the building wondering if they were perves. i know neither of my parents would have been proud of me dancing like this. so thats my rant on that.

these are youtube viedos to get a visual of what i am talking about. the first one i think is fine, not the best dancers but good clean fun. the second viedo is what i was asked to watch my little friends dance like and it worried me.
http://youtu.be/QODQvQMlg0I

http://youtu.be/TYRIYL5uP6w

My son started dance classes at 7. Most studios let you go to a class or two for free so you can see which ones she seems to enjoy and then you can make a decision. He started out taking only Hip Hop. Then he saw a tap performance and wanted to take that. Soon after that he wanted to be in the Dance Company or competion group and he had to take ballet, tap, hip hop and jazz. And he is still dancing at 11! Ballet and jazz werent his favorite but it helps with body positioning and strength, additionally, they are more technique driven. Hip hop and Tap allow him to express his personality more and he has a lot of fun with those. Most of the little girls love ballet because they get to be pretty and girly! He has always been artsy, he took piano at 5. Dance has made such a difference in his life and has given him so much confidence. It's been a remarkable journey watching him porgress and grow.

at 3 start her at something like park district program. I would not spend a lot on an actual dance academy for her first class. she will love it. if you start her in a super structured program she might loose some of that spirit. but no matter what program you choose she will mostly be just hopping around lol

In our Kinder Combo for ages 3 and up the kids do things like move to the Hokey Pokey, they follow the words and do the movements. They put on grass skirts and play Hula, they hop like a bunny (on their toes with their hands at their breast cupped like little paws) then they hop back like a duck (Hands on hiney like tail feathers and on their heels).

What they are learning is to follow the teachers instructions, they are learning to line up, take turns, stand up tall, etc...they are also learning they have a left hand and it goes somewhere, a left foot and it goes like this.....

They are NOT learning to do the Hula in the grass skirt. They ARE learning they have hands and their hands can tell a story. Their hands can move ans show how the ocean moves. How they walk left then walk right. They are learning by way of playing.

If the class is boring then the kids will hate dance and it will be a battle. The biggest hurdle in dance classes at this age is the parents. The kids are wonderful The parents however bring their kids to the classroom and linger. The kids might be crying and acting out but then the parents stay and stay and stay. The kids can't acclimatize themselves and get used to being there. So, just take your child then go to the parent area or leave. If it's not working out and your child is not calming down after a few minutes the teacher will let you know.

I would keep it simple at her age. She is only three and you'll see with formal instruction she'll have a short tension span. Keep it fun and relaxed and if she is really showing the apptitude then something more formal would be appropriate.

I'd go for the fun one. Like you said, she's only three.