Welcome to your first dance class! We’re sure you are excited. Your little dancer is probably prancing around the house, eagerly awaiting their chance to be a real ballerina at Centre Stage!
This is such an exciting time. Dance is a natural part of being human. Even babies love to dance! So, what can you expect in the first few weeks of class?
Shyness
Many tiny dancers are SO EXCITED for class, but actually coming to class may look a little different. There’s a big room, new people, and it’s all unknown. This can make anyone a little nervous or shy! Our dance teachers are experienced pros with our shy dancers. You can prep your dancer by talking to them before you come to the studio about how you will not be in the room, but you will be very close and, as soon as class is over, you will be there! As hard as it might be, short goodbyes for drop-off are the most effective.
If you have a shy or nervous dancer, we are here to help with the process. Some dancers can take a few weeks to feel comfortable in class (a few have even taken a few months!), but consistency is critical. They will learn, adjust, and eventually feel great!
Attention Span
For many of our small dancers, this is the first ‘class’ environment they have been to. They are young and still learning how to be taught by adults who are not mom and dad! We structure our classes to keep kids engaged, involved, and sticking to a solid routine. Our instructors are also trained to work with kids who may have a harder time listening to instructions. So if you see your little one struggling to pay attention, DON’T WORRY! We are helping plant the seeds to become excellent students. If we ever have concerns, we will talk to you. But please do not come into the class in the middle to help. This can cause distractions not only for your dancer but for all the other dancers and the structure of the class.
Sudden Change of Mind
Uh oh. They just told you they don’t want to come to dance class anymore. What is the deal? Last week they loved it! There can be many reasons that this happens. The most common are:
- Tiredness
- Hunger
- Feeling like they’re missing something fun at home
- Comfort in what they’re doing and not wanting to stop to go to dance class
- Still adjusting to a new routine
Nine times out of ten, they do not actually want to stop coming to dance class. It is most likely an outlying factor! If this happens after a few weeks of class, let us know and we can keep you updated on how they are enjoying class when they arrive. The best way to help is to be sure your dancer is rested, fed, and has a smooth transition before coming to the dance studio.
In-Class Distractions
Little ones get distracted so easily. To help keep a structured class, you can help us by doing these:
- Arriving to class a few minutes before it begins
- Making sure your dancer uses the bathroom BEFORE class starts
- Bringing a water bottle labeled with your little one’s name
- Not bringing additional toys or snacks into the studio
REMEMBER: Each Child is Unique
We do not compare one dancer to another at any time. We have had dancers who walk into the class like they own it, dancers who struggle with separation anxiety, dancers who sit and watch class for the first two months and then one day hop up and wow us with how much they have learned, even dancers who were so shy they wore full face masks to avoid eye contact. We work with and love every single one of these kids and appreciate where each of them is on their individual dance journey.
This age is so special. They are learning so much about the world around them, and we are honored to be a part of that journey. We are so excited to work with your dancer this season and cannot wait to see them succeed!
Written by Tylene Nichols; Centre Stage Dance Studio Director, B.A.S. Marriage and Family Therapy, Certified Family Life Educator
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