Choosing Dance Courses for Your Child, and Resources in Southern California

During my formative years, my mother did everything she could to ensure that I was "cultured." From the get-go, my childhood was filled with activities, classes, attendance at various arts and cultural events, and any other real-world experiences that were bestowed upon me. I was an active kid, - inquisitive - the first-born. My parents weren't quite sure what to do with me, but they knew it helped to keep me busy.

After somersaulting into the living room couch a few too many times, my mother enrolled me in my first dance class. Like any kid, I wasn't too enthused about the prospect of donning tights-- even if they were of the pretty, pale pink variety. There are a lot of things that four-year-olds don't want to do, but once I got into the music and the movements, there was no going back. For me, ballet was the gateway to the dancing universe. Ultimately, that led to an exploration of jazz, belly-dance, tap, pointe, and other dance styles.

As an adult, I can clearly see that my early introduction to dance has had positive, long- lasting effects on the person I've now become ~ not to mention my posture. Dance encourages overall fitness, boosts self-confidence, increases coordination and flexibility, and offers both a creative and emotional outlet for people of all ages.

For children, especially, it allows physical movement to become a lifestyle. It's no secret that children who are introduced to physical activities, such as dance, have a much better chance of staying active throughout their lives. In addition, these diminutive dancers have better posture, flexibility, coordination, and self-confidence than their non-dancing peers. Dance offers wonderful socialization for children in a creative environment. Little dancers get to meet other kids their age, burn off extraneous energy, and have fun while they're at it. What could be better?

If you're ready to enroll your child in dance classes, don't be swayed by the class schedule and rates alone. Many a parent has made that mistake.

Tips For Choosing A Dance Studio For Your Child