How to prepare your kids for their first dance class?

The first day of class is definitely something to get excited about. Here are three things you should know before walking into the studio for the first time

Come dressed properly

Wearing the right dance attire will your little one  feel like a dancer!  Look at what your studio requires re dress code. Some studios may have a more formal and restricted dress code. Others, like Dance to EvOLvE, offer a flexible dress code with no specific outfits required.

Always choose dance attire based on your child’s class type. For example, leotards, tutus, tights and ballet slippers are great choices for ballet classes.  Meanwhile for kids hip hop classes, clothes that your child can easily move in and sneakers with laces are strongly encouraged. 

You can view our  dress code suggestions on our website.  Ready to start shopping? Enjoy 10 per cent off your first order at Discount Dance by using Dance To EvOLvE’s code TP35961. Stores such as Target, Payless and Walmart are also great go-to destinations for affordable dance attire.

Last but not least, make certain that clothes and shoes are the correct size for your little dancers.  Shoes should be a little bigger than your child’s foot, but not so big that the ballet slippers are sagging. Or that they are tripping over their own toes.

What to expect in class

Take the time to talk to your children about what to expect on their first day of dance school. This will avoid any awkward moments. Showing your child some videos of their class type can be helpful. They’ll feel a lot better about facing that first day of dance class if they are familiar with some dance moves. Moreover, these videos will give them an idea that they will be sharing the same space with other children and doing  dance moves together. In this way, they are much less likely to be intimidated at the first dance class by seeing so many new faces.

Another idea is to tour the classroom before class starts. Simply arrive early to familiarize  your child with the facility and studio. Lastly a visit to the dance school’s website is always helpful. It  provides valuable information about the school and community, as well as insight into what’s expected of students.

Encouragement

At the end of the day, encouragement from parents is the biggest help. The key is to talk about the class beforehand in a fun light-hearted manner to ease any nerves.

It can also be a good idea to make some fun plans after the dance lesson as a reward.  Why not go to the park for an ice cream? However while it is important to talk with your kids enthusiastically about dance school, be careful to not overdo or force it.

Dancing is such a great form of socialization, exercise, muscle development and confidence building for children.  There are so many benefits to be gained from a dance school for kids, and parents can play a very important role in the amount of interest a child takes in dance.  The more prepared you are, the less nervous your little ones will get. If you have done the three things in this list, we ensure that your child will have an excellent chance at being comfortable and fully engaged in their first dance class!