Ballroom dance for young children?

[Crolisd]

DD has started a ballroom dancing class. She is only 3 so it’s a bit of the basics plus a lot of fun toddler dancing. She loves it and is taking part in the annual dance school show.

She has asked for proper dance shoes which have a small heel on them and the dance school have asked for kids to wear makeup for the show (as they will look washed out under the lights if they don’t) - the school have stressed it’s not essential.

There is something about the heels and make up that make me feel like she’s too young for this- but she enjoys the dancing, it’s a lovely little community, she’s making friends and it’s good for her to learn a new skill and good exercise.

Would you let your 3 year old do this? Any other parents of ballroom dancers out there? Is it a good hobby as they get older?

I did ballroom dancing from age 6, never on stage though. I had the shoes from my second week, and I had younger friends who wore the proper shoes. DD started dancing at 2 and a half, her tap shoes have a small heel and she wore a very small amount of make up at her first show when she was 3. She is 6 now and cannot wait for her first competition in 2 weeks time - she will be wearing makeup.
I think it’s ok for something like dancing, at long as makeup is subtle. She will love dressing up and it will make her feel the part

That's the dance world though....it's all part of it

If it doesn't sit right then do something else

Both my dd's have been doing it for years. There is no way I'd be buying full price ballroom dance shoes for a 3 yr old! She will outgrow them far too quickly to justify the £30+ price tag and only wear them once a week. Both my girls didn't have their first shoes until they'd been doing it for a couple of years. My youngest has tiny tiny feet and I managed to get her some as small as size 7 for about £15 new on eBay. Freed brand. Now the eldest wears a size 5 they are closer to £60!

Just to say, at our dance school, very very few of the youngest dancers wear proper shoes. They tend to start wearing them around age 6+ and again not all of them. Usually after they've been doing it for a while. It is easier to dance in them due to the suede sole though. They can slide their foot on the floor which is difficult in normal shoes.

Dds had character shoes for ballet from 4, it's just what they do. Ditto make up for shows. The boys too. They all looked like Oompa Loompas before they got on stage.

The shoes have a half inch Cuban heel. Higher heels are not allowed for under 12’s They really need a small heel for the correct foot work.
As an organisation Latin and ballroom have very strict rules on age appropriate dress styles and shoes.
A bit of make up as a special thing for a show is standard.

I saw lots of girls come through Latin and ballroom and my view is that the make up, sparkly costumes on the older girls and fake tan kind of made it meh nothing special so they were less likely to go ott.

Also forgot to say the shoes have a special sole so it has the right amount of slide/grip on the floor.

You don’t have to spend a lot in shoes - look on eBay as you can get them from China very cheaply also look out for outgrown shoes on eBay or within your dance school as at that age they get outgrown before they get worn out.