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Original poster

Would my DS be bullied doing Irish dancing? Dancing mums advice needed only.

31 replies

MarkCrorigan · 17/07/2023 15:24

My DS is only 7 MO. So bare with me. I know he's SUPER young.

He is only little but absolutely has a natural rhythm (more so than DH). He adores Riverdance and I am half Irish, half Scottish. He danced in beat from about 5 months (crazy as it sounds).

Obviously, I understand he could grow out of it, but I'm thinking once he's walking (he's crawling currently/standing on furniture) should I see how he goes doing the lessons?

There was a boy at my primary school who was bullied relentlessly for dancing. But I can feel it inside me that he has a natural talent for it. Or am I being crazy?

Any success stories would be FAB! The boy bullied went on to be very skilled in the industry even though he started under 1YO.

Any other mums just know they should just encourage dancing from an early age/what they did?

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 17/07/2023 15:36

He is only 7mo! He's not even walking and you are worrying about him being bullied in a dance class. It all seems a tad premature! Just let him grow up first and see where his talents and preferences lie.

trysophona · 17/07/2023 15:43

No, you're not crazy. My dd was always trying to join in with her siblings and their dance classes so was allowed to tag along in the pre primary classes just before she was two (she didn't like the toddler play dance class she wanted to do what her siblings were doing). She ended up very good and is on course for a career now.

I don't think you need to worry about bullying and his peers in the classes will be very supportive.

Marblessolveeverything · 17/07/2023 15:54

With the best will in the world - slow down. He is 7MO, he may become the 4 year old who has an interest and patience to take a dance class, he may have absolute no interest in it. And from a mother of two who are now 16 and 10 - there is no way you can embed an interest without them being bitten by the bug!

I have a family member who runs an Irish Dancing School there are very very few boys. She finds there are a number who start out (she takes them at Junior Infants - aged 4/5. Most are boys who mothers are reliving their experience and not quite getting that it is really hard work and takes a lot of discipline and practice. Not to mention the challenges of some schools uniforms!

Bullying will never really be about an activity it is about a child being seen to have some "perceived" difference - real or imagined and is all about the bully never ever their target.

Irish Dancing locally has very few boy after about age 7/8 - there are too many competing activities - GAA/hurling/Soccer/Coding/ Athletics - etc. If you want a child to appreciate music, dancing art then expose them to all forms. See it to be it.

trysophona · 17/07/2023 15:57

There's a good number of boys, including older, in the local Irish Dance school here. Far more so than in the ballet classes.

JaneJeffer · 17/07/2023 16:04

Sounds like he's the new Michael Flatley

BananaSpanner · 17/07/2023 16:08

It sounds like his main problem might be dealing with your disappointment if he has no interest in it.

Geordielass1987 · 17/07/2023 16:08

This has got to be a wind up 😂

JayAlfredPrufrock · 17/07/2023 16:09

Aye love. Get him signed up.

Careful with the ⚔️ though.

plasticwallet · 17/07/2023 16:11

Mine used to jig in the womb so I knew he was a natural!

ArcaneWireless · 17/07/2023 16:19

@JaneJeffer

I concede. I was going for Fr Noel Furlong.

JaneJeffer · 17/07/2023 16:22

A bit short on rhythm him Arcane but he makes up for it in enthusiasm Wink

Original poster
MarkCrorigan · 17/07/2023 16:22

No wind up! I am absolutely aware this sounds INSANE! He is so keen on it. I do not want to miss the opportunity due to him being so early. My friend was bullied relentlessly but is touring worldwide and his parents knew at 5/6 months to keep going.

Like I said, dance mums advice is needed here. I've never thought I'd be here but it's weird how in sync he is 🤣

OP posts:
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 17/07/2023 16:25

😂 he’s 7 months old! He’s not keen on Irish dancing 😂

but no, I teach a few boys who do Irish dancing and they’re not bullied for it,

Original poster
MarkCrorigan · 17/07/2023 16:26

BananaSpanner · 17/07/2023 16:08

It sounds like his main problem might be dealing with your disappointment if he has no interest in it.

No disappointment at all! You know when you know. I feel crazy speaking about it in public but he absolutely knows what he's doing and it's scary to me 🤣

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 17/07/2023 16:29

He obviously has a good sense of rhythm, I don't think there's anything wrong with encouraging music or dancing in some form. There are loads of dance/music classes for babies and toddlers.

Kids can pick on anything to bully others around, if that happens later then it's a problem to take up with the school, it doesn't mean that you avoid things just in case.

CurlewKate · 17/07/2023 16:32

You are being a bit crazy. But in a very sweet way! Honestly? Wait and see. Stay in the moment.

windowof · 17/07/2023 16:34

My daughter was similar as a baby, always moving to the beat and showed amazing rhythm. She loved dance classes for a good 7 years from the age of 2. Then she announced that she thinks dancing is boring and she didn't want to do it any more.
There are boys who dance too and none of them were bullied that I'm aware of although yes it's more girl dominated.
My point is he might love it, he might hate it, he might be like my daughter and love it then hate it after a while.
He's 7 months, just let him be his baby self without projecting too much onto him.

Original poster
MarkCrorigan · 17/07/2023 16:39

Absolutely NOT projecting! Thankyou the advice. It's just, I want to ensure I explore every avenue. If he gets fed up, no bother. But it's weird how in sync he is compared to my other children. Just wanted advice from those who knew it was a path super early

OP posts:
windowof · 17/07/2023 17:25

Projecting might not have been the right word sorry. I just meant rather than letting yourself get carried away. But I would definitely start looking into baby dance classes near you, no harm in it and also a good way to meet other mums so might be a win/win!

Original poster
MarkCrorigan · 17/07/2023 17:31

windowof · 17/07/2023 17:25

Projecting might not have been the right word sorry. I just meant rather than letting yourself get carried away. But I would definitely start looking into baby dance classes near you, no harm in it and also a good way to meet other mums so might be a win/win!

No offense taken!

Thankyou. I know so many mums who promote dancing in girls and I know zero who have their DS dancing. I will enroll when we're ready and see where we go. He's such a cutie with dancing, well see if he takes to it!

OP posts:
Original poster
MarkCrorigan · 17/07/2023 17:32

@windowof what kind of dancing did your DD take to?

OP posts:
cocksstrideintheevening · 17/07/2023 17:43

There have always been boys in Dts Irish dancing class, no bullying. Never any 7 month olds mind!

Plymsoul · 17/07/2023 17:51

My son has done ballet since 3 years old and never been bullied about it. He is very confident in his individuality though… I have known boys stop dancing one they get to 8ish and the ‘why do you dance it’s for girls’ so I think it depends on his personality.

My little cousin took up figure skating and did very well after he tried the ‘boy’ sports and didnt really enjoy them.

windowof · 17/07/2023 17:51

MarkCrorigan · 17/07/2023 17:32

@windowof what kind of dancing did your DD take to?

She did highland, tap, ballet, modern, freestyle, stage and jazz. She did love it for a while but there's a bit of me that felt relieved when she stopped. Freed up our time and saved us a fortune haha!
But I'm glad she enjoyed it for as long as she did.

Plymsoul · 17/07/2023 17:53

windowof · 17/07/2023 17:51

She did highland, tap, ballet, modern, freestyle, stage and jazz. She did love it for a while but there's a bit of me that felt relieved when she stopped. Freed up our time and saved us a fortune haha!
But I'm glad she enjoyed it for as long as she did.

Show quote history

This is a good point @MarkCrorigan dancing is not a cheap hobby money or time wise if it becomes their ‘thing’. And you will have to deal with the bloody hairstyles!