DS starting dance AIBU?

[ilver70812]

DS is 6. DD1&2 have been going to dance classes for a few years now and DD3 has just started. Now that all his sisters go, DS wants to as well.
DH is not happy about this and is telling me not to let him but DS loves watching his sisters at their classes and is constantly wanting to join in.
Before DD3 started, I just told DS that he was too young, but now that's not possible.
I want to let him (maybe not ballet like DDs do) but DDs also do street dance, which I would be fine with DS doing.
DH is having none of it and saying that I shouldn't have told DS 'maybe'
Any advice?

My ds is 13 and has been dancing since 9. Ds has always loved it, and it's only benefited him. He has become more confident and the routines seem to have helped him learn academically too. I couldn't be prouder, in a month he is competing nationally.

It's here attitudes that keep boys away from dance and the chance for all that enjoyment!

These not here

Oh, this really hurt my heart!! Your poor ds, let him dance and let him do whatever type HE wants to. The idea of his little face watching his sisters dance and desperate to join in.... sorry but i think your Dh is out of order and totally unfair
My ds is quite young but he does a dance class with some of his cousins - Dh didn't care at all but FIL did make a few snarky comments at first, which we shut down straight away. Your ds might give it up in a few months but what's the harm in trying and having fun? Alternatively, what if he's actually really gifted at it?

@AngeloMysterioso
Thank you so much for those amazing links.

DH is being silly. Let your DS go to dancing. Loads of boys and men dance!

The dance school where DD works has started putting on boys-only dance workshops, as they have a problem retaining boys in mixed classes.

My great-uncle was a ballroom dancing champion with his wife. He worked as an engineer and had no problem reconciling that with doing the waltz in a shiny suit of an evening!

It's a real shame that dance has become "for girls". Men from other countries such as Brazil, where dancing is a normal social activity enjoyed by all, find British men really weird in that respect.

I really don't understand what the problem is here. Exactly what does he think is the issue?!

@Justnoclue @MrsTommyBanks you're welcome  that's only a small sample of the dancers I follow on Instagram/YouTube but I couldn't think of funny one-liners for all of them!

@ilver70812 you should tell your son to check out a few dancers on YouTube-

Alexander Campbell
WillDaBeast aka Will Adams
Jake Kodish
Alexander Chung
Kyle Hanagami
Josh Beauchamp
Sean Lew
Brent Boxberger
Kenny Wormald
Josh Killacky

Alex Campbell is the only ballet dancer I follow but the others all do a mix of hip-hop, Street and contemporary styles.

Off topic, but this is an excellent example of how difficult it can be to thrive in a world that is often recognised as belonging to the opposite sex...

For another ballet dancer check out steven mcrae.

Also a phenomenal tap dancer:

My ds started ballet at 5 and is 14 soon and still dancing. And he has said recently he’s gay!
But rest assured I don’t think he caught the gay from dancing.

Sorry links:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=EQvtB-4Pv-U

And lets not forget the utter genius that is this:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=c-tW0CkvdDI

Also let’s not forget Tom Holland ... Billy Elliot to Spider-Man ... I loves him

@reallyanitherone I LOVE that second one. I e seen it before but thanks for reminding me. My favourite song and what a stunning dancer.

Fucking amazing isn’t it. I watch it over and over.

Polunin is wonderful but sadly he’s so messed up.

AlexanderHamilton

I genuinely think what's happened to him is tragic. It's such a dreadful waste of truly exceptional talent. Of course it's awful to see anyone spiral off into addiction; but with him there's the added level of effectively destroying a work of art on top of the personal tragedy. He's not going to keep being able to trade off his name for that much longer - especially when he throws absolute tantrums any time he forgets to be charming...

If you look at him & Vadim... I mean, I know they're incredibly different in terms of temperament, but you can't help but feel that if Sergei had been supported better (& not made Principal so quickly) things could have turned out differently.

your husband has some damaging sexist attitudes towards masculinity. What a shame for your son.

Would he not allow a daughter to do football? Is it strict gender stereotypes all the way, or is it just things he considers feminine that are bad?

Ds asked to attend dance lessons for the same reasons. He did for 2 years and really enjoyed them but would have wished for more boys to join. He was quite good. He stopped because we moved.

He is now 16 and totally into football. He is 6'3'' and heavy and won't be seen dead doing any dancing even with friends at a club!

FGS let that poor little boy go to dancing classes and tell your DH to get moving too. Out of the 1950s and into the 21st century.