to want to send my 3 year old son to dancing lessons

[bluejellybean]

trouble is they are all ballet classes locally, full of little girls, ideally I'd like to send him to a mixed class of general music and movement.

DH thinks its cruel as he will most likely be the only boy and the focus of all the attention at pick up time.

He loves dancing, singing, stretching, gym stuff!

There is a boy at my DDs Highland Dance class, he is the only one & it has posed no problem. In fact, it has probably boosted his self-esteem. He has been attending for about 4 or 5 years now!

My DS went with his friend when he was about 4 yrs. If he wants to go-send him.

If he'll enjoy it then YANBU. If he wouldn't then YABU.

Of COURSE yanbu. There was a ballet class at ds's primary school which was mostly 50/50 girls and boys - a lot of that was music and movement. DS enjoyed it a lot at 3/4 though we fell out of the habit later.

If you can't find exactly what you are looking for, consider a real gymnastics club? DS has loved this for two years - the clubs round us have huge waiting lists so worth checking out now perhaps.

It looks very branded and therefore expensive, but maybe try Kindermusik? I'm sure there must be less expensive local ones - keep asking. Which area are you in?

YANBU if it is what he wants to do.

But do bear in mind that ballet class is very different to normal dancing and singing. Are there no informal music and singing activity classes in your area?

Yes he starts Gymnastics this Autumn so really pleased about that. He would love dancing though so I think anything is worth a go! If he hates it we won't go again but I know he will love it.

Had a look at Kindermusik thanks, but its not in our county.

I danced professionally (ballet) for years so hope there is something in the blood!

Mutt - because he is a boy,or because he is 3?

there is one boy in the dds ballet class, not an issue at all. Ask around all the dance schools we found one that is more laid back and doesn't insist on all the school uniform straight away etc etc etc.

DS did ballet at nursery/school when he was 3 - he genuinely didn't even notice that he was the only boy. He only gave up, reluctantly, when there were too many clashes and he had to choose (by which time he had been joined by one other boy). As he got a little older we made a bit of a point of talking about how male ballet dancers were stronger and fitter than most athletes/sportsmen. He would still do it now, I think (he is nearly 7) if we had the time.

Crikey stealthsquiggle - are you me???? My ds has had EXACTLY the same ballet lifecycle. And in fact a leaflet popped through my door last week advertising a new ballet school and ds is keen to start classes again this term.

Ballet training is done by many athletes (apparently the whole Scottish rugby squad do rugby, although that's not a great advert for ballet considering how badly they seem to do these days) and is a fantastic training.

3 sounds a bit young?

My ds started at 2 1/2.

mum23monkeys - trouble is, DS's diary has gone from bad to worse - he is making compromises right left and centre as he can't possibly do everything (much as he would like to), so even were that leaflet to drop through our door tomorrow I can't see ballet making a comeback (it would have to compete with golf, climbing, beavers, tennis.....)

My DS is nearly 3 and absolutely loves his baby ballet class, even though he's the only boy. He loves music and dancing so this class is a perfect fit for him. He may well take exception to the excess of pink one day and if he does, we'll stop then! He also loves football and cars, so I don't think it's doing him any harm

I have tried to find an informal dance class for my DS 3.7 but there is noyhing available apart from a traditional ballet/tap regimented type school. DS ,loves things liek Boogie Beebies and likes to follow the simple routines so I was looking for something similar

I did find this when searching

www.madacademy.com/

I used to nanny for a family where two of their boys did ballet, from around the age of 2yrs old. They didn't mind being the only boy in the class. Also they found that another boy would join the class later on, when the dance school had another enquiry from parents of a boy... so the boys then were not on their own. Both of the boys I nannied went on to do Tap and Musical Theatre.
They are both teenagers now and often star/take part in local drama productions.

The only problem I found with it was when getting changed... I'm a male nanny for those of you who don't know me, so it wasn't that practical for me to get the children changed in the same room as all the girls. The boys would therefore get changed at home, or in the car.

Thanks everyone! StewieGriffinsMom your post mad me laugh and laugh!! Thank-you!!

I think we will go for it!