Anyone with a preschooler in dance class?

[zebra]

Took DD (nearly 3yo) to a dance class, yesterday. Besides wanting to hold my hand much of the time (she's fairly clingy), she mostly ran around in circles -- she thinks that running around is how you dance. Sometimes she joined in the what the rest of the group was doing.

Head Teacher said not to panic, they often run around the first few times and she (teacher) will honestly tell me within a few sessions if she thinks DD is ready for dance class, or whether to wait 6 months.

Meanwhile, 2 other little girls, same age or younger than DD, were also having their first session. And of course they obligingly held hands with the teachers and followed directions!

Did any of you have a DD behaving like mine during her first class, but who then settled into following the teachers' leads afterwards? I hope I'm not wasting my time -- and money. DD may not follow directions, but she really wants her own ballet & tap shoes, now.

Any other tips about settling them into dance class? This is the first 'class' I've ever sent any of mine to.

DD started ballet last year as a preschooler - she was quite intent on doing it right but didnt always succeed and often ran around. The teacher is quite authorative (sp) which DD seems to really respect so she quickly stopped what she was doing if told.

Also, parents arent allowed in the room where they dance so that takes away the showing off element but might not help if your DD is clingy.

DDs dance school sells seocnd hand ballet shoes etc very cheaply until they know if they are going to be sticking at it - is that somethign yours might do?

My friends little girl started at 3 and started much the same as yours but is now doing really well and doing all the steps etc like a pro!

If she's enjoying it, I'd just let her continue, Zebra. Dd2 started at about that age and all the little ones were doing various random things!! They soon began to follow what the teacher was saying and even took part in a Christmas show. It's such good exercise, I wish dd1 would go back to ballet but she flatly refuses.
Btw, ds2 also went to dancing classes when he was 2 though he doesn't like to be reminded.

Kids vary a lot IME.

At 3 years old my dd was not able to accept the discipline of doing what the others did at the same time so we gave up on her gymnastics class for that reason after a painful few weeks of trying! No one else had the problems I had so it was a bit embarassing!

At 4 she went to a very strict ballet class and adored it, behaved beautifully from the start. HTH

I've taken ds (2.8) to a 'dance class' which was structured but informal ie - parents take part too, you can wear what you like (jeans, tutu, bare feet, ballet shoes). It is more like 'movement' than formal dance and ds absolutely loves it. If your dd doesn't settle at this class maybe there is something less formal that she would enjoy (and she could still get to wear her shoes )

My sister is a dance teacher & from what she has said about her pre schooler students,your dd sounds just fine.

She doesn't take children under 3,but a lot of her 3 year olds start the same way as your dd.After all,they are only little,haven't been to a structured class before & are probably a bit excited/overwhelmed by the whole thing.After a week or too,they soon get the hang of what they are supposed to be doing & following direction.

Parents are not allowed in the room during lessons at her school,which probably helps as the children concentrate better when not being watched.

It sounds a good school - the fact that they will tell you if they think your dd is not ready,rather than just take your money bears that out.

How did you find out about dance classes for under 3s? Did you just phone round a list of dance schools and ask?

DD is near 2 and a half and loves dancing. She already tries to copy my sister - who danced a lot from age 3 until stopping to go to uni. Since finishing Tumble Tots I haven't really found something to replace it. I think dancing could be something she'd enjoy.

My dd1 aged 3 does ballet and loves it and again, parents aren't allowed to watch. My friend's dd started at 3 and wouldn't leave mum's side even after a few lessons, so my friend gave up and tried again 6 months later. Great success and her dd's doing really well now (nearly 9).

Hulababy, I heard about it through a friend at nursery but quite often there's notices up in libraries, church halls etc. Or if there's a local dancewear shop near you, they'll have adverts and info galore.

I was a complete tomboy, so this whole ballet lark has been a real eye-opener .

I'll have to go a looking then - dance shops here I come! DD is used to having to do certain things and certain times, and following "rules" to games and joining in - because of nursery and Tumble Tots (in the past), so hopefully she would settle okay. I agree that she'd be better without me watching though.

Hula-check out the yellow pages as well. DD started at just over 2.5 (her request, or should tha be nagging!) and loves it.

My ds1 who is 5 now went to a sort of ballet class at about 2.5y and sometimes co-operated and sometimes spent the whole time clingy to whichever parent took him. Then he got more and more clingy until we were sitting through the whole class without him doing a step - at which point we stopped going. But then everytime we drove past the hall where the classes were, he said wistfully "That's where I used to go dancing."

So eventually I enrolled him in a different class and he has always really enjoyed that. I stay while he's doing it but in a sort of side-room so he isn't put off. It's not ballet it's "dance sport" (ballroom dancing to the ignorant like me) and modern dance. I just found it in the yellow pages and I like it because I think it's something that would be easier to keep going when he's older if he wanted to whereas with ballet most people stop. I have to say that there is a fair amount of running around and general chaos in the class so I think that is not unusual for that age and group. I would stay stick with it while she's enjoying it and give up for a while if not.

When dd1 was 3, I enrolled her in a ballet class because she loved music and dancing at home. It was the biggest disaster. She either clung on to me or ran around shrieking, completely ignoring the teacher. I gave it about 4 weeks before deciding that she obviously wasn't ready then for the structure. We tried again a year later and she was much better. I do have to remind her before each class to pay attention to her teacher, but I think that most small children find that a bit hard. Dd2 started ballet this week at 2.8 and loves it. She hasn't had any problems and was much better behaved (at dance class!) than dd1 at the same age. Every child is different. Don't worry too much.

like lots of little girls my dd loved to dance and sing and she thrived at tumble tots so I enrolled her at a formal dance school just after her second birthday. She hated it, we lasted four weeks during the class she would cling and cry and run riot. But then get home and talk endlessly about how much she loved dancing and would repeat all the moves. A few months later I started her at a very casual dance group in my local church hall where the emphasis is on the kids having fun. All ages from tots to Mums dance together and when they are not on stage they can run about. Pushy mums and teachers are thanfully absent and my daughter adores it, even better each class is a pound and the cotumes for shows are put together by the mums. Very amateur but bags of fun- which is the point!

DD1 goes to 'ballet' class each Sat. There's a place where us parents can get a glimpse of them without them seeing us.

I watched last week while 'plies' and 'points' were being performed beautifully by the other little girls whilst my DD had her finger stuck firmly up her nose. I've seen her skidding across the floor on her bottom and generally just pleasing herself altho she doesn't ssem to be disrupting the rest of the class....

Yes my boy, three ballet, loves it and very talented ha ha

My DS as well! He's 3.5 and his ballet school does ballet and tap on alternate weeks. So far it doesn't bother him that he is the only boy. All the children in his class are of a similar age, but we aren't allowed to watchwe have to stay in a cramped hallway. Interestingly there are hardly ever any tears or tantrumsthey all concentrate v well according to the teacher. We also go to a more informal Saturday class which is more like dance therapy. Lots of flitting about being butterflies. I love this class and would actually pay to attend it myself so it's a good job DS likes it too

mine has now had her 3rd ballet lesson. i found it by ringing round the yellow pages. in the end i went wiht the closest as we are new to area and i figured that was most important thing for us.

turns out it's the only one which lets parents in the room. it's totally chaotic and i feel a bit for the teens doing their points. however i think it's perfect for dd#s age (3). all it is is things like 'pretend to be horses' 'pick cherries' a bit of foot positioning and basically some running around with a slightly eccentric lady.

I love going, it looks like a benny hill sketch but funnier and w/o the sex angle. they all go off in totally different directions. dd loves it, had expected it to be a big flop as i thought angelina might have set us up for a fall. obviously it is mostly about the shoes.