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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Ballet or rhythmic gymnastics

11 replies

Luna9 · 29/03/2015 11:28

Hi,

I am helping my DD who is nearly 8 decide on whether to do ballet or rhythmic gymnastics; I am not sure if it is good to do both. what are the benefits and consequences of doing any of these activities? any people with experience?

Thank you

OP posts:
taxi4ballet · 29/03/2015 17:50

If she hasn't done either before, perhaps she could do a trial lesson and see which she likes the most?

Rarry · 29/03/2015 19:42

My daughter (now 8) did both and has recently dropped competitive RG for competitive (festival dancing) ballet. I think the answer depends on the level she'd be doing it at and your daughter's personality.

My DD found RG to be very repetitious and it didn't suit her personality and so she found it quite boring. However, that could be in part due to the level she was at. DD was at a very high level club (with international gymnasts there) and many of her friends are now training for national level comps. Comps require perfection, so at that level it is very repetitive - it might not be so much at a lower level. There was an awful lot of body conditioning (necessary to make the body shapes) . Sometimes my DD would spend up to 1.5 out of a 2 hour session doing conditioning. She hated conditioning, would your DD like that...? To be good at RG your daughter needs to be bendy... Is she bendy? (You can develop this, but it is hard work for them).

In contrast, dancing has set moves that you move through more quickly. My daughter likes the fact that she learns routines quite quickly and the pace is much faster. There is less emphasis on absolute perfection and more on performance.

That said, as there are not as many RG clubs in the UK, it is much easier to get to a higher level compared to ballet.

That said, if she could do both, you'll find at this stage they help each other. DD had to learn ballet in RG and now uses many of her gym moves in her festival dances.

Original poster
Luna9 · 29/03/2015 22:08

Thank you very much. My dd did ballet from 4.5 years until 6; the teacher said she had potential; we dropped it as I had a toddler at the time and found difficult to do extra curricular activities; dd said she found it a bit boring but I think at that age they didn't do a lot; now that she is 8 they may be doing more. It is true that there is lots of conditioning involved in rhythmic gymnastics.

OP posts:
Frecklefeatures · 31/03/2015 10:48

My DD does both (competes in RG), they both work well together. Eight is at the older end for getting into RG (particularly if she wants to compete). Most gymnasts have already been training for years by that age to build flexibility etc. It would be worth trying a recreational class - our one takes older 'beginners', if they are flexi/show potential they can get moved up. Ballet is much easier to start later. My DD loves both. I'm just the (constant) chauffeur!

danceteacheruk · 31/03/2015 13:21

Rhythmic gymnastics and ballet are very complementary and I would advise anyone to try both if they can. But please note that ballet is not 'easier' in any way... at local recreational/comp dance schools perhaps, but that is basic level stuff. Dance schools that offer a high standard of ballet training are very few and far between.

Frecklefeatures · 31/03/2015 14:35

? Absolutely - I meant it would be easier to slot in to beginners ballet at 8 than gymnastics, given that most gymnasts have done at least 3 years flexibility training by 8. Unless you're naturally very flexible, that's difficult to 'catch up'. My daughter is at Grade 3 for ballet, it's getting more complex now, but an 8 year - old who can follow instructions/has good co-ordination should manage to do Grade 1or 2 classes not having started at 5.

danceteacheruk · 31/03/2015 21:36

Very true frecklefeatures... it wasn't really your comment I was referring to as such. I have noticed that dance does seem to be viewed as 'lesser than' on these forums, compared with gymnastics. Having trained in both at a high level (acro gym in my case), I just have an aversion to any comparisons between the two. It's comparing apples and oranges, so the saying goes... they are identical in so many ways, but with huge fundamental differences that lay-men don't really understand, so perceive one as one being better or worse, or harder or easier than the other.

Original poster
Luna9 · 31/03/2015 21:37

It looks like we are leaving too late to start RG; will book a trial lesson straight away. She is still 7 but will be 8 soon. I think it will be good for her even if she does not compete.

OP posts:
Frecklefeatures · 01/04/2015 09:27

We've got lots of 'older' girls who enjoy doing recreational gymnastics. They don't compete, but they do take part in displays with the club so get the chance to show their skills. Some of them have been going for years and still enjoy it.

amybear2 · 09/05/2015 15:53

With RG flexibility is very very important.Some people achieve flexibility much more easily than others.I don't think she is too old especially if she is naturally flexible.

Singleandproud · 09/05/2015 16:04

Depending on where you are you could try baton twirling instead. It is competitive baton twirling is similar to rhythmic gymnastics but is concentrated more on technical ability with the baton and dance technique than extreme flexibility as Rhythmic gymnastics is. It is very popular in some areas of the UK. Looked for Groups that compete within BBTSA as in my experience they operate in the best way. Keeping it very much sports and athletes based than the stereotype of prancing about in a carnival

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