Ballet for children - straw poll

[Earlybird]

Do your dc do ballet?
What do they like about it and why?
What do you like about it (for them), and why?
If they gave it up, why and what age? Any regrets?

and another vote. my 3 all do it to differing extents. we have a show every 2 years - we have to pay for costumes but they make a lot of effort to keep the costs down - eg a lot come from primark. it's given my dds a wider circle of friends, reinforced the importance of discipline, practice and effort which given they have not struggled academically (yet)I think is important. my eldest has also had the opportunity to perform on a west end stage in a children's variety show - she's never going to make a living out of performing but the hyped up pleasure she got from the one evening was something special.

DD age 8 does ballet.

She just loves to dance, has a good group of freinds she has known for over 3 years now through the dance school.

I like the fact it is disiplined, that she enjoys it, it is physical, it is withing a self contained dance school so when she is older I know she is safe to go there straight from school get her dinner in the cafe, help out with younger classes and hang out for a while. Like the fact she has hobbies and interests that will keep her busy as she goes through her teenage years.

No sign of her giving up, she wants to go to dance school.

PS I forgot to add I like that it is teamwork for the shows and they do not compete against each other as individuals, not into competitive dance.

My ds started at 7, now studying for grade 5 and i.f. he is Hfa and struggles remembering sequences but its helped his coordination hugely. He has kept up with his peers and doesnt mind being the only boy.

DD started at age 3 and is now aged 7.5 and in grade 1. She goes once a week to a very informal class. There is a prefered uniform which they do not have to wear.

She has been going for longer than any of the other children in her class and has been overtaken by most. She is never going to be a natural but she loves it, so that's good enough for me and I like that she is getting the exercise.

DD started at age 3 because I thought it would be good for her to have a disciplined activity before she started school, plus it might help with her, ahem, lack of grace. Plus she has beautiful pointy feet.

DD loved it at first, mostly because of the uniform.

Stuck with it for 3 years. After the horror of the last full-scale ballet show in which her total lack of natural ability or enjoyment was very apparent, we quietly dropped ballet and DD took up karate instead.

We're all much happier as a result!