The Benefits of Dance Classes

Dancing is surely the most basic and relevant of all forms of expression. Nothing else can so effectively give outward form to an inner experience. Lyall Watson

Dancing has always been an important expression for all cultures around the world. These days the TV show Strictly Come Dancing has over 10 million viewers. Like countries all over the world, South Africa offers dance classes for every taste.

Learning dance steps is about so much more than simple enjoyment, besides the dance class rules you’ll have to follow, dancing offers enormous developmental benefits for children.

If you’re searching dance schools near me, you may be wondering what typical dance classes comprise and where to find them.

Getting to Know the Teacher

Whether you take a one-on-one private dance class or dance classes in a group, your first lesson will be one of orientation where the child and teacher get to know each other as well as the outline of the curriculum and the dance class rules.

When it comes to choosing extracurricular activities, children can often be in for quite a shock. This is why good dance classes start slowly and learning dance steps is integrated in an orderly way.

It’s rare that the student will cover learning dance steps in the first lesson, however, you can expect that going forward dance classes will have structure and routine. If you’re searching dance schools near me don’t expect to be dancing on day one. Your child will receive an overview and be introduced to the dance class rules.

The first lesson includes the opportunity for everyone to get to know each other. It’s usually a time to break the ice, help children feel comfortable about dancing together in the future and possibly even an introduction to learning dance steps in the future.

A private dance teacher will also highlight the year’s objectives which usually culminate in an end-of-year show. Another objective would be to encourage children to feel comfortable enough expressing themselves through movement and dance.

Warming Up: The First of All Dance Class Rules

Dance class rules always begin with the same thing – a good warm up.

Warm ups are essential for both children and adults and should take about 10 minutes. Not only will they prepare the body to stretch by preparing the body for exercise, it can also help to avoid injury. Warming up actually prepares the mind for learning dance steps.

Keep in mind when searching dance schools near me that most children will attend private dance lessons after school when they may arrive stressed and in need of unwinding. A good warm up will help them to focus, listen to the instructor and pay attention to what is happening in their bodies. All of this is much like meditation.

Music and dance are synonymous and when it comes to warm ups and cool downs, calm music is usually the choice for starting and ending.

Warm ups often take place on the floor and include things like touching toes, turning wrists, loosening up the neck and other stretches that will help to avoid injury.

Dance Class Rules Include Discipline

Whether its ballet, contemporary, salsa, tango or swing, mastering all types of dance steps includes discipline.

Most of a class is usually dedicated to learning the steps and routines that are style specific. After the steps you need for ballet will be different to the ones you need for African dance or jazz.

Whether your child is learning with a dance association, at school or with a private teacher, they will be encouraged to watch themselves in the mirror to study their own form. In most cases, dancers learn by copying where the objective is to be able to perform the whole routine within a few sessions.

As the sessions increase in regularity, new steps are rehearsed from previous sessions while new ones are added to the overall routine. By the end of a dance course, these motions are usually like second nature to the student.

Great dancers perform with their heart and soul and not just their minds.

Ultimately, they are not thinking about steps while they dance, but rehearsing until it feels natural.

Naturally, the pace of learning and adopting new steps is different between beginners and more advanced dancers. As your child advances they will be able to alternate between dance steps, improvise and enjoy a greater discovery regarding dance and music.

Creating Routines

Classes may also include the opportunity for students to create their own routines through various improvisation techniques. This could happen within a group or through putting together steps as an individual.

In fact, students can even invent their own steps if they want to. This is usually the most popular and enjoyable part of the class and allows children to express themselves.

Creativity and imagination are critical ways for children to find their own style and way of dancing. Workshops that focus on these aspects are excellent ways to prepare a dance student for an end of year show. Remember too, that even though the choreography is guided by the teacher, students can create routines too.    

In some dance schools, dancers are not shown routines until the last moment, this allows the teacher to evaluate the child while not overwhelming them with the stress of preparation.

Read more about finding the right dance lessons for children.

End of Session Stretches

Regardless of what kind of dancing your child is doing, every session will need to end with a stretching routine. Much like a warm-up, stretches are essential for loosening up muscles that were used during the session to avoid stiffness the next day.

This part of the class is usually accompanied by gentle and calm music as well as breathing exercises. Even if these exercises don’t feel great, students are encouraged to avoid skipping them so that they don’t feel bad the next day.

Stretches are a great way to take care of one’s body and the best part is that there are no rules. Every dancer simply needs to respect their limits and stretch within their own range of ability. This is important to remember too; every dancer should know their own limits.

Getting a personal dance trainer to your doorstep has never been simpler with Superprof. All you need to do is search for 'dance classes adults,' and you'll find plenty of choices right here on our platform.

Preparing Your Child for Dance Classes

How should they be dressed? What should they bring? Do they need to commit immediately? 

You’ll probably have a few questions when first helping your child to embark on dance classes for kids. Here’s some advice.

Clothing is key. Avoid jeans and tight clothing or clothes that are too baggy. The aim is to be able to move properly and not get caught up in clothes.

Generally, leggings or yoga wear works really well for dance practices because they are flexible and close to your body. The same applies to both tops and bottoms.

Send along a bag of water and snacks and something warm to wear after the lesson is over.

This is all good preparation to help your child feel confident about attending their first dance class.

If you’re searching dance schools near me through a general internet search, remember that this can take time and often end up with no guarantee of the tutor’s background and skills.

A good alternative will be to head straight to the Superprof platform where students leave reviews of tutors' credentials and where you could even receive your first lesson for free.

On Superprof, there are dance tutors for every style, ability and budget. You could use the website’s location tool to find someone near to you, or even take lessons online with a tutor from just about anywhere in the world if you are in a more far flung area.  

Each type of tutorial has its own pros and cons, but the wonderful thing about Superprof is that the options are endless, flexible and convenient.

Why not check out what is available near you and make use of the first free lesson if one is offered. This is an excellent way to decide if your child and the tutor are a good match for learning how to dance.

Find private dance classes in South Africa.