Learning to...

Learning to dance has many other 'learning to...' connotations attached to it. Not only do children learn about different dancing styles and steps, dance classes are also a way to keep active and have fun simultaneously. Young children will learn how to concentrate at dance school, having to listen carefully to their teacher in order to move in the required way. What the children learn is used immediately in dance class, and this growing level of concentration can aid their classroom skills at school. As the student progresses they will start to become aware of the history of dance and how it relates to their dancing. Dance has a wide and varied history, which is easy to pick up when learning about different styles and where they originated from. The history of the movements and steps are usually referenced and studied, especially as students become more advanced. Learning historical references and about historical figures will inform their dance today and provide exclusive links to the dancing past. Music and rhythm are learnt hand in hand with dancing itself. Dance students will be able to learn about a number of musical styles, including classical pieces along with modern music. Because music and dancing are so closely intertwined, students who attend a ballet dance school specifically will certainly gain exposure to different musical styles, as ballet repertoire continues to widen and become more varied with largely different influences. Dance students will also learn the art of respect, of their teachers, peers and themselves. As a significant art form, dance requires students to be attentive and interested in order to gain maximum fulfilment from it. A student must know how to accept corrections respectfully in order to succeed in class, to then gain confidence in their ability, and ability to learn new steps. Studies have shown that children who study the arts are more disciplined, respectful and cooperative with their peers. We think that dance gives children the best start in life!