Summer Practice for the Kiddie?

[Glasswren]

Some of you might have caught an earlier thread of mine in the 'General Dance Discussion' forum, but for those who don't know yet, I have a daughter who'll be 10 in August. She's just finished her third year in dancing during which she finally got a partner, tripled class time and took part in two competitions in Jun1 E. (E is the lowest competing skill level and Jun 1 is the age level, which in her case is higher than her age because her partner is three years older.)

Classes are virtually over for the Spring and won't start again until mid-August. She will be going to two camps at the beginning of August before the new season starts, one three days of Ballroom Dancing and the other is 'Everyone Dances' camp, where they get to enjoy all sorts of dance styles.

Before that though there are weeks and weeks of Summer vacation. We'll be doing a lot of 'sporty' stuff together, because she needs to move for at least two hours daily to get a prize at the beginning of the new year. This moving is not heavy excercizing, we've walked, ridden bicycles, played basketball and volleyball, jumped ropes, stretched and as soon as school is out and it gets a bit warmed swimming will become a major part of our 'regime'. I bet she'll actually be more fit than ever after that and so will I.

Not being a dancer myself, what would you suggest I could do over the Summer to help her?
This far I am inviting her to stretch with me and she gets the pleasure of telling me how 'dumb' I am when she teaches me the basic steps. :tongue:

[RickRS]

Glasswren, no suggestion, but a comment: I think it is great that you and your daughter have a daily two hours of "sporty stuff" together for the summer. Enjoy!

[mamboqueen]

I'm not sure I understand what you want to help her with -- maintaining some dancing? If so, would she be able to get together with her partner over the summer to practice? Is she able to take any sort of private instruction over the summer or is that not available at all? My daughter's group classes will end next month, but I will probably still have her do some privates over the summer to keep her going.

[Glasswren]

Thank you, RickRS. The idea isn't mine though. It is part of a plan to combat sedentary lifestyle in the youth.

Mamboqueen: What I hope is to be able to keep her from forgetting what she knows now so that she can start moving forward in the Fall. Private lessons are available year round, but frankly the cost is too much. We are still hoping her partner will go to that camp with her in August. They said they'd think about it. As reluctant as they have been lately to go anywhere, I don't feel I can push them.

But maintaining her current level is what I would like to achieve.

[mamboqueen]

Well, then maybe having her teach you steps will be a good way of her keeping up practice by herself. Honestly, I have trouble motivating my daughter to practice -- and she sees me practice incessantly. The problem here is that once the weather is nice, it's hard to keep them inside and focused on practice. I'm with you in spirit!

[Glasswren]

Oh, thank goodness! You have no idea how much better I feel having read that.

While D loves to dance and absolutly lights up when she can perform in front of an audience, she does not love to practice. She finds it boring. Still, if she didn't want to go to classes, she would not. We don't have a car and I cannot carry her; she has to use her own legs to either walk, ride a bike or at least get to the bus stop when the weather is foul.

[biggestbox]

Ballet? gymnastics? 10 is a good age to start dancing "more" seriously. Before that and your body is too underdeveloped. 10 is a good time to get good mechanics and to develop solid technique. i wouldn't start heavy training until about 12, depending on the physical development. Stretching is very important. Those side splits are harder to get as they get older.

[latingal]

biggestbox has a great suggestion there. Getting into some other dance classes will keep her moving and learning to control her body and give her body awareness (not to mention the benefits of flexibility and strength). Yes, there are differences and you have to learn how to keep some of the influences from leaking from one dance to another, but in general I believe casual training in other styles helps more than hurts.