This is somewhat related to the previous thread on the best age to start dancing. I'm just looking at the idea from a different perspective, now. Introducing very young children to a stringent ballroom dance training program is fairly common in European and other countries and is becoming more common in the U.S. what do you think of the idea? Good? Bad? Is there a balance? Can you make any personal observations?
Ballroom for children
- Thread starter pygmalion
- Start date
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
Personally I can't see any reason why not to provide early instruction.
Porfirio Landeros
New Member
SDsalsaguy said:
IT STUNTS YOUR GROWTH!
Or is that just powerlifting?
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
pygmalion said:
... :headwall:
... aren't they just awful?
Porfirio Landeros
New Member
jenibelle said:
Hmmm, I've never seen a hockey dad... And I've never seen a frozen lake in SoCal either ;-)
My mom made me take tap lessons when I was 7, and I didn't object. I was excited to take them because she seemed excited that my sister and I were going to. I was the only boy in class of 12 or so kids. Makes you wonder why U.S. dads don't support dancing boys, eh :roll:
IsaacAltman
Member
At my studio in Miami, we have been teaching kids now for 10 years. We start them out at 4 years old.
virginiadancegirl
New Member
I actually plan on staring my daughter very casually as I train...and she's two...amazing rhythm though! I'm certainly not going to push her, but just let her participate in my classes...we'll see where it goes in a few years.....
Starting early
When I used to attend the comps like the Yorkshire open and the ones in Blackpool, the Juniors all seemed to dance alike. I think that the styling tends to do that until they mature and find a way of letting their personalities through.
Latin dancers always seemed on the small side. I don't know whether the comps selected for a more diminutive frame, or whether it actually stunted growth.
Definitely I enjoyed the late-starters categories and the varsity competitions more, because the couples were much more individual in their deliveries.
Loo
When I used to attend the comps like the Yorkshire open and the ones in Blackpool, the Juniors all seemed to dance alike. I think that the styling tends to do that until they mature and find a way of letting their personalities through.
Latin dancers always seemed on the small side. I don't know whether the comps selected for a more diminutive frame, or whether it actually stunted growth.
Definitely I enjoyed the late-starters categories and the varsity competitions more, because the couples were much more individual in their deliveries.
Loo
I'm not sure if latin stunts growth but when your short and small spinning and fast movement seem to be more natural. Its kinda like kids have the same amount of energy but when its in a smaller package its like a firecracker.
When I was a child we all used to have the same routine. It was the only way really
When I was a child we all used to have the same routine. It was the only way really
I have heard stories about gymnasts and other (especially female) athletes having stunted growth due to low body fat during the formative years. I can't imagine that would apply to ballroom kids, though. Or would it? I don't know. How stringent ARE the ballroom training programs for kids? It's impossible to tell when you live in the U.S. Things are relatively lax here.
IsaacAltman
Member
Since working with many of the Russian kids and their coaches here in the U.S. and because of the huge amount of physical training, the body structure is comparitively smaller. I do believe there is a direct relation between the physical training and the growth.