Best Age to Start Dancing

P

pygmalion

Well-Known Member
Sad but true, despite a strong desire to dance, I didn't start until I was an infamous thirty-something. I often wonder how much more I could have done if I'd started sooner. Oh well. Does anybody else ever think about this? Is there a best age to start dancing? Is it different by dance discipline?
 
Oh, great topic, Jenn!

Naturally starting young is preferable, but honestly, I believe things only come into your life when you are good and ready. So I'm an old lady, big deal. The fact is that I may not have enjoyed dancing as much at another time in my life (when I was younger) and perhaps the same holds true for if I had discovered the joys of dance when I was too old to do anything about it or truly enjoy it.

I don't think you're ever too old to learn to dance, but whatever time you discovered it was the right time, or am I sounding too much like Confucious? :) The only bad time is to never have discovered it at all! :)
 
I would imagine that if it was something that was always part of your life and you don't really remember a time without it then it would be difficult to have the same appreciation for it. You could still appreciate it ... but it be in a different way. For instance I appreciate food-- I appreciate really yummy food-- I'm positive my appreciation pales in comparison to someone who spent a part of their life in serious hunger.
 
pygmalion said:
Sad but true, despite a strong desire to dance, I didn't start until I was an infamous thirty-something. I often wonder how much more I could have done if I'd started sooner. Oh well. Does anybody else ever think about this? Is there a best age to start dancing? Is it different by dance discipline?
Click to expand...

I can totally relate to that Jenn. I wanted to do nothing but dance my whole life. But since my mom didn't send me I never did until now. I often wonder what I could have done if I had taken lessons when I was young, considering it seems to come naturally you know?

Swing Kitten said:
For instance I appreciate food-- I appreciate really yummy food-- I'm positive my appreciation pales in comparison to someone who spent a part of their life in serious hunger.
Click to expand...

This is so true.
 
Hey I'm new here!!
^
^
^
I started Lindy when I woz 9 and I'm 15 now, it's a shame dat more young people don't do it!
^
I've done some teaching at Rock bottoms, a groovy dancing holiday www.rockbottoms.com but I love Lindy hop an I'm glad that i started doin it at a young age. :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: who do you all learn it with?
 
Hi swingin' baby! Welcome to the forums. I hate to admit it, but I don't do lindy ... yet. The lindy hoppers in this forum are trying to convert me! :lol: :lol:
 
Welcome swingin' baby!! :) I've learnt a little lindy, but not enough. Right now I'm concentrating on ballroom and latin, but I'm pretty sure that it will come around once again as all good things do. I actually have great teachers for swing over here in Ithaca, and great dancers too. So, it's a pity in a way that I don't do more. [Shrug!]

I agree that starting young is great. I should have, but I was way too shy back then. I only came out of my shell when I found myself a couple thousand miles and couple continents away from home. :)
 
pygmalion said:
Sad but true, despite a strong desire to dance, I didn't start until I was an infamous thirty-something. I often wonder how much more I could have done if I'd started sooner. Oh well. Does anybody else ever think about this? Is there a best age to start dancing? Is it different by dance discipline?
Click to expand...

It depends on your goal(s) as a dancer. 8)

Gabriella is chomping at the bit to start dancing. There just aren't any classes for non-verbal, non-potty trained divas-in-training [sigh].

I started dancing at 4, but my options were limited. In fact, I was going to post something along these lines today, but you beat me to it.....
 
I didn't start formal training until I was 13. I started informal lessons when I was six, but growing up in a family where there was always music and dancing was expected at parties I've been doing it since I could walk.

I personally believe informal lessons are best5 at an early age...

These days you have all sorts of "movement" classes for children that are chock-full of games and exercises but none of the formality or structure of a ballet class. These are marvelous. They teach social interaction, coordination, musical interpetation etc. This is the stuff I learned just being around family members. I started with vernacular jazz when I was six from my grandparents just showing things and then as hip-hop slowly emerged I was part of the burdgeoning scene of cardboard carrying kids who spun, popped and locked at the malls. I learned by watching, we taught each other moves and invented new ones.

It wasn't until I was 13 that I chose to take formal dance lessons... personally I wish it had started earlier, but I wouldn't trade my informal instruction for it, so much as I wish I had the opportunity to do both.

The long and short of it is that as long as it is approached in a fun manner, something they enjoy there is no minimum age to begin an introduction to dancing. Formal classes will be dependant on the maturity and personality of the child. Don't push, but encourage.
 
Thinking about it, I think it would've been nice to start at a younger age, but I started a family when I was pretty young and there is no way I could raise them and fit dancing in my schedule with a full time job. I didn't start dance lessons until they moved out. Now I can concentrate on my lessons and dance to my heart's content, no worry about kids or anything.
 
pygmalion said:
Is there a best age to start dancing? Is it different by dance discipline?
Click to expand...

I guess you DO have to start ballet at an early age, to have any chance of getting somewhere. I was sent to one (grade 2?) but got told nicely that I'd have better chances doing something else other than dancing :shock: .

I wished with all my heart that my dancing had been encouraged. Believing that I was no good, I didn't get back to dancing until I was 19, when I began salsa.

*then I wished that I had been able to focus on the DANCING rather than other issues in your 20s :roll: *

Now that I am happily dancing in my 30s, I've been wondering why on earth I didn't just drop everything earlier and did what I'm doing now..!

:roll: If only I knew then..... :roll:
 
8) But, hey.......it's better late than never 8)

------sign: Official Cheer Leader of the Better-Late-Than-Never-Club

:wink: see thread "How many dances with the same partner?" page 2 under 'General Dance Discussion' :wink:
 
I first took Two-Step/Polka/Western Swing at 26 but was in my 30's when I finally took Salsa and Swing dances.

I just don't know WHY it took me so long to get around to learning East Coast & Lindy - especially if these were so popular in the late 1990's. Now I'm constantly encouraging my friends to GO LEARN LINDY (Sublimal message for Pygmalion) :P !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Dance Ads

Advertise on Dance Forums Reach dancers, teachers, studios, event organizers, and dance-friendly brands. View ad options
Back
Top