Five Reasons Why Young Children Should Dance

There is no shortage of extracurricular activities for kids: from art to sports and everything in between the opportunities are endless. With so many options available, how do you choose? At Alberta Ballet School, the best ballet academy in the world, we humbly suggest enrolling your child(ren) in dance classes: the perfect combination of arts and athleticism. We’ve compiled five reasons why young children should explore the world of dance.

1. Dance Reinforces the Importance of Commitment

Many dancers are very dedicated to their art; but they don’t need to have their eyes set on the world stage to learn about the importance of commitment. When a child enrolls in dance classes, they are expected to attend at a set time and place. Their participation often impacts others in their class; if they’re absent, there may be a gap in formation, which the other dancers will need to accommodate. There truly is no “I” in “TEAM” in the dance world. This lesson can be applied to all areas of life, but is often first learned when children take dance classes. 

2. Dance Encourages Socialization and Team Work

Dance is a social activity! When a young child takes dance classes, they automatically join a team of like-minded kids who all share a common interest: dance! Dance classes can help shy children develop the confidence they need to become more social. When you’re part of a team, you need to work together, which requires trust. Many friendships are forged in dance classes, and many of those friendships last for a lifetime.

3. Dance Promotes Creativity

Dance is a creative outlet that enables children to express themselves through movement. This is especially true when children come up with new routines. That creativity can impact all areas of a child’s life and can encourage them to approach challenges in unique ways.

4. Dance Improves Health

The importance of physical activity on physical health cannot be overstated! Dance is a physical sport that requires the three components of fitness: endurance, strength, and, of course, flexibility. The Canadian government suggests children get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, which cannot only improve their physical health, but can also improve children’s mental health, decrease their risk of health problems, and decrease the chances of them using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

5. Dance Builds Confidence

Whether it’s on stage in front of thousands or in class in front of your instructor and peers, performing is a part of dancing than can help young children overcome shyness and stage fright. Dancing also promotes proper alignment, which can directly affect confidence; when you have proper posture, you appear – and can feel – more confident.

Whether you’re looking for dance classes in Calgary or dance studios in Edmonton, Alberta Ballet School is ready to welcome its next dancer. We offer preschool classes for children as young as three years old at both our Calgary and Edmonton locations. Contact our studio today!