First dance classes are an exciting experience for students. With meeting a new teacher, becoming familiar with the studio, learning classroom rules and expectations, and meeting classmates, there is a lot for students to take in. Transitioning into the routine of dance class can take a few weeks because there is so much to learn. In order to help make this transition easier, we have a few tips to help students experience the most success when they enter the classroom.
1. Tie hair back away from the face. Dance class involves jumping, spinning, and changes in direction. If a student has their hair down while dancing, it can prevent them from doing the moves properly. It can block student's eyes during jumps and turns. With younger students there are endless possibilities of what their hair could be doing, whether they are playing with their hair or eating their hair. Tying hair away from the face is the best option.
2. Don't wear jewelry. It seems fun to dress up for ballet class. What could make a tiny ballerina feel more beautiful than adding a bracelet, a necklace, and a tiara? We agree that all of these things are super cute. Unfortunately, they can also be super distracting. Elastic necklaces and bracelets can break if they are being played with too rough. Longer necklace charms may hit a dancer who is jumping in the face. Shiny tiaras may crash to the floor during jumps or turns. Ballerinas can accessorize when traveling to and from class, but it is best to remove jewelry before class.
3. Make sure to eat and use the restroom before class. Dance is a physical activity that requires energy, and dancers should eat a healthy snack before coming to class. This can be difficult if class is right after school, or early in the morning. Students are more focused when they have eaten before class so don't skip out on meals. We also value the time we get with each student in class, so we encourage all of our students to use the restroom before class so they don't miss out on anything fun we have going on!
4. Check to make sure you have everything you need before you leave the house. Being prepared for class helps increase students' confidence at the start of class. When students arrive at the studio and realize they are missing something, they may get upset. We want all of our students to feel confident, happy, and ready to go at the beginning of class.
The biggest key to success is to limit the number of distractions a student may have during class. This will help increase their focus and maximize their learning time in the studio, and we definitely want all of our students getting the most they can out of class!