How old for a dance class?

Megan is going to be 4 in July. She's painfully shy but absolutely loves to dance, mostly with me or alone. I do think it may be a little soon to ask her to learn to dance in front of people, but I really want to encourage her to do it because she likes it so much. This is probably a stupid question because I know most little girls probably love dancing like a ballerina.
So I'm really just curious about how young your kids are (or will be) when you enroll them in those types of activities.
P.S. I'd also like to get both of them in a karate class, but I'm sure they're too young for that.

 

I did a Mommy & Me class with my now 4 yr old DD, then she was 2. It went well but her focus was obviously lacking a bit. Maybe you can try a class like this as a starter to bring her out a bit. I enjoyed it, too and it was good for some one-on-one time with DD. There was a recital at the end of the year which was adorable. It was a ballet and tap combo.

 

the dance studios here will take them as young as 3.

 

My oldest started dance when she was 3.5 and she is still doing it. She loves it. The studio she takes it at starts at 2.5 years old.

 

My SIL teaches the younger kids at her studio. They start tap at 3 and ballet at 4. Needless to say, my girls will be starting Tot Tap in about a year and a half.

 

Jorja started ballet just after 3rd birthday. We did take Jessica also but after 3 weeks of her not even staying in the classroom, we stopped with her. I think it depends on the child and if they will let u leave them in the studio.

We tried again with Jessica in January for gymnastics same thing, she wouldn't do it on her own (or even with me in the room for that matter). She's now saying she wants to do soccer so fingers crossed. It doesn't seem to help her even if her sister is in the class too.

So I guess it depends on the child and there level of seperation anxiety.

You could try and see how it goes. With the gymnastics we were signed up for 2 months so they gave us 1/2 the money back, hopefully they will do that for you there if it doesn't work out



amanda
(jessica and jorja 3)

 

Lily Belle started when she was almost 3 - a lady comes to the daycare and teaches the little girls that want to do it. They have recitals every May but some of the little girls choose to go to class and have fun and learn to dance but don't want to do the recital in front of all those people - the dance teacher doesn't mind - she just wants them to have a good time learning to dance.

Ours is actually centered through our church so they learn little Bible verses at each class. We love it!

 

Caitlyn started when she was almost 4. B & H started when they were 3 1/2. The school takes them when they are 3. The dance school has an acutal ballet company attached to it. 3 - 5 yr olds do a pre-school class. It get them moving and they use a prop every class for gross motor skills. 5 - 8 yr olds do tap and jazz. The children can start ballet after 2nd grade.

All three girls love class. I did have a problem with Brianne leaving class to hug me. Also sometimes she did not want to participate. The teacher is very understanding and works with us.

 

I&I started at 3.5 with tap/ballet. Isidra loves it and is now in her second year. We knew from the start that Isabel wasnt' meant for tap/ballett, but she stuck out the semester and is now doing gymnastics.

 

We started them in tumblebugs (children's gymnastics) at 18 months. They have a graduated program where they go to Busy Bees at around age 2 and 1/2 (more independent but some parent involvement) and then Jiminy Crickets where they go on their own. I think it's easier if you go to a place that is progressive and starts with SOME parent involvement and then progresses to where they participate on their own. We plan to put them in dance classes once they have been in pre-school for a while (Age 4). I would start with something more fun to start out if they haven't been in anything structured already (eg, kids dancercize vs. ballet).