What do sports dances give? Ballroom dancing is the best way to develop your child

Sports ballroom dancing for children: answers to popular questions from parents

In the past, ballroom dancing was a noble pastime reserved for high society, and learning this art was considered a sign of refined taste and good upbringing. Why was the ability to dance so valued? One has only to look at the grace, aristocratic posture and demeanor of professional dancers - and everything becomes clear. Today, dancing is no less popular; it not only decorates social events, but is also included in the program of international sporting competitions.

Do you want your child to be successful? professional dancer? Sports ballroom dancing is what you need. However, first, let's look at the pros and cons of this activity, evaluate the training program and learn some secrets of success. As the saying goes: “forewarned is forearmed.”

Is it worth it?

Any activity has its pros and cons. When choosing a particular sport, it is worth carefully analyzing all the positive and negative arguments.

Benefits of sports ballroom dancing for children:

• development of the child’s respiratory system, increased immunity and general condition health;
• uniform development of all muscle groups;
• excellent physical form and well-developed muscle corset of dancers;
• development of musical ear;
• increasing stress resistance;
• prevention of complexes in children;
• development of willpower, confidence, self-control;
• improvement of posture and flexibility.

Disadvantages of sports ballroom dancing:

• high probability of injuries, unsuccessful falls;
• big money spendings for costumes, participation in competitions, trips, etc.;
• ballroom dancing takes a lot of physical effort and time from both children and parents;
• Difficulties in relationships in a couple are possible (grievances and disagreements between dance partners can accumulate over years and negatively affect the child’s morale and the quality of classes).

So, you have made the final decision in favor of dancing. What about the child? Don't forget about his desires and capabilities. Pay attention to how your baby reacts to music, how he moves, and how artistic he is. If a child's behavior does not change when he hears rousing music, dancing is obviously not suitable for him.

When to start?

It's never too late to take up dancing, but in sports it's important not to miss the right age to start. However, there is also no need to rush when bringing a three-year-old child to dance. Excessive loads in early age may harm the growing body. Classes for 3-4 years old can take the form of casual play, but for serious studies it is important to have a formed psyche and endurance. The most suitable age to start learning sports ballroom dancing is 6-7 years old.

How to prepare a child for dancing?

Awakening interest in sports is the first step towards success. You should not force your child to dance; it is important to interest the child and show him the benefits and beauty of this activity. Watch competitive performances with your child, ask his opinion, offer to try. Don't set the bar too high for your child when trying to satisfy your ambitions. Let the child go to a few training sessions and decide. If after 3-4 lessons there is no interest in sports, do not insist.

What is included in the ballroom dance program?

Before starting classes, it is important to learn as much as possible about sports ballroom dancing in order to compare the level of future loads with the child’s capabilities. Sports ballroom dancing is divided into two programs: European and Latin American. All dances of these programs together make up the so-called “competitive top ten”, presented at all competitions. Each dance has its own unique charm, its own history and style. Find the most interesting information about this sport and tell it to your future dancer.

European Ballroom Dance Program

Sooner or later in the life of every parent there comes a time when you need to make a decision about where to send your child to study - to a theater studio, a sports section or an art school. Are you the parents of a girl who dreams of becoming a princess? Or do you have a wonderful, but shy and insecure boy? Then you are advised to consider how a good option– sports ballroom dancing for children.

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Photo gallery: Sports and ballroom dancing for children

Sports ballroom dancing is great for romantic and young people, because it develops flexibility very well and teaches you not just to listen to music, but also to feel it. Boys are most often brought to the ballroom dance studio by mothers who want to raise their children to be fully developed real men.

Dance training has a very beneficial effect on general development child, representing an excellent means of moral and ethical physical education. In addition, she very well reveals the entire child's creative potential.

As mentioned earlier, ballroom dancing contributes to the physical development of the child - it strengthens the respiratory and cardiovascular systems of the child’s body, trains and strengthens various groups muscles. The child will be able to control his body perfectly and use it to convey his feelings and emotions. In addition, dancing has a beneficial effect on the emotional background of the child, and also teaches him to keep his emotions under control.

Ballroom dancing for children - yes or no?

Sports ballroom dancing looks very beautiful. But before you rush to enroll your child in the nearest studio, you need to decide exactly whether you are ready for your child to study there. So what do you need to consider?

Sports ballroom dancing is an entire art, but at the same time, it is also a sport. Yes, ballroom dance Sport officially recognized as one of the sports. Therefore, dancers are considered not only artists, but also athletes. So children who engage in sports ballroom dancing develop artistry and Creative skills, and also endurance and agility.

It is worth noting that, as in any other sport, ballroom dancing has great spirit rivalry. Therefore, he actively participates in the formation childish character, teaches you to be hardworking and purposeful, to achieve your goals, in a word, contributes to the development of a purposeful and strong personality in the child.

Due to the fact that ballroom dancing is a real sport, like all other types, it requires a serious and responsible approach. If you prefer professional ballroom dancing classes for your child, then, as in other sports, be prepared for the fact that success can only be achieved through frequent and long-term training, as well as very serious attitude and the approach to the matter not only from the child’s side, but also from the parents’ side.

Shoes and clothing for ballroom dancing

When deciding to introduce ballroom dancing into your child’s life, you cannot help but take into account the financial side of this issue. Ballroom dancing is one of the most expensive sports. It's not all about the cost of dance training itself, although it is not cheap. But the most expensive are children's ballroom dancing costumes.

In addition to the fact that the child will definitely need a pair of training shoes and at least two training suits, he will also need costumes for the performance. You can purchase such training suits in specialized stores. The situation will be a little more complicated with costumes for performances - they are sewn only to order. This applies to both boys and girls. Moreover, the cost of a ballroom costume varies quite a lot - starting from several hundred dollars. I would like to note that the article is about children who are engaged in ballroom dancing, so parents should take into account that such a performance costume will last for no more than a year. After all, unlike adults, children grow very quickly, outgrowing expensive suits.

In addition to the nuances listed above, you should not ignore the upcoming expenses for traveling to competitions. In addition to paying fees, you will need to pay for travel to the competition site, as well as food and accommodation. Thus, the sum is far from small.

At what age is it better to go on the floor?

When the decision is made in favor of ballroom dancing in your child’s life, the next question arises - at what age should your child start ballroom dancing? It is quite difficult to answer this question unambiguously. On the one hand, to achieve good results, as in any other sport, a child must be introduced from an early age. On the other hand, it will be quite difficult for children who have not reached at least five or six years to evaluate and correctly perceive the demands of the coach. There are also ballroom dance studios in which children begin to study at about four years. But before you enroll your child there, you should really assess his strength. Don’t rush things by sending your child to a ballroom dancing studio if he gets tired quickly and is unable to coordinate movements and concentrate his attention. However, if your baby is well developed enough to perceive the trainer’s commands, has a good ability to coordinate his movements, has ear for music And good memory, then you can try to sign him up for ballroom dancing. But still, experts say that the optimal age for dancing is about five to six years old.

How a trainer works with children

Of course, every parent is interested in how they work with children in ballroom dance studios. Let's say your child is already enrolled in a dance studio, what's next? At the beginning of training, the trainer usually conducts Parent meeting, which tells about what the child will need to buy for further studies.

During the first year of training, most often, children dance alone. They gradually learn the basics of dancing and their secrets. At the initial stage of training, the trainer tries to teach children basic movements in ballroom dancing, as well as the basics of choreography and rhythm. Children learn the basics of such main dances as the slow waltz, cha-cha-cha, quick-step, jive and auxiliary dances such as disco, polka, blues.

By the second year of training, when children reach six or seven years old, the coach places them in pairs. During the classes, children learn to perform movements that they learned in the first year of study, but in pairs. Already in the second year, children begin to take part in their first ballroom dancing competitions.

Of course, not every child who comes to a ballroom dance studio can be trained into a future champion, but in any case, such dance lessons will not be in vain for the child. Thanks to its grace and elegance, your child will always be the center of attention!

In the life of any parent, sooner or later there comes a time when it is necessary to make a decision about where the child will study - in sports section, theater studio or in art school. Are you the parent of a wonderful boy, but a little shy and unsure of himself? Or is your child a girl who dreams of becoming a princess? In this case, you should consider an option such as sports ballroom dancing for children.

Surely everyone, without exception, has seen a dancer perform at least once in their life. Agree that this is a very exciting spectacle - the flexibility, plasticity, and grace of the partners evoke sincere admiration. But all the stars of ballroom dancing began their journey to the pinnacle of success precisely at a young age, when the doors of a ballroom dancing school for children opened their doors.

Sports ballroom dancing is ideal for young romantic people - after all, they wonderfully develop plasticity, teach not only to hear music, but also to feel it. Many girls, having watched couples perform on TV, are completely delighted with the ambience surrounding ballroom dancing - music, twirling couples, beautiful dresses. Few girls can leave this spectacle indifferent - that’s why almost all of them visit ballroom dance studios with great pleasure.

Boys are most often brought to the ballroom dance studio by mothers who want to raise their sons to be real, well-rounded men. And this is quite true - not only are ballroom dancing classes for children a serious physical activity that will help the boy maintain excellent shape, they also remarkably socialize a person in the future. Believe me, a man who knows how to dance well will feel comfortable in any company.

Dance training also has the most beneficial effect on the overall development of the child, being an excellent means of both physical and moral moral education. In addition, it wonderfully reveals the child’s full creative potential.

In addition, as already mentioned, ballroom dancing helps the child’s physical development - it trains and strengthens the most different groups muscles, strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the child’s body. The child learns to master his body perfectly and use it to convey his feelings and emotions. In addition, ballroom dancing classes have a beneficial effect on the child’s emotional background and teach him to keep his emotions under control.

Ballroom dancing – to be or not to be?

Ballroom dancing very, very beautiful. However, before you rush headlong to the nearest ballroom dance studio, you need to decide exactly whether you are ready for your child to study there. So what needs to be taken into account?

Ballroom dancing is a real art, but at the same time it is also a sport. Yes, yes, ballroom dancing is recognized as an official sport, so dancers are not only artists, but also athletes at the same time. And children involved in ballroom dancing develop not only creative abilities and artistry, but also dexterity and endurance.

In addition, in ballroom dancing, as in any other sport, the spirit of competition is very great. That's why he plays enough serious role in shaping the child’s character, teaches him to be purposeful and hardworking, set goals and achieve them - in a word, helps the child grow into a purposeful and strong personality.

Since ballroom dancing is a real sport, like all its other types, it requires a fairly serious approach. If you want your child to take up ballroom dancing professionally, be prepared for the fact that, as in any other sport, the price of success can only be frequent and long-term training and the most serious approach and attitude to the matter, both on the part of the child and and from the parents.

Of course, before you decide to enroll your child in the ballroom dancing section, you need to know exactly what they are. So, ballroom dancing is divided into two programs:

1. European program. The European program includes dances such as Foxtrot, Slow Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango, Quickstep.
2. Latin American program. The Latin American program is the most exciting and includes dances such as cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive and Paso Doble.

In addition to these two directions, there is also sports rock and roll - a fairly heavy and complex dance, a peculiar mixture of complex sports exercises with elements dance moves. In addition, there are also elements of folk ethnic dances.

Why is ballroom dancing recognized as a sport?

Not so long ago, ballroom dancing was considered just one of the trends in art, but today it is recognized an independent species sports. Why did this happen? This fact is explained very, very simply. Ballroom dancing requires dancers to display exactly the same qualities that are inherent in real athletes: agility, endurance, determination, daily hard work, and the like. Below are the main criteria that allowed ballroom dancing to be recognized as an independent sport:

• Physical strength.

In ballroom dancing there is great amount a variety of complex lifts, similar to those that can be seen in figure skating. By the way, many of the basic lifts used in figure skating were borrowed from ballroom dancing. And their successful implementation often requires remarkable physical strength.

• Body flexibility and coordination of movements.

In order to move freely on the floor without getting confused when performing dance lines and figures, partners must have well-developed coordination of movements and body flexibility. By the way, these qualities are necessary in most sports, and not just in ballroom dancing.

• Musical ear and sense of rhythm.

Since we are talking about dancing, it is quite natural that both partners should have an ear for music and a sense of tact. IN otherwise they will not be able to interact properly.

• Endurance.

Endurance is very important for dancers. And this is not surprising - all ballroom dancing competitions are held in several stages - from the qualifying round to the final round. And in each round, the performing couple must perform five dances, which last on average two minutes each. Agree that it is not difficult to imagine the level of stress on the body of the participants. But the life of dancers is not only about performances, it is also about regular, exhausting, hard, long hours of training.

• Strict discipline and ability to work in a team.

Ballroom dancing, by the way, is a team sport. Moreover, a team can consist of more than just two partners. The largest ballroom dancing team consists of 16 people, that is, 8 couples. Judge for yourself what level of discipline the dancers should have in order to successfully interact with all members of the team at once.

Clothes and shoes for ballroom dancing

When deciding whether or not to have ballroom dancing in your child’s life, you cannot help but take into account such an aspect as financial side question. Ballroom dancing is one of the most expensive sports. And it’s not even about the cost of ballroom dancing training, although it’s not cheap either. However, the most expensive thing is ballroom dance costumes for children.

In addition to the fact that a child needs at least two training suits and a pair of training shoes, they also need performance suits. You can buy workout costumes in stores that specialize in selling dancewear. However, with costumes for performances the situation is a little more complicated - they have to be sewn only to order. And this applies to both boys and girls. And the cost of such a suit can vary greatly - starting from several hundred dollars.

And since in our article we're talking about For children involved in ballroom dancing, parents should be reminded that the performance costume will last for a maximum of one year. After all, children, unlike adults, grow very quickly, outgrowing expensive suits.

In addition to all the above nuances, one should not lose sight of such an expense item as travel to competitions. Not only will you have to pay fees, you will also have to pay for travel to the competition site, room and board. And this is also a considerable amount. It is much wiser to assess the family’s financial capabilities in advance than to later inform your child that you have no money. Believe me, this will be a severe disappointment for him and with a strong blow on the child's psyche.

At what age should you go on the floor?

So, the decision has been made and there will still be ballroom dancing. And here another question arises: at what age should you send your child to a ballroom dance studio? It is quite difficult to answer this unequivocally. On the one hand, in ballroom dancing, like in any other sport, in order to achieve results it is necessary to introduce a child at a very tender age. On the other hand, it is quite difficult for children who have not reached at least five or six years of age to correctly perceive and evaluate the demands of the coach.

There are ballroom dance studios that accept children from about three to four years old. However, before you take your baby there, really evaluate his strength. If the baby is not yet able to concentrate his attention, coordinate his movements and gets tired quickly, you should not rush things and send him to a ballroom dance studio.

However, if the child is developed enough to perceive the coach’s commands, has a good memory, the ability to coordinate his movements well and has an ear for music, you can try and send the baby to dance. However, experts still say that the optimal age to start ballroom dancing is six years old.

How a trainer works with children

Of course, parents are interested in knowing how they work with children in a ballroom dance studio. So, your child has been accepted into a ballroom dance studio - what next? As a rule, at the beginning of training, the trainer will hold a parent meeting, at which parents will be given a list of what the child needs to purchase for further training.

During the first year of classes, children most often dance alone. Children are initiated into the basics of dance secrets. At this stage of training, the coach’s task is to teach children the basics of rhythm and choreography, as well as basic movements in ballroom dancing. The basics of the main dances are studied - Cha-cha-cha, Slow Waltz, Jive, Quick Step, as well as some auxiliary dances such as Blues, Polka, Disco.

In the second year of training, when the children are 6–7 years old, the coach places the children in pairs. During training, children begin to learn to perform the same movements that they learned last year, but in pairs. It is in the second year of study that children begin to take part in the first ballroom dancing competitions in their lives.

Ballroom dancing competition

In the second year of study, when the children are already paired up and go to their first competitions in their lives, they begin their performances in the “Beginners” category. The competition judges show a little more leniency towards such kids than towards other participants - after all, they are not only beginners on the floor, but also the youngest in age.

In the event that the year went well, and a couple of young dancers showed good results, she is assigned dance class “E-4”. In this class, children compete in four ballroom dances: Quick Step, Slow Waltz, Jive and Cha Cha Cha. Children's dance couples who have been assigned this class are already considered full-fledged athletes. They participate in various types competitions, both in class and in open groups at children's ballroom dancing competitions, in the Children group - 1.

If this year at least one of the dancers in a pair turns ten years old, the pair automatically falls into the next age group “Children - 2”. In this group, the competition is much more serious than among kids. Moreover, a great advantage is given to those couples who, by the time they move to the Children - 2 group, have reached class D, which means that children dance not four, but eight dances at competitions: 4 dances from the European program - Slow and Viennese Waltz, Tango , and Quick Step, and 4 dances from the Latin American program - Rumba and Jive, Cha-cha-cha, Samba.

Children take part in ballroom dancing competitions in the Children - 2 class for only two years. As soon as one of the partners in a couple turns 12 years old, the couple is automatically transferred to dance group Juniors – 1. In this age group children dance ballroom dancing almost like an adult dance program. And the judges’ requirements for such couples are also very strict - just like for adults. In addition, in this age group the requirements for appearance dancers - to their shoes, costumes and hairstyles.

Of course, not all the children who come to the ballroom dance studio will grow up to be Alexander Berezin or Victoria Rudkovskaya. However, in any case, ballroom dancing lessons for children will not be in vain. The elegance and grace of your son or daughter will allow them to always remain the center of attention!

Your child has an ear for music andgood sense of rhythm, he is mobile andartistic? It's time to think about enrolling him in a dance school for children.If you have chosen ballroom dancing, think carefully and weigh all the pros and cons of this sport.

If a child’s eyes sparkle, if everything works out in a new field for him, if he is cheerful and happy, then the right choice has been made.

• Ballroom dancing is a combination of art and sport. Dancing classes develop children's aesthetic senses, the ability to perceive music, an ear for music, teach them to control their body, and train motor skills and coordination of movements. Ballroom dancing classes contribute to the development physical strength child, endurance, improve the functioning of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, improve posture, strengthen muscles.
• Compared to other sports, ballroom dancing has an important advantage - it is less traumatic. Pair dancing also teaches a culture of communication between girls and fingers, between athletes of different ages.
• Children who attend dances are more active and collected in comparison with their peers who do not engage in choreography. In its turn physical development stimulates intellectual development.
• By practicing ballroom dancing, children at an early age learn to achieve their goals, but not because “you have to,” but because “you don’t have to, but you will definitely succeed!”, and this is a big difference in the formulation of the question.
• Dancing classes and participation in various competitions develop a child’s stress resistance, internal organization, and help solve many problems with complexes and self-esteem. And these problems, in turn, can cause delayed development and reluctance to study at school.

Cons of ballroom dancing

• If you grow little dancer, be prepared for the fact that not everyone will be sympathetic to the fact that your wonderful boy is involved in dancing and not a “male” sport.
• Ballroom dancing takes a lot of time, physical and mental strength from a child, that by loading him with anything other than school, you will simply ruin his childhood.
• Ballroom dancing is an expensive sport. You'll have to pay for group classes, individual lessons and participation in various competitions, buy or sew custom costumes and shoes for dancing. It is worth assessing your financial capabilities well, so as not to cause stress in your child due to the fact that after several painstaking months of study you will no longer be able to understand the child’s hobby.
• An important disadvantage of ballroom dancing: if one partner stops practicing, it is extremely difficult to replace him, and the couple may simply break up. In addition, there are always not enough boys as partners and it is possible that your daughter will have to dance alone for several years until a partner is found for her.

Who is ballroom dancing suitable for?

Ballroom dancing is ideal for dreamy girls, dance classes develop plasticity and learn to hear and feel music. Charming music, beautiful children's clothes for dancing, swirling couples - in such an environment the girl will feel like a princess.

Boys are most often brought to ballroom dancing by mothers who want to raise a prince and a gentleman. Yes, perhaps ballroom dancing is not the most courageous sport, despite the fact that the little dancer will face serious exercise stress. However, dance practice will definitely help your boy in the future: when he begins to be interested in girls, it will be easier for him to find an approach to the fair half of humanity... After all, few women refuse an outstretched hand and the offer “let’s dance.”

Any decision of parents should be based on the desires and preferences of the baby - that’s when it will turn out to be correct. And don’t be afraid of difficulties - they always go hand in hand with success.

Prepared by Maryana Chornovil