Children who take dance classes often experience physical, mental, and emotional benefits. In addition to providing regular exercise, dance can also improve mental focus and regulate one's mood. When your kids show an interest in dancing, they can choose from a variety of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. The following guide offers more information about each type of dance and how to help your young ones select the right style.

A Guide to Dance Styles for Young Children

1. Ballet

Ballet attracts many children because of the graceful movements and beautiful tutus. It provides an excellent foundation for all forms of dance because it teaches the fundamentals of movement. Children will learn how to move their arms and legs with grace and poise while building strength, flexibility, and a core sense of balance.

2. Tap

Tap dance classes are ideal for the aspiring Broadway star. This dance style involves striking the floor with the feet in repetitive and percussive movements. The aluminum plates of the soles of these dance shoes create a tapping sound as you move.

This style provides an excellent way for children to learn rhythm and counting, which can be helpful fundamental skills for learning hip-hop dance routines, as well. It also builds brain and muscle memory since kids will have to memorize rapid-fire sets of movements and hand gestures.

3. Hip-Hop

Hip-hop dancing features bold, high-intensity movements that can make kids feel more confident both in and outside of the dance classroom. This type of dancing is common in modern music videos and will make your young ones feel like the pop stars they look up to. This style also gets the heart pumping and builds muscles in the arms, legs, and core. 

4. Jazz

Jazz is high-energy and requires technical precision as the music and movements are often fast-paced. This dance style is popular on Broadway and builds strength and flexibility. Jazz classes can boost a child's creativity since the movements allow them to add personal touches. 

If your child wants to explore the many styles of dance, enroll them in classes at Dancexcel in Brunswick, OH. This dance studio offers instruction in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop to children from the ages of 1 to 18. Call (330) 273-5525 to sign your toddler or teen up for dance classes, and visit this studio online to browse updated course schedules.