Dance classes are a great extracurricular activity for children, as they're fun and healthy and help children socialize with others their age. However, there are many dance styles to choose from, and it can be challenging to decide which is best for your child. If you're researching dance classes for your son or daughter, one style you may come across is lyrical dance. The following guide explores this dance form to help you determine if it's right for your child.

What Is Lyrical Dance?

Lyrical dance is a style that makes for a great introduction to dance. It takes elements from ballet and jazz and blends them into a new style by borrowing the fluidity and posture from ballet and mixing them with the speed and improvisation of jazz. It then adds the element of lyric interpretation, with dancers expressing the emotion of the music and lyrics through their movements.

Why Is It So Popular?

Lyrical dance is less demanding and rigid than traditional styles like ballet and jazz, allowing for more emotionality and individualism. It's also more contemporary and uses music genres like pop, hip-hop, and rock as its basis since these types of music are more expressive and emotional. Dancers use their bodies to display their emotions to the audience, making it compelling to watch. For these reasons, lyrical dance is continuing to grow in popularity.

Is Lyrical Dance Right for Your Child?

Lyrical dance is an excellent choice for beginners, especially teens. Since it teaches dancers to express emotions through movement, your child must be old enough to understand and interpret the lyrics. It also doesn't require extreme flexibility or strength, making it easier for older students without prior experience to learn. Overall, it lets dancers express themselves while remaining fun and exciting and teaches them skills they can apply to other dance styles. If your tween or teenage child has expressed an interest in learning to dance, lyrical dance makes for a great first class.

Let your child experience the joys of dance by enrolling them in dance classes at Heidi Knight School of Dance in Huntsville, AL. They've trained dancers ages two and up since 2003 and offer various styles and skill levels. The dance instructors are highly experienced and have created a comfortable environment of encouragement and support for all students. Visit the website for details about the studio and its class offerings, or call (256) 430-4315 to arrange a visit.