Dance classes provide young people with fun and exercise. They can also help them learn persistence in the face of new challenges and give them an added boost of self-esteem as they see themselves improving through hard work. While these benefits are shared between different kinds of dance, your child might be interested in one type more than another. The guide below explores some of the most popular options to consider.

What Dance Classes Could Be Good for Your Child?

1. Ballet

One of the most technical and beautiful types of dance, ballet teaches students good posture and flexibility while strengthening their cores, arms, and legs. Football players are often encouraged to take a few classes since it can enhance their performance on the field. 

Kids usually begin ballet between the ages of four and eight. However, keep in mind that they will be graduated to pointe shoes sometime after they turn 11, which can be a significant change. 

2. Tap

Precise foot movements are important in all areas of dance, but none more so than tap, as students will have to carefully keep track of the placement of their heels and toes to produce the correct sounds from their shoes. Lessons can also teach kids rhythm and timing. 

Because tap provides a multi-sensory experience, it is often used in entertainment, popularized by actors like Shirley Temple. If your young one enjoys constantly moving and making noise, this often-quick style of dance might be for them. 

3. Jazz

Jazz is also high-energy but generally involves more freedom of expression and movement than ballet or tap. This can be great for kids looking for an outlet for their emotions. While students will build strength, a lot of jazz involves improving stamina, which can help some kids focus more in classes or sleep better at night. 

Becoming confident doing improvisation has many uses. Your child might feel more comfortable introducing themselves to new people or appearing before an audience.

4. Dance Acrobatics

This class requires students to have already taken a year of ballet, jazz, or gymnastics. It involves jumps, splits, tumbling, and other gymnastics maneuvers like cartwheels. Because of the strength, flexibility, and spatial awareness it helps kids gain, this option can complement martial arts lessons. 

5. Musical Theatre

Many kids interested in dancing might also like singing or the idea of performing in general. Musical theatre lessons usually involve teaching students some jazz and helping them with breathing techniques, stage presence, and vocal control. This can provide a useful background for a diverse range of interests—whether your child wants to be a Broadway performer, news reporter, or lecturer someday.

If your child is interested in dance, enroll them at Kick It Up Dance in Long Beach, CA. They teach a wide range of classes. Beyond the styles mentioned above, kids can try hip-hop or lyrical dancing. To learn more about these offerings, visit the website. You can sign your child up for their first class for free. Call (562) 430-1812 with questions.