If you have a budding dancer on your hands, you may be thinking about finding dance classes best suited to their tastes and skill. Dance is great exercise and a good outlet for creativity, but styles of dance are so different that they may be hard to narrow down. Any dancing is good dancing, but if you want the best options for your time and money, here are some things to consider. 

Ballet

Ballet can often be a good starting point for children interested in dance. The footwork, technique, and graceful lines needed for this style of dance are pillars of many other dance styles as well.  The technique required builds core strength and flexibility and produces aesthetically pleasing forms. Ballet is very structured and the uniforms and costumes can be very elegant. These may be selling points for some, but not all children will enjoy this. 

Tap 

Tap is another good choice for children as it is not quite as rigid as ballet while still emphasizing footwork and building dance basics. Kids will definitely get exercise doing these dance classes. Tap is high-energy and lends itself well to self-expression and skill levels. New dancers can have fun learning basics and making new sounds while more experienced tappers can perfect their moves. Another bonus: Kids also love tap shoes because they are shiny and noisy. 

Jazz

Children with large personalities who are interested in musical theater would find jazz dance classes a good fit. The moves are large but precise, high energy and varied. Jazz can accompany modern dance on Broadway and is great for your little singer or for a child who wants to dance but gets bored easily. Although dancers with a background in ballet would do well in jazz, they can still become very skilled dancers by only learning jazz.  

Hip-Hop

A free-spirited, creative dancer who feels too restricted in other styles of dance classes will likely thrive in hip-hop dance. Its technically skilled footwork paired with self-expression and ease of movement makes hip-hop a fun option. It lends well to creativity as dancers learn basic moves and then are encouraged to improvise, and many kids may like pop music better than classical or jazz and Broadway standards played in other styles. 

When you enroll your child in dance lessons at Dream Dance Co. in Shelby Township, MI, they will learn dance skills, confidence and the art of dance in a fun environment. Their instructors teach a wide variety of dance styles as well as gymnastics. For more information on their classes, visit the website or call (586) 488-7011 today.