| Every parent faces the dilemma of how to choose | | | | kicked or hit. |
| the best after school activity for their child, and dance | | | | 3. Good posture. It is easy to instantly identify a ballet |
| classes are often included somewhere on the list of | | | | dancer in a crowd because of the way they hold |
| possibilities. Signing you child up for ballet classes is one | | | | themselves. One of the first things your child learns in |
| of the best choices you can make, for more reasons | | | | ballet classes is how to stand up straight. Ballet |
| than you might imagine. There are other valuable skills | | | | developed during the Middle Ages in the Italian and |
| to be gained aside from the physical benefits of | | | | French courts; its movements reflected the dignified |
| exercise that will serve your child in many other | | | | and noble carriage of court members. Today's |
| activities for the rest of their lives. | | | | ballerinas still possess that same air of splendid |
| 1. Grace and coordination. Ballet lessons help a child to | | | | magnificence, provided by excellent posture. |
| develop awareness of their body and how to control | | | | 4. Listening skills. A ballet dancer has to pay attention |
| their movements. Ballet is a highly refined style of | | | | and listen all the time. Every ballet class is full of verbal |
| dance that requires dancers to be very precise in their | | | | directions and demonstrations. Choreography must be |
| movements. There are specific positions for the feet, | | | | learned and then remembered. Not only do ballet |
| head and arms, and over time, all students in the ballet | | | | students learn to listen to the ballet instructor's input, |
| class learn to put these separate movements and | | | | they also learn to listen to the music and dance the |
| positions together to steer the body through a dance. | | | | proper steps on the proper counts of the music. |
| Practicing the same movements over and over leads | | | | 5. Physical activity. Our bodies were made to move, |
| to perfection and precision, and grace is a by-product | | | | and daily exercise is a vital part of health. In fact, |
| of those efforts. It is also exciting for children to | | | | current guidelines suggest 20-45 minutes of moderate |
| witness the extent of their development as moves get | | | | exercise every day. Ballet classes are a fun and |
| easier and become second nature. | | | | rewarding way to simultaneously learn new things and |
| 2. Spatial awareness. There are a lot of other students | | | | take care of your body. |
| in class, and ballet classes often end with dance | | | | Signing up for ballet lessons is sure to be rewarding in |
| moves performed in the center of the room. It is a | | | | both the short and long term, for these reasons and |
| challenge to learn how to dance around through open | | | | more. Besides being fun, ballet provides a solid |
| space without crashing into other people. All ballet | | | | foundation for a wide variety of other activities, like |
| students learn to pay attention to their classmates, and | | | | sports, figure skating, gymnastics, and other forms of |
| make sure to maintain enough space between | | | | dance. Every minute spent in the ballet studio is an |
| themselves and others so no one gets accidentally | | | | investment in your child's future. |