Introducing Your Child to the Arts: Making Art Through Movement (continued)

• Space that is clean, ventilated, well-lit, and free of obstructions.
• A floor that is resilient and well maintained. A suspended wood floor is best to avoid physical stress, but certain treatments over cement and tile can accommodate dance that does not include a great deal of landing from jumps. Floor space should be adequate for the class size and the age of the participants (ideally, 100 square feet per student).
• Adequate space for changing clothes.
• Access to drinking water and restrooms.

Formal instruction in specific dance forms is rarely appropriate before age seven or eight. Pointe work (ballet dance on “toe”) should not begin before there is well-developed body coordination, adequate strength, proper skeletal alignment, and working body placement. Special attention must be given to the development of the feet, legs, and back. Few children should start pointe work before age 12, following a year-long preparation-forpointe class.

The Following Class Size and Duration are Suggested 

The Benefits of Dance

Physical

Dance increases flexibility, improves circulation, tones the body, and develops muscles. It also improves body alignment, balance, and coordination.

Intellectual

Through dance, children learn spatial concepts, sequencing, patterning, and an awareness of their own body.

Emotional

Dance is expressive and helps children explore their feelings. Greater physical ability builds self-confidence.

Social

Dance is a communal experience and engenders sensitivity, understanding, appreciation, and consideration for others.

Cultural

Dance fosters an interest in other cultures. Studying dance forms that originate in other worlds, students gain historical understanding of other peoples.

Aesthetic

Dance awakens a sense of beauty, lending new meaning to movement and form.

Resources

Books That Encourage Dance

Sleepytime Rhyme, by Remy Charlip (ages 2-4)
The Adventures of Klig and Gop, by Ann Hutchinson Guest (ages 5-8)
(Series of 8 books teaching Dance Motif Writing)
Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak (ages 3-7)

Books That Teach Children About Dance or the Body

Let’s Dance by George Ancona (ages 2-8)
dance! By Elisha Cooper (ages 4-10)
A Moving Experience by Teresa Benzwie (ages 2-12)

Videos

Sing, Dance and Sign by Gaia (ages 4-8)
The Primary Movers Move Russia by Primary Movers (ages 5-adult)
Dance for our Children by University of Calgary (ages 5-adult)

Music

Contrast and Continuum: Music for Creative Dance by Eric Chappelle, 4 Volumes (ages 2-10)
Primary Movers by Primary Movers (ages 3-8)

Web Sites

National Dance Association (NDA) (included on American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Web site)
www.aahperd.org/nda/

The goal of the National Dance Association is to promote quality dance programs in the areas of health, physical education, and recreation by increasing knowledge, improving skills, and encouraging sound professional practices in dance education.

National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
www.ndeo.org

The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) advances dance education centered in the arts. NDEO is dedicated to promoting standards of excellence in dance education through the development of quality education in the art of dance through professional development, service, and leadership.