The best dances for children are the dances that they enjoy to the fullest. These dances are appropriate for their stage of development. The training is perfectly adapted to the motor, social and intellectual skills that the child already masters at his age.
Before 4 years of age
Before 4 years of age, children are not yet ready to take dance classes that have a formal structure. However, they can take the movement classes offered by some dance academies for children of 2 and 3 years of age.
In these classes the little ones learn to develop their motor skills through games. Normally parents can attend these classes and participate with their children.
4 to 8 years old
From 4 years of age, children already have enough ability to pay attention and learn to dance in a dance class. However, they can not take dance classes that have very strong physical demands.
In this stage the bones of the children are still very tender. They are not ready to receive rigorous dance training like ballet. Dance classes for children between 4 and 8 years of age should focus on basic movement and coordination skills.
In many classes for children of these ages, children learn to move their bodies following the rhythm of different types of music.
Best dances for this age:
- Creative dance
- Pre-ballet
- Folk dances
8 to 10 years old
Beginning at age 8, children can start taking more structured dance classes. Their bodies are ready to receive more demanding physical training. They also have enough maturity to stay focused and follow formal training with discipline.
Children 8 years of age and older can be interested in various types of dance at the same time or can focus on the dance that they are most passionate about.
The best dances for children from 8 to 10 years of age are:
- Ballet
- Tap dancing
- Jazz funk
- Modern dance
- Sevillanas
- Dancing ballroom
- Swing
- Traditional dances and many more
10 years and up
From 10 years of age, children already have their interests and tastes defined by distinctive types of dance. The best dances for children of these ages are dances that they prefer to learn to dance and dances that are more related to their personality.
They may be interested in dancing for creative reasons. They could choose the dance as a hobby or as a more serious training with professional plans for the future. It is also possible that they are interested in dancing to share socially or to do a physical activity.
At these ages, children are still in time to start taking ballet classes. It is a good stage to learn to dance dances that require a lot of dedication like flamenco and the same ballet.
Also at this stage many children are interested in couples dances like salsa, cumbia or ballroom dancing. Or they are passionate about the dances that correspond to musical styles of the moment such as hip hop.