Why should we dance?
All parents are concerned about their children and how to keep them safe from harmful influences. We want our children to succeed in life. We want them to become better people than we are. So we all, as good parents, want to provide the best opportunity for our children to succeed, to excel in life, no matter what they do. Giving our children something they can excel at is the best way we can combat those harmful influences that surround them.
Dance is one way to accomplish that. Why dance and why dance with us?
Why dance?
- Art education. Research shows artistic education and creativity helps develop the brain to function in higher levels.* Dance teaches a child self-expression, good visual-spatial abilities, reflection, self-criticism, how to work with others and the willingness to experiment and learn from mistakes.
- Exercise. The physical benefits not only keep the body in shape but also keep the brain active, more organized, and relaxed.
- Rhythm. For the little ones ages 2-5, they learn how to control and coordinate their body movements with rhythm. Learning rhythm properly and how to coordinate body movements with rhythm is known to help children master brain functions better. The body works on rhythm, ie heart rate, breathing etc, which is why skills are mastered through repetition. It also helps when a child reaches the teenage years. Their bodies are changing very rapidly. Learning to control muscle movements in dance is the best way to help them through those tough years.
- Coordination. This works with rhythm. Dance teaches how to control all muscle movements in a coordinated, smooth, and visually beautiful way. Self-confidence is given a tremendous boost when these physical skills are learned. Children with strong self-confidence have an easier time through difficult times.
- Emotional expression. In dance, a child learns how to express emotion through movement rather than words. Anger can be relieved by a strong, fast dance, sadness through a slow, lyrical, expressive dance. Fear, depression, excitement, etc can all be released and expressed through dance. The child learns to control emotions by channeling them into dance, rather than bottling them up inside.
Why dance with us?
- Environment. Children feel safe as they are given positive attention. They are uplifted in the optimistic environment that is one of our top priorities. They are also taught how to uplift and encourage those around them.
- Correct technique. We teach correct dance technique and through repetition, make sure students learn it well before they advance. Many studios don't teach correct technique and dancers are at a much higher risk of injury. We do this through proper warm-up, conditioning, and careful monitoring. We make sure they do things correctly before moving on so that their muscles are prepared to support them in difficult movements and we don't push them to injury. We only advance dancers when they have learned their technique correctly, not because of their age.
- Great recitals. Because nobody likes a boring dance performance, our performances are always built around a theme. With Leah’s performances in Utah, one father remarked, "If this is what dance is, then I'm in!" Others have said, "This is the best dance performance I've been to" and "I actually stayed awake! This was fun!"
- Prepared for the future. Dancers will be trained and prepared to earn scholarships to colleges in dance and to go on to make money as professional dancers if they desire. Because we spend so much time on correct technique, our dancers are better prepared to dance professionally and to teach dance. With the proper technique, they have a better opportunity to be on college dance teams that travel all over the world to perform and enrich others’ lives through dance.
- Small classes. Class sizes are kept small so students receive constant feedback to help them improve and keep their attention.
- Discipline. Kids thrive in an organized atmosphere with clear boundaries. We take respectful behavior very seriously and teach kids to listen to their teacher, listen to instructions, be respectful of peers and still be themselves. Those who break the rules are asked to sit out until they can behave. Because they enjoy the classes so much, very few choose to misbehave.
- Great teacher. To learn more about Leah Vincent’s resume - check on her link “Leah Vincent Bio” on the side. Leah has over 14 years of teaching experience and is one of the best at helping children improve and gain a love for dance.
- Repetition. Our dancers learn, through constant repetition, how to perfect their movements and how to use practice most effectively.
- We are FUN! Our classes are fun and emphasize organized "play" in class that makes it fun to learn a skill.
As Will Durant said “We are what we do repeatedly. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, it is a habit.” Here at Innovation Dance Academy, we teach excellence.
*Study done 2006-2007 by the Boston Globe, funded by the J. Paul Getty Trust, observing and analyzing 5 classes at the Boston Arts Academy, a public school in the Fenway, and the private Walnut Hill School for the arts in Natick.
Acts of Achievement: The Role of Performing Arts Centers in Education Contributing Organization(s): PubHub Publication date: 2003-10-01
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