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Tips for First Time Dancers

 

Starting something new is always a little scary at first, but joining dance doesn’t have to be. Here at Reach For The Barres we strive to create a fun and inclusive dance experience. We believe dance is for everybody, and everybody can dance. And the best way to learn is through fun. So please don’t fret if this is your first time stepping into the studio! 


TRY A VARIETY OF STYLES

There are so many different genres of dance that you may be unsure of which to choose when deciding to learn to dance. The simple answer is to try lots of different dance styles. You and your dancer may just fall in love with all of them! 

IT’S GOOD TO MAKE MISTAKES!

Dance class is where you learn, and you can’t learn without making mistakes. The dance studio serves as a safe space for growth. You often have to keep getting it wrong until you eventually get it right. We encourage your dancer to not see mistakes and failures as setbacks, but rather to see them as part of the learning process that they need to move onto greatness! 

PATIENCE IS AN ART

All good things take time. Learning new steps is a reward that comes from patience and practice. No one can become a star dancer over night. We will teach your dancer the art of grace and patience! Rome wasn’t built in a day.

PERFECTION DOESN’T EXIST 

The beauty in learning dance is the potential to blossom. With dance one’s ability to improve is endless. Dance is a skill that everyone can keep crafting for life. Even top professional dancers can watch videos of themselves, and see where they have a chance to improve.

RELAX AND HAVE FUN 

Always remember dance is meant to be fun. It’s a beautiful art form of expression, which also allows your mind and body to stay healthy. Our studio is here to allow you and our dancers to the  shake off stress, and enjoy a powerful mind-body-soul connection that comes by way of movement (and great music)! 

 

 

 

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Back To Dance

ARE YOU READY FOR THE SEASON AHEAD!

IF YOU’VE ALREADY FOUND YOUR CLASS WE WANT TO REMIND YOU 3 TIPS TO STAY ON POINTE! 

1. Find Your Focus
Embrace the fun, double-check those dance schedules and get ready to adjust to busier weeks spent ferrying dance-loving kiddos to and from classes.

2. Be Prepared
Double check your ‘what to wear list’ and make sure your dancer is prepared with all the right clothes, and hair for class! Showing up dressed appropriately for each class sets your child up for success.

3. Fuel up
If you’re heading straight to dance after school, pack your snacks in advance. Food is fuel, and the key to performing you’re best in class. A dancer full of nutrition is a happy dancer ready to take on a day/night full of classes.

IF YOU’RE STILL TRYING TO FIND A CLASS BEST SUITED FOR YOUR DANCER – LET US HELP YOU! 

Choosing a style for you dancer can seem daunting, but we hope we can help guide you in the direction that best suits your child. The style or discipline of dance your child should begin learning is ballet. If your child finds ballet colorless then starting with a class such as; jazz, hip hop or tap is perfect! Why ballet? Ballet creates the foundation and strength for movement. It teaches kids how to point their toes, and how use their arms guided with technique, develop flexibility, increase balance and strength which are key in all other types of dancing.

If your child is interested in learning hip hop, jazz or, tap? It is important that your dancer is interested in what they are learning. The more interest they hold the more motivated to improve. That being so if they love dancing to more upbeat music a hip hop or jazz class might be more beneficial for them to develop their love of dance first.
Here are some other styles of dance that we offer that you may be unfamiliar with.

WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY?
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical, classical ballet and even hip-hop. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and body through their movement.
BENEFITS: Expressive and emotional outlet, self confidence, body and spacial awareness, strength, endurance.

WHAT IS  MUSICAL THEATRE?
This fun class combines upbeat, stylized movement with proper technique. Jazz dance is based on ballet principles with each class consisting of a warm-up using isolated movements, across the floor progressions, and current choreography all set to age appropriate music. Emphasis and high focus will also be placed on musical interpretation, and learning performance skills such as connecting with the audience and telling a story through dance and facial expressions, along with character building.  We highly recommend this class for all young dancers especially those who love to perform wherever they go. 
BENEFITS: Self confidence, coordination, strength, flexibility, endurance.

WHAT IS POM PEP PREP?
Is a beginner pom class for 8-11 year old students that teaches sharp movements with poms, which blends jazz technique, turns, and leaps with strong arm positions. This exciting class will consist of cheer and dance team technique including pirouettes, toe touches, leaps, pom placement, safe stunts and more. Pom Pep Prep is not a cheer class, but rather a dance class that teaches dance combinations to integrate into pom squad routines.  Students will learn several sideline and pom routines through the season to help them prepare for a cheer and/or dance team future. These pre-choreographed routines will help prepare your child for future performances on the sidelines – or the end of the year recital! Complete with poms, bow, sparkles, and more – This class will be a fun and perfect fit for your aspiring dance team member or cheerleader!
BENEFITS: Team building, showmanship, precision, coordination, strength, endurance and self confidence

WHAT IS  HIP HOP (NINJAS)?
This class if for those high energy movers and shakers that are always ready to show-off their latest moves, and in the mood to hop + bop around with new tumbles + tricks. It combines the basics of hip hop (only age appropriate movement and music – we promise!) with basic acrobatic and tumbling skills. Dancers will perform a hip hop dance in the year-end-recital.
BENEFITS: Self confidence, coordination, strength, flexibility, endurance

No matter the style of dance you and your child choose we can assure they will have loads of fun, and learn lessons they will carry with them beyond the classroom.
We cannot wait to see you all in the studio again, and have another year full of dancing!

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5 Benefits of Taking Class Together!

Some of the BEST memories are made on a dance floor together! As we celebrate Bring Your Person to Class (BYPTC) at the studio this week, it got us reflecting on how special it is to share dance with loved ones- something our Mini & Me classes get to do every week! In this article, we aim to explore the ways dancing together, whether its in BYPTC week or a weekly Mini & Me class, benefit both the adult and the child.

Below, we share 5 benefits both you and your mini me will gain from taking class together:

  1. Bonding + Quality Time – Carving out special dance time together helps facilitate and support the adult + child connection. When you commit to following through on taking class together, you enforce the promise you made to share in something intentionally special for you two, increasing trust, strengthening your bond, and promoting consistency, which is essential to motor and mental development.
  2. Developing Mental and Motor Skills– Speaking of motor and mental development- dance class is an optimal approach to achieving and supporting healthy bodies. Studies show that both adults and children benefit from dance classes, and some benefits include increased brain function, memory retention, and strengthening muscles, among many others. Scroll through to see our post entitled, “5 Ways Children Benefit from Dance Classes“ for more!
  3. Socializing– Dancing together is a wonderful way to connect to the community and make new friends. Through sharing the experience of class together, your dancer will explore creating friendships for the first time, while you are able to connect with other adults on all things childcare, dance, and more! For many, the connections and friendships built in class can be lasting, positive relationships that extend beyond dance and widen the net of support for families, caregivers, and students.
  4. Expression– Dancing holds the power to unlock and release emotions in a healthy, mindful, and creative way. For both adults and children, who each deal with their own daily stressors and challenges, the act of coming together on the dance floor can empower both parties to explore their expression in a conducive way. The effects of this expression can have an overall positive impact on one’s own sense of happiness as well as the relationships and friendships within one’s own circle.
  5. Develop Independence– You’ve heard the expression: “Monkey see, monkey do”? The same is true for dancing together! While initially you may wonder how dancing with someone could result in increased independence, we’ve found that with the assistance of their adult in class, dancers are excited to watch, learn, and model moves and class expectations exhibited by their adult. Ultimately, this will encourage them to make similar choices in class on their own. Over time and with consistency, dancers will see a boost in their confidence and autonomy on the dance floor, allowing adults to be able to sit back more and let loose in their own way.

    Whether you come for BYPTC week or to one of our weekly Mini & Me classes, we’re thrilled to provide the opportunity for families to connect through dance here at Reach For The Barres! Hope to see you AND your dancer in the studio soon!

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Party Mode On!

You’re cordially invited to attend the parties of the Summer!

 

With imaginative, original themes, like Into the Fun-known and Minnie Mouse Dress Up House, each one of our newest Pirouette + Play Dance Parties celebrates the joy of movement, creativity, and fun!

Below, we share four more things we already love about Pirouette + Play Dance Parties:

  • P+P Parties combine the magic of dance class with the fun of camp in a festive two hour party!
  • P+P Parties have all the party essentials: games, crafts, and – of course – dancing!
  • P+P Parties provide an open, welcoming space for dancers to express themselves!
  • P+P Parties are the perfect place for nurturing new friends or making new memories with old ones!

RSVP for four P+P Parties by May 1st and receive an Early Bird Discount on ALL four parties. Plus, you’ll  receive one of our Party Punchcard with your purchase!

Boogie into as many of our Pirouette + Play Dance Parties as you can make it to and keep your tiny dancer moving & grooving all summer long! With so much fun in store, we can’t wait to get these parties started! For more details, view our party page HERE.