Studio Move Boise – Page 2 – Studio Move Boise
Categories
Blog

6 Ways Dance Classes Benefit Early Development in Kids

 

6 Ways Dance Classes Benefit Early Development in Kids

Most kids like to play and move around. Dance is an organized way of moving around. Dancing classes for kids allow them to get access to professional dance instructors and teachers, music, and other children. Even though dance is a form of exercise, it does not seem or feel like exercise for kids. Dance is fun. It is an easy way to convince kids that exercise does not have to be boring. If you instill a positive attitude while they are still young, your kids are likely to continue dancing when they grow up. The following are some of the ways that dance classes may help in early development.

 

  1. Developing Social Skills

 

Kids that are in a dancing school are likely to develop good social skills at a young age. They interact with other kids and their instructors. They have no choice but to develop good interpersonal and communication skills. Dancing schools may divide kids into teams. The kids learn the importance of teamwork in achieving a shared goal, leadership, and respect for authority figures. They learn how to listen to instructions from the instructors and suggestions from other kids. The social skills may help them in other aspects of their lives.

 

  1. #Confidance Development

Dance allows kids to develop high self-esteem. They learn about their bodies. People that understand how their bodies work are unlikely to be ashamed of their physical appearance. Most kids are unsure of themselves when they first join a dance class. They may think that they are unable to perform certain moves. When they do, they realize that they are just as capable as the people they looked up to. Trying out and succeeding in various challenges makes a child feel good. They become confident in their knowledge when they learn about different dance moves and their origins. Dance reduces shyness and promotes assertiveness. That’s why at StudioMoveBoise.com we refer to confidence as #ConfiDance!

 

  1. Mental Development

Dance may facilitate the psychological development of children. A child’s brain is continually developing especially when the child learns new things. During a dance, kids learn about focus, body coordination, and making decisions fast. Dance encourages kids to explore their creativity. All the types of dance demand some creativity. Children can use their imagination to come up with new moves and provide solutions to various problems. There is no better time for human beings to develop their creativity than when they are young.

 

  1. Cognitive Development

Children that attend dance classes learn the importance of self-discipline from a young age. They learn the necessary skills and their ability to memorize, evaluate, and analyze things improves. It improves their progress in other aspects of their lives including academic performance and problem-solving skills. Dance demands for children to pay attention. Children that are below five years old have short attention spans of about 15 minutes. Dance classes may help with that. Children that attend dance classes at a young age learn to balance school and extracurricular activities when they grow older.

 

  1. Emotional Development

Dancing helps your child to learn how to identify and express different emotions. The ability to express feelings has both physical and mental benefits. They may learn to use dance as an outlet to express their feelings even when they grow older. Expressing emotions helps to reduce psychological stress and anxiety. It improves their self-esteem and may help you learn things about your child that you did not know.

 

  1. Academic Development

Children that attend dance classes have a strong academic foundation. They are likely to perform well in school. It sets a strong foundation for math. Dancing involves combinations of patterns and counting. Left-brain learning promotes logical thinking which increases chances of success in math. It helps to learn a language because dance involves a lot of vocabulary. It requires dancers to be creative. Creativity is important when learning a language. Kids may learn about the different parts of their bodies as they dance. It helps to improve their Science abilities. Dancers learn to focus and follow instructions. They learn how to be creative and inquisitive. These qualities may help set the foundation for academic success.

Preparing Kids for Dance School

If you plan on taking your kids to dance school for the first time, you need to prepare. Do not let the excitement make you forget important things. The following are some of the things to remember.

  • Dress the kids appropriately. Ensure that their dress code is flexible and relevant to their dance style. Their shoes should be comfortable and well-fitting
  • Explain to them what to expect. Preparing the kids may keep them from feeling awkward or anxious.
  • Encourage and reward your little dancers. It helps to build their confidence.
  • Reassure your kids that nothing will go wrong. Let them know that you will be there to assists them in case of any problems.
Categories
Blog

Dancing Can Keep Your Kids Focused in School and Improve Performance

We all need some form of physical activity to stay healthy and live long, and that applies for the little ones too. Exercise is actually more important for children since their bodies are still developing, and physical activity helps their bodies grow and develop the right way. One of the best ways for children to stay physically active is dancing. Dance helps your children stay fit and at the same time, it improves their flexibility and range of motion.

The benefits of dancing for children are innumerable. It’s also quite obvious that arts provisioning in mainstream schools is shrinking, and as a parent, you may be wondering if dance classes are the next logical step for your child. Today, we help you clear the doubt. In this article, we explore the benefits of dancing and how this fun and exciting activity can keep your child focused in school and improve his or her performance. But first, how do you know if dancing is a good activity for your kid?

How to Tell If Dancing Is a Good Activity for Your Child

To reap all the benefits — beyond physical exercise — of dancing, your child has to find dancing, as an activity, fun and exciting. So, how can you tell if your kid’s into dancing? Well, if your child is old enough to know and express clearly what he/she likes, you can just ask. If the child isn’t sure, try sending him/her to a summer dance camp for week or two. It’s a great way for you and the child to figure out if dance classes are a welcome addition to their regular routine.

For younger children, there are a few ways to tell if a kid can benefit from dance lessons. For instance, does the child enjoy watching people dance on TV? Is the child always dancing around in the house? Or maybe your kid has expressed interest in dance lessons, directly or indirectly? And if so, enrolling him/her for a dance class is a good idea. Don’t worry about their age or size; most instructors will happily enroll children as young as 3 years old.

The Benefits of Dance Lessons for Kids

As we said earlier, dancing has a lot of benefits for children. For starters, dancing will help your child maintain a balanced lifestyle and it’s a fun source of exercise. But that’s not all, dancing can keep your child focused in school and improve academic performance. According to a study conducted by the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), children who participate in dancing and other performance arts show an improvement in reading comprehension, speaking, and writing skills. Here are some of the ways in which dance can help your child at school.

Dance Improves Behavioral Issues

Behavioral issues, such as hyperactivity can have a negative impact on a child’s focus and academic performance. Dance is a skill that requires discipline, focus, and coordination. It’s one of the most effective ways of releasing pent-up energy. Dancing tends to have a calming effect on a child thus helping improve behavioral issues. The child learns to put in the same focus, discipline, and dedication they put in during dance class at school, which, in turn, leads to better academic performance.

Dancing Encourages Socialization

Dance class is a good place to make friends and help the child improve his or her social skills. With every dance class, your child learns how to improve his or her social and communication skills. The child also learns how to cooperate with others, work together as a team, and freely express himself/herself. These social and communication skills are transferred to the classroom.  When a child can express himself/herself clearly, ask the right questions, and cooperate with other students in the class, his/her academic performance will improve dramatically.

Dancing Boosts Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem can affect the life of a child in many ways. For instance, low self-esteem often leads to poor academic performance in children. Physical activities such as dancing help a child understand how his/her body moves, which helps them become more comfortable in their own skin. It takes confidence and courage to dance in front of an audience. Therefore, dancing, in a way, help develop these important qualities — and a positive attitude. A child with confidence, courage, positive attitude, and high self-esteem will perform better at school.

Dancing Promotes Creativity

Dancing is a form of self-expression. Attending dance classes promotes creativity and helps a child learn to appreciate the arts. A child that starts exploring the world of dance at an early age will find a positive way to express him/herself and a positive outlet for his/her creativity. Dancing allows children to hone their creativity, which helps them know their fields of interest early in life. When a child knows what field of academics he/she wants to pursue, they are able to focus and perform better in school.

Categories
Instructor

Mandy Nelson

Certified Barre Instructor

Mandy is an Idaho native and a Bleed Blue Bronco! A Boise State alum, she has worked for the university for over 20 years and still loves going to work every day! Mandy started dancing in high school and continued in college as a Mane Line dancer. After college, dancing took a backseat to being a wife and mother of two boys.

Categories
Instructor

Tawnya Halleus

Founder, CEO

Tawnya first began her career as a student of dance 35 years ago. Her young start helped develop a deep love for dance that led to a deep love of teaching the art to all levels of skill. At the age of 12, she began teaching her first dance class, where she was mentored to become one of Idaho’s top dance instructors.

While a student in high school, Tawnya was also a high school dance team coach for one of Idaho’s award-winning teams. She then pursued her education at Boise State University while a member of the two-time National Champion Mainline Dance Team. After her college days, she continued her dancing experience as a member of the Steelheads Hockey dance/cheer team as well as a team member of the Boise Stallions and a part of the Stampede dance team.

After spending several years as a professional dancer, Tawnya returned to the dance studio as an instructor where she quickly became well known in the dance community as a creative, cutting-edge dance artist who brings original content to all of her programs and classes. As a lifelong student of the art of dance, Tawnya has enjoyed continuing her education with classes, certifications, and trainings throughout the United States and internationally including the prestigious Millennium Dance Complex in Salt Lake City; additional courses at The Edge Performing Arts in Los Angeles CA, and visiting studios in New York and Hollywood.

A gifted instructor, Tawnya’s classes and programs have attracted all levels of ability from beginners to advanced where she custom fits the content to each individual.

Tawnya is the owner and founder of the dance studio Hidden Springs Dance Academy, teaching a wide range of programs to all ages. In January 2017, she founded the original Dance N Sip program, catering to ladies 21 and up for a fun-filled evening of wine and dance that encourages every woman to find their inner sexy self through a little liquid courage — the ultimate Girls’ Night Out!