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What Do You Really Want For Your Dancer?

    What Do You Really Want For Your Dancer?

    If your answer is that you want her to be physically fit, to have fun, and to make friends, then you’re in the right place. Dance Extreme can offer all of those things to your dancer.

    Beyond the social and fitness benefits, Dance Extreme can also offer your dancer the skills that will benefit her long after she hangs up her ballet shoes. Dance is a discipline and, as with every other discipline, your dancer will get out what she puts in. If she decides to pursue a professional career in dance, Dance Extreme can prepare her for that. But even if your dancer is only dancing for fun and has her heart set on being a veterinarian, or a doctor, or a chartered accountant, the skills she hones in the studio will stand her in good stead.

    What does dancing have to do with math or science or English? What life skills could you possibly acquire from twirling and jumping in pink tights? I can think of twenty valuable life skills that are improved by the discipline of dance, but for the purpose of this post, I’ll only tell you about three of them.

    Focus

    “Pay attention!” How many times have you said that to your child? Studies have shown that the process of learning to dance engages many areas of the brain. Practically speaking, this translates into an increased ability to focus thoughts, leading to an increased ability to pay attention.

    Memory

    “Honestly! You’d forget your head if it wasn’t attached!” That’s another thing we often say to our children. Studies have shown that the process of learning and remembering a series of moves/steps in dance actually increases memory capacity.

    Perseverance

    “Don’t give up. Don’t be a quitter.” When the going gets tough, we want our children to meet the challenge. Learning to dance takes time and effort, which really teaches your dancer patience and perseverance. No one dances beautifully the first time they try it. In fact, the majority of dancers have to work through difficult combinations multiple times before they can dance fluidly.

    No matter if your dancer goes on to have a career in dance, medicine, engineering, or journalism, a good memory, and ability to focus, patience, and perseverance are critical life skills for social and academic success.

    After 12 years as a competitive dance mom, Jan Earnshaw is so happy to be able to share the benefit of her experience with the other families at Dance Extreme. Jan says that supporting her daughter Maggie Kelly, throughout her time on Dance Extreme’s competitive dance troupe and now, as she pursues a professional career in dance, “has been one of the greatest joys in life”.

    Jan Earnshaw

    Maggie is currently attending the Joffrey School of Ballet.