Five-Year-Old Son Wants to Take Ballet Classes; would be the only boy - Page 2

[pigpokey]

Originally Posted by LitMom 

There are "creative movement" and "pre-ballet" classes that are not "Dolly Dinkles." We do a serious New York ballet school, and they were pleased with the skills DD had from YMCA "pre-ballet" classes. If the sister is already in the school, I imagine the parent isn't worried about the quality of the classes overall.

I think a serious ballet school would also be pleased with a kid who could do his splits and or had started piano and had thus started to develop better musical sense.  

The OP's daughter is in a studio in a small town in a rural area.  I'm just making a guess based on odds.

With girls there are a lot of reasons for them to dance recreationally in their communities.  While those apply to boys (and sometimes do not because of the prejudice against male dancing), the other issue is that opportunities for boys to do really interesting things are much more open if they have a passion for ballet and proper training.  The same cannot be said for girls unfortunately; there are so many going into the stream. 

[Luckiestgirl]

Interesting replies.  At the local studio, actual Ballet classes don't start until age 8 or the recommendation of the instructor, and I know this is typical.  That is why I was considering just waiting until we (if we can swing it) relocate, when ds would be closer to the proper age.  I do think he probably has some serious natural ability, but I'm not interesting in pushing him AT ALL--any interest/drive would have to come from him. 

I think the local studio is somewhat "Dolly Dinkle"; it has a proper floor and everything, and the instructor has a degree in dance performance.  Still, it is much more "routine -" than technique-focused.  For example, although my daughter is in a Combo (pre-ballet/tap) class, I would still like her to be learning more technique than she is.  Honestly, probably half the dancers are under the age of eight, so catering to moms who like to see their daughters in fancy costumes seems to be how the bills get paid.  Every year at the spring recital, there seems to be maybe one older teen who is clearly talented, but I doubt the rest could continue on with dancing after high school.  I don't mean to say recreational dancing isn't okay--I would say that's about the level of my daughter's interest at this point.

After watching the recital a few days ago, my son decided that he wants to wait a year or two, and then dance at a studio where there are boys.  I think all the "frilliness" of the recital turned him off a bit (whereas he left a major-city production of the Nutcracker very admiring of the dancers' strength and athletic abilities). 

I think he still has plenty of time, and that if the interest is significant it will still be there in a year or two.  We do plan a trip to another major city to see a ballet performance in the fall.  And, hopefully, a relocation is in our future.

Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to respond.

[_betsy_]

My nephew, now 12, has been taking dance lessons since he was 4 and has always been the only boy in the classes. He loves it, especially as he is getting older and realizes it may be a good thing (giggle giggle) to be the only boy in a room full of girls.

He's in Texas, and rural. My sister has never had any problems with comments (other than from her husband, the boy's father) and the teachers love being able to choreograph something with a boy in it. He is not in ballet any longer, though, I think he takes tap and jazz.

I'd let him do it. At 5, it's more about dancing for fun and exercise than strict ballet. Is there a male friend who might sign up for the same class with him?

[beanma]

At our dance studio kids are welcome to try out a class before any money changes hands. That's what I would do if it's available in your area. I think starting now would be preferable to waiting until he was 8. He may feel behind if he waits until he's 8 and you move. My girls have been taking dance since they were 2 and 3. We go to a totally loose and groovy studio that does not require special outfits, etc, until the technique level classes (which start at 8) and then only in ballet. My dd1 is doing Contemporary 1 at the technique level right now and was an apprentice in the production company last fall. She's considering auditioning for it again this year. Dd2 did pre-jazz this year and hasn't decided what class to do next year just yet, but she will be in a technique class next year also. 

We have been thru years when we had several little boys and some years when we didn't have any. We've had a few big boys as well. Ours is a pretty laid back studio (there are 3 in our small college town), but several kids who have gone thru the studio have gone on to dance professionally. We have a girl this year that is going on to the state School of the Arts where she plans to dance.