Tell me about boys' gymnastics and dance

[Anonymous]

I have an elementary-aged boy who is quite athletic and is really interested in gymnastics and dance. He's done a lot of parkour and traditional sports like baseball but has been both begging to try gymnastics and expressing fears (on a social level) because "only girls do it."

I've been looking around for gymnastics or dance studios that have boys-only classes - as a way to ease him past stereotypes about what boys can do vs what girls can do - but can't find much in the DMV.

Any recommendations? We're near Dupont if that matters.

[Anonymous]

Not particularly close to you, but both PG Sports and Learning Complex and Maryland Youth Ballet offer boys only classes for gymnastics and ballet respectively.

[Anonymous]

Dynamic Gymnastics in North Arlington has all boys gymnastic classes and a boys team (at least it did last year). The boys team was started a couple of years ago. My DS loved it, but another sport ended up taking priority.

[Anonymous]

Arlington county has a decent team /class

[Anonymous]

He would be comfortable at Maryland Youth Ballet.

[Anonymous]

Hills has a class called "gym gents" just for boys

[Anonymous]

Sportsplex has a great boys gymnastics team.

Capital, in Burke, Va also has a great boys gymnastics team. It's large (about 70 boys across all levels) and that really keeps the boys from feeling like they're the only ones doing it.

Have him watch some videos of men's gymnastics. It's very different than girls gymnastics, and those guys are stronger and more fit than athletes from any other sport.

[Anonymous]

Would he consider Irish dance? While there might not be separate boys classes, it definitely isn't unusual to have a boys in class and there is a slightly different style of dance for boys vs. girls.

[Anonymous]

If he is at all interested in ballet which requires so much physically, mentally and artistically, he should check out BalletNova in Arlington - not hard to get to from Dupont. There is a male director who was a professional dancer and is really trying to encourage boys to give it a try.

[Anonymous]

Also the straight ballet guys (and there are more of them than most people think) get their pick of the girls as there are so many more of them in ballet

[Anonymous]

If he likes both gymnastics and dance have you considered Acro? Acro is a combination of gymnastics and dance. Boys work in me 's pairs, mixed pairs and men's fours, though men's fours are rare. The athletes tumble and do skills that are pretty incredible.

The closest Acro gym to you is Xtreme in Rockville. A better place for boys is EAGC in Columbia but that's a hike from DuPont. Xtreme always has a few boys on the team.

If you decide to consider this, now is the time. Competition season is right around the corner and groupings have been made awhile ago. There is still time but it's hard to come into the season as a new athlete this late - the season starts in early September. Also you should know that Acro is not like a rec class. It's all competitive. At the lower levels the kids practice 3 times a week for 3 hours at a time.

If you want to know more about it, google Acro Army and see if you can find a video. Obviously those kids are very high level, but it will give you an idea.

[Anonymous]

Is your kid gay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid gay?

What does this have to do with anything OP asked?!

[Anonymous]

We quit gymnastics at 6. In less they put your kid on team, its a waste of time as its the same basic routines and they don't really help 1-1. Its usually 8-12 kids in a class just doing rotations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We quit gymnastics at 6. In less they put your kid on team, its a waste of time as its the same basic routines and they don't really help 1-1. Its usually 8-12 kids in a class just doing rotations.

That sounds more like your kid was in a crappy class. Gymnastics is all about progressions, and yes, you may spend a LONG time learning one skill correctly, especially if you're only in class an hour a week.