Dance class so kid knows what to do at a dance?

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old showed recently she had no idea what to do at a dance by standing around watching and finally doing aikido moves instead of dancing! I tried to advise but I'm not much of a dancer so I have no idea how to really help her. Is there a dance class anyone could recommend that would be helpful for this situation? Would like her to feel at least moderately comfortable at future dances! Thanks.

[Anonymous]

They figure it out. One doesn't need to take classes for the 3rd grade dance.

[Anonymous]

Most dance classes don’t really address this. They will figure it out or they won’t. My dh would probably still be like this. Guess what? He never dances.

[Anonymous]

You could do some dance parties at your house (you and her)

Instrument lessons help with learning the beat.

[Anonymous]

Like others said, they figure it out when it matters. And if it's anything like my middle school dances, people just stand around awkwardly giggling with their friends and occasionally sway to the beat. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year old showed recently she had no idea what to do at a dance by standing around watching and finally doing aikido moves instead of dancing! I tried to advise but I'm not much of a dancer so I have no idea how to really help her. Is there a dance class anyone could recommend that would be helpful for this situation? Would like her to feel at least moderately comfortable at future dances! Thanks.

Why do you feel you need to advise, OP? There will be some things that your daughter doesn't know how to do, or situations that will make her nervous, and that's okay. Take a deep breath and step back--she'll figure it out. That is better than mom/dad swooping in and protecting from every sling and arrow.

I say this as a mom of a slightly younger daughter who sometimes needs to remind myself of this. We don't have to solve every minor inconvenience; they need to build grit and figure things out for themselves. The kids will be alright!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year old showed recently she had no idea what to do at a dance by standing around watching and finally doing aikido moves instead of dancing! I tried to advise but I'm not much of a dancer so I have no idea how to really help her. Is there a dance class anyone could recommend that would be helpful for this situation? Would like her to feel at least moderately comfortable at future dances! Thanks.

Why do you feel you need to advise, OP? There will be some things that your daughter doesn't know how to do, or situations that will make her nervous, and that's okay. Take a deep breath and step back--she'll figure it out. That is better than mom/dad swooping in and protecting from every sling and arrow.

I say this as a mom of a slightly younger daughter who sometimes needs to remind myself of this. We don't have to solve every minor inconvenience; they need to build grit and figure things out for themselves. The kids will be alright!

Dancing is an actual skill. Kids have to be taught in order to know how to dance. They can be taught by their parents or friends. Or they can learn by taking classes. No one is magically born with the ability to dance ballet or hip hop.


If OP's daughter wants to learn how to dance, it's not helicoptering to enroll her in a couple classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year old showed recently she had no idea what to do at a dance by standing around watching and finally doing aikido moves instead of dancing! I tried to advise but I'm not much of a dancer so I have no idea how to really help her. Is there a dance class anyone could recommend that would be helpful for this situation? Would like her to feel at least moderately comfortable at future dances! Thanks.

Why do you feel you need to advise, OP? There will be some things that your daughter doesn't know how to do, or situations that will make her nervous, and that's okay. Take a deep breath and step back--she'll figure it out. That is better than mom/dad swooping in and protecting from every sling and arrow.

I say this as a mom of a slightly younger daughter who sometimes needs to remind myself of this. We don't have to solve every minor inconvenience; they need to build grit and figure things out for themselves. The kids will be alright!

Dancing is an actual skill. Kids have to be taught in order to know how to dance. They can be taught by their parents or friends. Or they can learn by taking classes. No one is magically born with the ability to dance ballet or hip hop.


If OP's daughter wants to learn how to dance, it's not helicoptering to enroll her in a couple classes.

I took many dance classes and was competitive in high school. Going to a class and doing a choreographed routine is totally different than dancing at a party. I am good with the first but still not with the latter. Overall it may help you move more naturally, but it’s one of those things you kind of have it or you don’t. I don’t think many dance classes will address what she’s looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year old showed recently she had no idea what to do at a dance by standing around watching and finally doing aikido moves instead of dancing! I tried to advise but I'm not much of a dancer so I have no idea how to really help her. Is there a dance class anyone could recommend that would be helpful for this situation? Would like her to feel at least moderately comfortable at future dances! Thanks.

Why do you feel you need to advise, OP? There will be some things that your daughter doesn't know how to do, or situations that will make her nervous, and that's okay. Take a deep breath and step back--she'll figure it out. That is better than mom/dad swooping in and protecting from every sling and arrow.

I say this as a mom of a slightly younger daughter who sometimes needs to remind myself of this. We don't have to solve every minor inconvenience; they need to build grit and figure things out for themselves. The kids will be alright!

Dancing is an actual skill. Kids have to be taught in order to know how to dance. They can be taught by their parents or friends. Or they can learn by taking classes. No one is magically born with the ability to dance ballet or hip hop.


If OP's daughter wants to learn how to dance, it's not helicoptering to enroll her in a couple classes.

New poster, but I think the helicoptering is because OP never said her daughter wanted to. OP doesn’t like her looking awkward. If the daughter is interested in dance classes, by all means sign her up. Also, most kids aren’t doing ballet at these dances, so a ballet class is not going to help. No one is claiming ballet isn’t a learned skill.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would find a whole bunch of kids' dance party videos on YouTube and practice doing what the kids in the videos are doing at home with my kid. Make it a fun thing that you can do together. A class, in this case, seems like overkill.

[Anonymous]

I studied dance for years as a kid. But I was in high school before I was comfortable dancing at a school dance. Dancing at a dance requires self-confidence, comfort with your body, and a sense of connection to the music. It doesn't even require that much of a sense of rhythm, as long as you don't care how well you dance. I know plenty of people with no sense of rhythm who still dance at parties and clubs, because they enjoy themselves, and don't care about or even think about, how their dancing looks to other people.
If your daughter was comfortable doing martial arts moves, the issue is probably more one of familiarity, and feeling connected to music. so play more music around the house, dance around the house with her. Normalize it. Don't send her off to classes to try and fix her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I studied dance for years as a kid. But I was in high school before I was comfortable dancing at a school dance. Dancing at a dance requires self-confidence, comfort with your body, and a sense of connection to the music. It doesn't even require that much of a sense of rhythm, as long as you don't care how well you dance. I know plenty of people with no sense of rhythm who still dance at parties and clubs, because they enjoy themselves, and don't care about or even think about, how their dancing looks to other people.
If your daughter was comfortable doing martial arts moves, the issue is probably more one of familiarity, and feeling connected to music. so play more music around the house, dance around the house with her. Normalize it. Don't send her off to classes to try and fix her.

This poster is spot on. The good dancers at clubs and parties don't give a crap what people think and let themselves go. So the best thing is to not make her self conscious.
My 11 year old has done dance lessons for five years. She is still super awkward. It's the age and part of the charm.

[Anonymous]

Send her over to my house and my kid will teach her to do the Floss.

[Anonymous]

It may be fun to try a low key hip hop class or something. It's social and helps the dancer feel confident just with the concept of moving with music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send her over to my house and my kid will teach her to do the Floss.

And if you come to my house in DC, my 6yo will teach her the Gwara Gwara.