Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring has a good program for older boys.

I don’t understand why a ballet class would be boys only?

At higher levels, boys and girls learn different things. Girls begin to dance on pointe, boys don’t. Both learn partnering technique but it’s different— boys learn to lift and girls to be lifted. And boys classes also emphasize different solo skills, as roles designed for boys tend to involve more jumps and leaps, but less fine footwork, than roles designed for girls.

But that’s at a much higher level. You only see segregated classes in pre-professional programs.

Sorry but this seems really old fashioned and kinda sexist TBH.

Have you ever seen a ballet? What do you expect?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring has a good program for older boys.

I don’t understand why a ballet class would be boys only?

Because ballet technique for boys is not the same as it is for girls as they get older. There is overlap, yes, but also enough differing technique that if you have the dancers and instructors for the curriculum, it’s great for boys to receive some separate instruction.

Anonymous wrote:Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring has a good program for older boys.

+1 my DS dances at MYB and loves it. And he’s almost never the only boy in his co-ed classes. They also have an all boys class for a range of ages that my DS attends in addition to his co-ed class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring has a good program for older boys.

I don’t understand why a ballet class would be boys only?

At higher levels, boys and girls learn different things. Girls begin to dance on pointe, boys don’t. Both learn partnering technique but it’s different— boys learn to lift and girls to be lifted. And boys classes also emphasize different solo skills, as roles designed for boys tend to involve more jumps and leaps, but less fine footwork, than roles designed for girls.

But that’s at a much higher level. You only see segregated classes in pre-professional programs.

Sorry but this seems really old fashioned and kinda sexist TBH.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring has a good program for older boys.

I don’t understand why a ballet class would be boys only?

At higher levels, boys and girls learn different things. Girls begin to dance on pointe, boys don’t. Both learn partnering technique but it’s different— boys learn to lift and girls to be lifted. And boys classes also emphasize different solo skills, as roles designed for boys tend to involve more jumps and leaps, but less fine footwork, than roles designed for girls.

But that’s at a much higher level. You only see segregated classes in pre-professional programs.

My almost 5yo DS loves tap class. He asked to take dance and we decided on tap bc he liked the idea of making noise . He’s really enjoyed the structure and actually learning the right steps.

Anonymous wrote:Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring has a good program for older boys.

I don’t understand why a ballet class would be boys only?

My son loves Hippity Hop and Ballet/Tap at Bethesda Conservatory. He is not the only boy in either class, but, I think that varies class to class. He is try Acro and a couple camps this summer. He also takes swim lessons, did fall soccer and spring t-ball. It's notceither/or.

My son loves Hippity Hop and Ballet/Tap at Bethesda Conservatory. He is not the only boy in either class, but, I think that varies class to class. He is try Acro and a couple camps this summer. He also takes swim lessons, did fall soccer and spring t-ball. It's notceither/or.

Anonymous wrote:No, I’d only put my 5yo in activities they want to do. If he likes non-ballet sports why not put him in those?

Why is it either/or?

Also, at 5 kids aren't always aware of the things they can do. I introduced my kid to rock climbing at 6 and she loves it, but never previously expressed an interest in it because she didn't even know what it was. I just had a feeling she might like it based on other stuff she enjoyed, and I was right. Parents do this all the time.

If you only put your kid in activities they express an interest in, then your kid will only do activities that other kids at school also do. That's fine, but it's also fine to expand their horizons a bit.

Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring has a good program for older boys.

No, I’d only put my 5yo in activities they want to do. If he likes non-ballet sports why not put him in those?

Anonymous wrote:Why not?

+1, might as well try it and see if he likes it. He might love dance, in which case you've found an activity he loves. And even if he doesn't, ballet can be a great introduction to music if you plan on having him learn an instrument or do choir -- kids learn rhythm and musicality and counting time.

The main obstacle is that he is likely to be the only, or one of the only, boys in class. That bothers some kids and not others. The upside is that often boys get more to do in recitals because they are more in demand.

Why not?

Would you recommend ballet for an almost 5 year old boy? He is very graceful and loves everything sporty but has not indicated an interest in dance.

He is not great at following instructions.