Anonymous wrote:Ovations Studio may be a good option for you - DD did a ballet camp there this summer and really liked it. She also did dance classes at Joy of Motion last year and those were fine, but if you are looking for more serious ballet instruction for young kids Ovations seems better suited for that.

You don't need serious instruction at 4.

You need someone who can manage a class in a fun engaging way that makes the little ones love dance.

Ovations Studio may be a good option for you - DD did a ballet camp there this summer and really liked it. She also did dance classes at Joy of Motion last year and those were fine, but if you are looking for more serious ballet instruction for young kids Ovations seems better suited for that.

Until age 8, ballet classes are all about following directions and movement. Formal ballet shouldn't begin before age 8. WSB is best left until a child is much older and really committed to ballet - unless you live nearby and it's the closest place.

Even WSB has very few home-grown dancers that make it professionally. Most dancers who manage to become professionals (and that is dwindling with intl competition , dancers taking better care of bodies=longer careers, lack of arts funding) leave their base school during high school to train elsewhere if they want to "make" it.

-mom of ballet dancer

Anonymous wrote:Timely thread....
Out of curiousity, at what age do kids start getting serious instruction in dance classes? DD is 4 and has been to a few different classes and I don’t think she got much out of them so far. DD can follow instructions but most of the kids had really low attention spans (understandable) and the dancing didn’t seem like anything DD can’t do in our living room on her own. I’m going back and forth on signing her up for another program in the fall, but I’d prefer to save a few hundred dollars if all they’ll do is run around chaotically and twirl a few times.

8 or 9 for ballet.

Before that, any studio with quality instructors is fine.

For preschool, an instructor who is good with kids and child development, and is fun and imaginative is far more valuable and qualified than someone with a BFA at a ballet school who is not good with kids.

Timely thread....
Out of curiousity, at what age do kids start getting serious instruction in dance classes? DD is 4 and has been to a few different classes and I don’t think she got much out of them so far. DD can follow instructions but most of the kids had really low attention spans (understandable) and the dancing didn’t seem like anything DD can’t do in our living room on her own. I’m going back and forth on signing her up for another program in the fall, but I’d prefer to save a few hundred dollars if all they’ll do is run around chaotically and twirl a few times.

Unless your child is truly a ballet prodigy, why would anyone take their kid to a dance school that requires auditions for 4 year olds?

Anonymous wrote:I heard that Washington Ballet is now accepting everyone (unless your child has a behavior problem.) I think they need money.

Nope, my 4 year old was rejected. (?!)

Try a competition studio or recreational studio instead of a ballet studio.

I heard that Washington Ballet is now accepting everyone (unless your child has a behavior problem.) I think they need money.

Can you make the drive to Maryland Youth Ballet in downtown Silver Spring? It's a good balance of ballet technique and friendliness.

How does a 4 year old get "rejected" from dance class?

Definitely check out Joy of Motion. Their fall schedule just went up.

I've heard good things about Joy of Motion. (we're in Arlington so we've never taken classes there.)

I like Joy of Motion for fun dance classes for kids.

Our 4-year-old daughter got rejected. We're not worried about it, just wondering what to do in the fall. She LOVES ballet, dancing and singing. She's very outgoing and sociable. Any suggestion for great classes (ballet, theater, tap...?) in NW? We did two years of Ballet Petite, but that might no longer be an option given all the rumors surrounding the place. Thanks in advance!