Does your child like the location, the venue, the teachers, the overall feel of the place? Let them speak before you do.ĥ) Talk about plan B. Auditions are as much about young people assessing schools as they are about schools assessing students. Try asking if they want advice before you give it. This is their life, and ultimately their decision. Doing several styles of dance with several teachers and varied peer groups makes it more likely that they will find what suits them best and helps nurture them as a versatile dancer.Ĥ) Be supportive, but not over-involved.
#Grown ups 2 ballet teacher series
If there isn’t the time or the money, think small: playing a particular game with friends, reading a series of books, or crafts done from home.ģ) Encourage diversity within dance. Children need to have their identity rooted in several things, including family (e.g., shared family activities), school (including time with non-dance friends, and ideally also other hobbies. Kids can get a bit obsessive about their passions and while this can seem cute (“all she talks about is ballet!”), it is not a good recipe for health in the long run. Emphasizing schoolwork over dance training.Ĭ. For enjoyment AND health AND performance AND longevity, loving it is… it :)Ģ) See your child, and value them, as a person (much more than as a dancer). But if they simply love moving to music and get really absorbed in dance, music and artistry, they are in a good place. If it is mostly to impress others, get praise or applause, or pleasing you, this is not the right route for them (at least not at this time).
Talk to them about why they want to do this. It’s the time of year that many children are auditioning for Ballet Schools, so fellow Dance Psychologist Dr Sanna Nordin Bates and I have put together our Top Ten Tips for Parents supporting a child auditioning for Ballet School.ġ) Ensure your child’s heart is in it.