My daughter started at 2, but I had to drive across town because it was the only school that started them that young. Most started at 3. She was the youngest in her class though. Most of the girls were already 3. The don't do the recital until the 3/4 year old class, which was nice since they're so young. They did have little costumes and performed at a nursing home in town though.
She stayed there for 2 years, but now she's doing gymnastics and loves it. She's pretty active, so I think the ballet/tap thing got boring for her. She also did soccer this past fall, which she liked as well, but so far, gymnastics and swimming are more her thing.
You could always start her and see how she reacts. Some kids are totally ready, but some aren't quite mature enough yet. They should let you drop out if need be. When I was pregnant with the twins, she was going through this crying everytime we got there phase, so we stopped going for awhile. I just kept thinking "Why am I putting myself through all this trouble, when she's crying?" We picked it back up after they were born and we were more settled.
DD1 started at age 3 - it was the youngest offered in our area. She does ballet and asked to take classes after attending a performance with DH. She just loves it and is surprisingly graceful (which she definitely didn't get from me )
I wish they did have a 2 y.o. class as DD2 loves to dance with DD1
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my DD started right before her 3rd bday! the class is for 3 and 4 year olds so she was a little young next to some of the others but that didn't stop her!! she really enjoys it!!
My older daughter started this fall right before she turned 4; she was supposed to have been 4 to start but only missed the cut-off by a week so it was no big deal. She is in an hour-long class that is a ballet-tap combo. The place where she goes does offer classes for kids as young as two, but it's just a "movement" class and parent participation is required. I think 4 is a good age for starting more formal lessons (she will have a recital this spring).
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It may depend on where you go. Most places start at age 3 or 4. My girls did the Mommy & Me gymnastics until they could do the class on their own at age 3. We didn't start them in dance until they were 4 though.
DD started a mom & me gymnastics around 18 months. She will be 4 in April and is still in gymnastics. At 3 she started ballet/tap, but we cancelled it because it was so slow. I will put her back in around 5. She loves gymnastics and I love that I get to see her progess every week. With ballet weeks went by and they were doing the same thing.
We started gymnastics at two. It was a good way to see if they could separate from me and follow instructions. We started dance classes at 3.5. As expensive as they are, I was hesitant, but they have really loved it.
We started at 28 months---almost 2 1/2. Our studio starts dance at 18M. They are in a creative movement class that teaches them the basics of dance. They go once a week for 45 minutes and will perform in the recital with two costumes.
It was hard to find a studio to take them under 3. However, our studio is a very competitive one and their lead choreographer teachers the creative movement class.
When we signed up I asked the teacher what to expect from lessons at this age and she said you should expect that by the end of class they will have improved their attention span and ability to follow instructions.
We started dance so young because we are sending them to a private preschool and as much as I don't *think* they need dance at this age they are stay at home with grandma kiddos. I wanted the fundamentals of taking turns, following instruction, and paying attention to the teacher to be learned before I had to pay for the preschool tuition.
Re: NMR: those with daughters
We started Emerson in ballet at 3 and she'll do gymnastics this summer-she'll be four.
I would have loved for her to begin gym at 3 but, with the babies it was hard to do it last summer.
Of coarse, this is all for fun. We aren't pushing anything unless she enjoys or really excels at it.
both of my kids are starting dance class at 15 months. It is a toddler movement dance class, cuteness.
The actual dance classes at our dance school start at 24 months which I'm sure is enough for them to participate and understand!
My daughter started at 2, but I had to drive across town because it was the only school that started them that young. Most started at 3. She was the youngest in her class though. Most of the girls were already 3. The don't do the recital until the 3/4 year old class, which was nice since they're so young. They did have little costumes and performed at a nursing home in town though.
She stayed there for 2 years, but now she's doing gymnastics and loves it. She's pretty active, so I think the ballet/tap thing got boring for her. She also did soccer this past fall, which she liked as well, but so far, gymnastics and swimming are more her thing.
You could always start her and see how she reacts. Some kids are totally ready, but some aren't quite mature enough yet. They should let you drop out if need be. When I was pregnant with the twins, she was going through this crying everytime we got there phase, so we stopped going for awhile. I just kept thinking "Why am I putting myself through all this trouble, when she's crying?" We picked it back up after they were born and we were more settled.
Either way, I'm sure she will be adorable!!
DD1 started at age 3 - it was the youngest offered in our area. She does ballet and asked to take classes after attending a performance with DH. She just loves it and is surprisingly graceful (which she definitely didn't get from me
)
I wish they did have a 2 y.o. class as DD2 loves to dance with DD1
Thanks girls. Just curious what others are doing.
Our YMCA has a somewhat informal class starting at 2. I may go for it. I started dance at 3 and was competing by 5. I just hope she enjoys it!
DD started a mom & me gymnastics around 18 months. She will be 4 in April and is still in gymnastics. At 3 she started ballet/tap, but we cancelled it because it was so slow. I will put her back in around 5. She loves gymnastics and I love that I get to see her progess every week. With ballet weeks went by and they were doing the same thing.
We started at 28 months---almost 2 1/2. Our studio starts dance at 18M. They are in a creative movement class that teaches them the basics of dance. They go once a week for 45 minutes and will perform in the recital with two costumes.
It was hard to find a studio to take them under 3. However, our studio is a very competitive one and their lead choreographer teachers the creative movement class.
When we signed up I asked the teacher what to expect from lessons at this age and she said you should expect that by the end of class they will have improved their attention span and ability to follow instructions.
We started dance so young because we are sending them to a private preschool and as much as I don't *think* they need dance at this age they are stay at home with grandma kiddos. I wanted the fundamentals of taking turns, following instruction, and paying attention to the teacher to be learned before I had to pay for the preschool tuition.