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Date Posted: 10:52:06 01/12/10 Tue
Author: mom of two girl dancers too
Subject: Any suggestions for a new DS dancer? He's 5 and just starting out...

Hi,
I wondered if any of you had any good suggestions for boy dancers just starting out. My DS is 5 and started last year in the pre-beginner class and this year is in a regular new beginner class but is really just starting out. It's sort of a love-hate relationship. He says he doesn't want to go to class anymore...but after coming out each week he is smiling ear to ear and says it was so fun.

He is usually the only boy now (his previous class had another boy) so I'm wondering if its because he only has girls in the class that he doesn't want to go. I figure as long as he comes out of class happy and enjoying it, I'll make him go. It certainly beats sitting in the waiting room for 1 1/2 hours while his sisters have their class.

Would love any suggestions on how to keep his interest or helpful hints - or thoughts on when to know he is done with it.

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Replies:

[> Suggest that he do school work with you instead of dance class and he'll be running into practice. -- Son is now in Open, 18:02:39 01/12/10 Tue [1]


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[> Very often, they balk at the getting to class, but them remember how much they like it. So keep on him (inside) -- Just take it a little at a time, 20:22:47 01/12/10 Tue [1]

and remind him of the things he likes. When my son (now in open champs and a WMH) balked at class, I had a few guidelines we went by - (1) like any sport, we never allowed one of our children to quit mid-season, so you had to finish out the entire season (for ID, that goes from new classes in the fall through the first feises in the summer), like it or not (and they usually end up liking it by the time they get through that long as they feel very accomplished), and (2) I wouldn't let a child quit when it was clear that there were many things they enjoyed, as I know that later they would regret it. We took things year by year, and here we are, 12 years later. He loves it and wants to teach someday. It is possible to balance strong encouragement with a LITTLE bit of parental prodding to continue versus overkill forcing a kid to do something he hates.


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[> My son really wanted to quit around 7 . Learning that hardshoe was slow and he just wanted to dance like Michael Flatly! Once he was actually really dancing and not jumping around it got better. -- son is now in Open and its been the most rewarding experience for him, 05:07:41 01/13/10 Wed [1]


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[> Thanks Everyone! Such great comments! We'll keep at it this year and see how it goes... -- OP, 05:36:17 01/13/10 Wed [1]


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[> Same happened with my son-came out each week, said he loved it, then before class said he didn't want to go. So, I said, ok, tell me after class what you want to do. This way, each week he will say he wants to continue. Ask tcrg if she thinks from experience more boys might join. Once more boys joined it sealed the deal of son staying. Also, at feis let him run with the boys. Son is now one of top in the world, years later of course. -- good luck, 17:31:09 01/13/10 Wed [1]


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[> Are there any older boys in you school who have progressed? If so have them talk to him and tell him how they started out learning the same things and now they do lots of tricks with their feet. Also remind him that good irish dancers generally make great soccer players! My dilema is that my U15 son is thinking of quiting and we know lots of boys in his age that have quit in the past year. He has been very successful so I'm disapponted that he is thinking about quiting but at this age he has to choose for himself. I love watching the older boys dance though so will really miss it if he quits. -- irish mum, 01:41:42 01/14/10 Thu [1]


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[> My DS started at 6. He got one his friends from elementary school to join because he talked it up so much. It helped to have a friend in the class. He's 9 now, in PW -- ..., 10:57:13 01/14/10 Thu [1]


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[> Another suggestion is to have him do figures too (if he hasn't already). My son loves being on a team and knowing even more kids at the feis. The teams always hang out together before they dance. It's nice. -- ..., 18:51:49 01/14/10 Thu [1]


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[> he will learn to love the girls the ratio is like 25 girls two 1 guy... i love it =P -- dancer, 05:17:00 03/04/10 Thu [1]


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