What is sports ballroom dancing for children. Why is ballroom dancing recognized as a sport? When to start classes

In our article we will talk about the pros and cons of ballroom dancing for children, about psychological aspect, about the cost of classes and medical contraindications.

In the past, ballroom dancing was considered noble entertainment and an indicator of refined taste. Today, dancing is no less popular. Parents send their children to dance studios different reasons. Some want to see their child on the podium of international competitions, while others take care of the health of their child in this way.

Pediatricians around the world claim that moderate dancing is useful for physical development: correct posture is formed, coordination develops and fine motor skills. In addition, dancing is less traumatic than some sports. And research in the field of psychology shows that children involved in dancing are much more active and cheerful than their “non-dancing” peers.

From what age?

Some dance studios recruit children in groups from 3 to 4 years old. Partly this early start associated with pursuing goals.

If the task is to perform at competitions and receive trophies, then the following factors are taken into account: children from 5 years old are allowed to participate, and in order to perform with dignity, at least a year of preparation is needed. In addition, it is believed that the sooner a child starts dancing, the more opportunities he will have to reveal his potential. It must be remembered that before demonstration performances training will be more intense and classes will be held more often, so you need to calculate the child's physical readiness, his performance and overall endurance.

If parents send their children to dances not to receive awards, but take care of strengthening their health and developing aesthetic taste, you can send them to dances at any age if the child has a desire.

Some experts believe that starting classes earlier can harm a child, besides, at 3-4 years old, not all children easily grasp dance moves. It is better if classes for the youngest take place in the form of a game. To get the maximum benefit from training, you need a sufficiently developed endurance, so the optimal age for training sports dances is considered 6 - 7 years.

Medical contraindications

Almost all children who do not have injuries, exacerbations of chronic and catarrhal diseases, as well as disorders of the cardiovascular, respiratory systems and musculoskeletal system can practice ballroom dancing. This is important, because during training, the load falls on these areas of the body.

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Boys and girls

It is believed that dancing, despite sometimes not a small amount of physical activity, is not quite a male sport. However, it is dancing that will help raise a gentleman who, thanks to pair dancing, will be able to easily communicate with the opposite sex in the future.

For dreamy girls, ballroom dancing is the perfect setting. Whirling couples, rhythmic music, beautiful outfits - all this will help develop a delicate taste and feel like a young lady.

pros

ballroom dancing is a combination of art and sport. The child learns to work for the sake of the result and gets in good physical shape for many years.

Thanks to ballroom dancing, a child’s posture is formed correctly, the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems is improved, muscles are strengthened, immunity is increased. The child learns to perceive music, he develops hearing, coordination of movements and plasticity. Dancing is less traumatic than some sports. The child improves performance and endurance to physical activity.

Young dancers grow up to be self-confident people. Dancing helps to get rid of complexes and liberate. Children involved in choreography from childhood develop willpower, perseverance, learn to perform tasks, and also become active and self-organized. Dancing is a discipline. Achieving a visible result makes you rejoice at success and be proud of yourself.

The child learns to competently organize his time - go to school and train productively. Participation in competitions makes children stress-resistant, teaches them how to cope with failures and set new goals. And pair dances develop a culture of interpersonal communication.

Minuses

• In sports dancing, there is a risk of injury from an unsuccessful fall or movement. During the competition, when dancing on the court a large number of couples, collisions may occur. This happens with less experienced dancers who have not yet learned to control the situation well enough.
• Another minus - psychological nature. IN dance groups, as in any sports team often creates an atmosphere of competition and envy for more successful dancers. For a fragile child's psyche, this is a test. Not all children are inherently fighters. Soft, not striving for victory at any cost, it is difficult for children to be in such an environment.
• If you practice sports dancing professionally, sometimes difficulties may arise in. Intensive classes, especially before competitions, take a lot of time and effort.
• Not everyone is sympathetic if a boy is dancing. Some are of the opinion that dancing is an activity exclusively for girls. You need to be ready for this.
• Ballroom dancing is expensive. You need to regularly pay for training, participation in competitions, buy or sew custom-made clothes and shoes for classes and performances.
• Over time, a dancing couple may break up, a partner may stop classes and it will be difficult to replace him. In addition, it happens that there are not enough partner boys, and the girl has to dance alone.

How much do lessons cost?

Sports ballroom dancing is not a cheap pleasure. You have to pay for tuition. This is approximately 2000 - 5000 rubles per month, depending on the region and the coach. Sometimes you may need individual sessions. You also need to pay a fee to participate in competitions.

At the beginning, a child can practice in a swimsuit and Czech shoes, which are not expensive - from 500 rubles, then you need to purchase a dance dress for girls, dance pants for boys, special shoes for ballroom dancing. Such equipment can cost an average of 5000 - 7000 rubles.

Sometimes you may need to take a photo or video. These services are charged separately.

How to choose a section?

Every city now has children's ballroom dancing groups. Go to a trial lesson in different studios and ask to attend the training. First of all, pay attention to the coaches, their attitude towards the students: do they pay enough attention to each child, do they correct, do they give advice. It is also good if the studio has a choreography or stretching section so that the child can develop skills that will be useful to him in ballroom dancing.

1. Find good coach and get in touch with him. Check in regularly on your child's progress, keep up to date with news and upcoming events.
2. Take part in the development of the child, practice complex elements at home.
3. Be ready to work, don't expect instant results. Develop the willpower not only of the child, but also of your own.
4. Support the child, calmly react to failures, create a friendly atmosphere.
5. Take an interest in dancing with him.

Summing up

Whatever the goals, remember that your kid should go to training with enthusiasm. It will be great if a sense of rhythm, ear for music and artistry are immediately revealed. But even if this is not there, but there is one desire to dance, it is worth a try. Good teachers will “pull out” everything that is possible from the most incapable child at first glance. Sports ballroom dancing is an excellent educational measure that teaches you to overcome difficulties, go towards your goals and improve your abilities.

Sports, of course, are very important for the proper physical and mental development of the child. In addition, a sports section or club can become a launching pad for a future champion. Of course, not everyone dreams of a great sports future for their baby, but all parents want to see him healthy, happy and successful. And here a difficult question arises before the family: what kind of sport to choose? In some cases, the answer is found quite quickly if the baby is already showing interest in something specific. And if not, what to do? In many cases, dancing can be an excellent choice. This article will focus on their specific form - ballroom dancing. We will talk about what is needed for ballroom dancing, at what age is it better to start ballroom dancing for children, how to choose the right dance school, clothes and shoes, etc.

Ballroom dancing (more precisely, sports or sports ballroom dancing) includes two programs: "European" and "Latin American". Each of them includes several dances. First: quickstep, foxtrot, slow waltz, Viennese waltz and tango. Second: drive, rumba, cha-cha-cha, paso doble and samba.

According to choreographers, ballroom dancing for children under 6 years old is often too difficult, kids can be given to rhythm or children's choreography. Classes in sports ballroom dancing are best to start at the age of 6-7 years.

Benefits of ballroom dancing

Arguments in favor of dancing include:

• positive impact on the health of the child;
• the baby will become more plastic, learn to control his own body, get rid of "tightness";
• posture improvement;
• habit of discipline;
• dancing ennobles, teaches respect for opposite sex, girls turn into feminine girls, and boys into gallant gentlemen. It is not for nothing that dances and music from time immemorial have been an indispensable part of educational program aristocracy;
• Dancing develops not only the body, but also the soul. Children learn to be more creative, open, perceive the world more subtle;
• any kind of dance increases self-confidence;
• teaching ballroom dancing to children (as well as adults) necessarily includes participation in various competitions, which means that your baby, firstly, will learn to win and lose with dignity, and secondly, will become more independent, because competitions are held in different cities.

Arguments against ballroom dancing

Like any other activity, ballroom dancing has its downsides:

• risk of injury. It is easy to slip in the dance (especially in the wrong shoes), stumble or fall unsuccessfully;
• compulsory participation in competitions often has to be paid for (as well as travel to the city where the competition is held and, if necessary, hotel accommodation);
• high-quality shoes and dance costumes can be quite expensive. Decide whether the family budget can withstand the appearance of such an item of expenditure;
• ballroom dancing is dancing in pairs. And this means that no one has canceled the problem of choosing a partner, and your child will have to learn how to find mutual language with him (her). And it just seems that in children's couples everything is simple, peaceful and no one ever swears, and if he swears, then “not really”, these are children, they quarreled and made up. You will understand the gravity of the situation when you face it in life. Small grievances that accumulate over the years can significantly spoil life.

What to look for when choosing a school?

Choosing a school is an extremely important and responsible decision. After all, whether the trainer can find an approach specifically to your child largely depends on the child’s attitude to classes: someone will happily wait for the next lesson, and someone will trudge to the dance school, like hard labor, just because the parents paid for an annual subscription. So you can't choose a school proximity to home, or to send a child to a certain school just because it is on the way to work. From time to time all schools do "Days open doors”, when you can freely come to the school, talk with coaches and administration, see group classes, clarify all questions of interest (cost, schedule, etc.). Of course, you can go to school and find out everything on any ordinary day, when it is convenient for you.

Of course, the administration and coaches are interested in recruiting students and will try to convince you that their school is the best. To determine if this is true, talk to the parents of several children who have been there for years. Perhaps they will open your eyes to some aspects of the school, and to ballroom dancing in general.

By acting on the body, we not only contribute to the healing of the body itself, but also psychological recovery person.

Wilhelm Reich (psychologist, creator of body-oriented therapy) came to the conclusion that muscle tension and psychological tension- It is the same.

The body contains fears, pain, problems, uncertainty, doubts, suppressions, prohibitions, worries, stresses, all the stresses experienced by a person, psychotraumas, emotional stresses. All this prevents the body from being healthy, beautiful and strong, and psychologically it has a depressing effect on a person.

W. Reich called this phenomenon "muscular shell" and described it as traumatic experiences of the past that remain in the human body in the form of muscle blocks.

In response to stressful situations people develop defensive behavior, which is expressed in chronic tension individual groups muscles - "muscle clamps". There is also a connection between the chronic tone of a particular muscle group and suppressed emotions.

"Muscular clamps", uniting, form a "muscle shell". In the bodily sphere, this leads to mobility restrictions, posture disorders, poor blood circulation, pain (all these are the causes of osteochondrosis, arthrosis, many skin problems, somatic diseases).
kneading, elaborationmuscle clamps renders powerful healing effect for soul and body. After all body changes cause changes in consciousness.

And besides, by itself expression of emotions and feelings- This prevention psychosomatic disorders , that is, bodily ailments caused by certain phenomena of the psyche.

Dance Helps it is safe for the body to unblock muscle tension recorded in the body, disturbances in the flow of energy, suppressed emotions, overcome stress.

Dancing makes us more flexible, strong And hardy.

Dancing improves circulation and protect the heart. Italian researchers have proven that people with heart failure who engage in dancing as a form of physical activity improve their health, their heart and improvehisbreath. Their quality of life also improves significantly compared to those who exercise on exercise bikes or treadmills.

Dancing helps lose weight And give energy. A study published in The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition found that weekly dancing improves physical fitness and makes people more energetic.

Dancing makes us happier and relieve stress and depression, increase self-esteem help to become more confidentin itself. Depression is becoming an increasingly common problem in teenagers and adults. A study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience has shown that dance therapy not only helps with depression, but also helps fight stress by regulating serotonin and dopamine levels in the body. Considering that dance is also social action, it helps to get rid of feelings of loneliness and provides many opportunities to meet other people. It's proven that the dance good and warm relationship able to prevent mild depression and make dancing man more confident.

Dance improves memory and makes us more smart. Scientists have found that dancing improve memory and help prevent shrinkage of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. Thanks to scientists, the benefits of dance for the mind have been proven. Main quality smart person- This decision making. The perfect way to develop this skill is to engage in a business that requires constantly making decisions quickly (in seconds). In general, the mind and quick wits are well influenced by the study of something new, here we are talking about any new skill. And dancing stimulates your brain, forcing it to come up with new solutions. Difficult studies are best suited for this, as they make it necessary newneural connections.

Dance helps to get rid of what binds, improves health and body, physical skills, reveals individual characteristics and talents, develops femininity and masculinity, helps to better understand yourself and others.

Improving communication and interaction skills. Dance is one of the ways to find language in relationships, not only in dance, but also in life.

During ballroom dancing girls develops a sense of one's true nature femininity, refinement, they learn to trust a partner and consciously follow a man.

men reveal my charisma And masculinity master the technique soft control, which is necessary not only in dance, but also in life.

A definite advantage for men involved in dancing is success among women. As soon as men show the public at least part of their skills and dancing skills in a club or restaurant, it definitely makes an impression and all women are subdued. Even if the restaurants will not the right music and large space, you can adapt to any musical accompaniment and create any movement.

Ballroom dancing man develops harmoniously, How physically, and mentally, emotionally And socially.

Ballroom dancing is music, beauty and movement. This is masculinity and femininity, sensuality, passion and emotions. Dancing is pleasure and inspiration, creativity and joy.

This dance improvisation as an interesting form of leisure and communication. It is an expression of individuality and feelings through music and dance.

BENEFITS OF DANCE FOR CHILDREN

The art of dance is amazing means of education and development little man . It enriches spiritual world helps the child develop as a person.

Unfortunately, modern conditions life does not always help our children grow up healthy. Huge study loads, malnutrition, inability to plan school time, sometimes not very healthy influence of the peer environment and society, lack of understanding of the vital need for healthy development are the causes of the onset and development of childhood diseases.

According to the world's leading pediatricians, the main component of this integrated approach should be regular sports activities child.

Many studies by psychologists have proven that children involved in dancing achieve great things. success learning than their peers and also ahead of them V general development. Already repeatedly in the studies of many well-known pediatricians, the fact was noted that dancing classes can significantly speed up the development process child. People who danced as children are able to achieve great success in life than their non-dancing peers.

Thanks to dancing, the child develops not only physically, but also emotionally And intellectually.

Dancing is one of the best physical practices for a growing body, thanks to which the child opens up, begins to feel your body and applies its plasticity in order to expressions own emotions and feelings.

Dance classes help your child relax and relieve stress study load , give good mood and a sense of self-confidence.

Knowing how to dance helps deal with stress. If we talk about brain activity, dance stimulates both hemispheres of the brain to work. The first one responsible for creative thinking, the second - for logic, create a strict geometry and improvisation of the dance. Dance also develops such brain functions as memory, coordination movement, logical and figurative thinking, etc.

Dance helps to form the initial mathematical and logical representations of the child, trains the skills of orientation in space; develops speech. Dancing helps to develop such qualities as focus, organization And industriousness, improve the moral and moral qualities.

Dance classes teach children look good teaches you to take care of yourself. Thanks to this, the child will be fit and neat all his life, and this is an important factor in communicating with people.

A child through dance begins to look at the world with different eyes, perceives any problems of his children's world much more positive.

All children love to move to music. In the dance babyasserts itself. On the parquet dance studio or at home at the mirror, his inner “I” is actualized. Toddlers remain at the bodily level of development up to 3 years. And the better we work on the body of the child, the more harmonious the psyche he has! Also in adolescents and adults body is foundation of personality. Therefore, if you say to yourself “There is no ability to dance,” then maybe you didn’t get something in your childhood.

It happens that in life the baby experiences negative feelings, receives sharp shouts, inattention. And at the moment of testing negative feelings his body shrinks. Here it is dance, better than others will be able to help in relieve physical blockages and restore emotional balance. And if the child will regularly engage in dancing, then he will be presented with many chances for "psychotherapy".

Dancing classes will allow your daughter to feel like a real princess in beautiful ball gowns, and the boys during the performances will turn into noble gentlemen.

When young children dance, it is easier for them to find a common language, they are brought together by melodic music, the atmosphere of the dance class and communication with the teacher. Partner dance teach the culture of communication between girls and boys, between athletes different ages. Help the guys improve their social and communication skills- they are studying work in a team they will develop a sense of trust and cooperation.

Dancing for kids is good for mental health children, because they increase self-esteem, develop a sense of confidence and the ability to express emotions. Children's dances liberate - if you have a modest and shy child, training will remove barriers and make him more daring. Dancing is a kind of training that allows you to get rid of a lot of personal complexes, to acquire emancipation, additional self confidence.

Dance lessons develop in children aesthetic feelings, musical ear, the ability to perceive music, they teach to control their body, train motor skills and coordination movements. Ballroom dancing contributes to the development physical strength child, endurance, flexibility, strengthen muscles, improve performance respiratory And cardiovascular systems.

Dancing classes, participation in various competitions develop the child stress resistance, skills adaptation to rapid change modern life, form good habits and internally organized. Being engaged in ballroom dancing, children learn to achieve their goals, but not because “you must”, but because “you will definitely succeed!”, And this is a big difference.

Ballroom dancing is an opportunity replenish portfolio cultural and sporting achievements.

Dancing is also a great way improve your health.

Gradually, dancing brings the body to bodily and spiritual improvement, and this is the main benefit of dancing. Compared to other sports, ballroom dancing has an important advantage - it is less traumatic.

If the baby is poorly developed physically, dancing will not require a miracle from the first lesson, at first they only adapt the body to minor loads, gradually accustom the muscles to regular work, accelerate metabolism, will help develop a breathing pattern.

No other sport corrects the back and promotes healing and alignment. spine.

Dancing effectively strengthens nervous system, work gastrointestinal tract, improve metabolism and the work of the vestibular apparatus, correct the wrong posture people, improve mood, help solve psychological problems.

In the life of any parent, sooner or later there comes a time when it is necessary to make a decision about where the child will study - in sports section, theater studio or in art school. Are you the parents of a beautiful boy, but a little shy and insecure? Or is your child a girl who dreams of becoming a princess? In this case, you should consider such an option as sports ballroom dancing for children.

Surely everyone, without exception, at least once in their life saw the performance of dancers. Agree that this is a very exciting sight - the flexibility, plasticity, grace of partners cause sincere admiration. But all the stars of ballroom dancing began their journey to the pinnacle of success precisely at a young age, when a ballroom dance school for children opened its doors to them.

Sports ballroom dancing is ideal for young romantic ladies - because they in a wonderful way develop plasticity, teach not only to hear music, but also to feel it. A lot of girls, having watched the performance of couples on TV, are completely delighted with the surroundings surrounding ballroom dancing - music, whirling couples, beautiful dresses. Few of the girls can leave this spectacle indifferent - therefore, almost all of them visit ballroom dance studios with great pleasure.

Boys are most often brought to the ballroom dance studio by mothers who want to grow real all-round developed men from their sons. And this is quite true - not only is ballroom dancing for children a serious physical activity that will help the boy maintain an excellent shape, they also remarkably socialize a person in the future. Believe me, a man who knows how to dance well will feel comfortable in any company.

On general development dance training also has the most beneficial effect on a child, being an excellent means of both physical and moral - moral education. In addition, it wonderfully reveals the entire creative potential child.

In addition, as already mentioned, ballroom dancing helps the physical development of the child - they train and strengthen the most different groups muscles, strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems child's body. The child learns to master his body perfectly, to use it to convey his feelings and emotions. In addition, ballroom dancing has a positive effect on the emotional background of the child and teaches him to keep his emotions under control.

Ballroom dancing - to be or not to be?

Ballroom dancing is very, very beautiful. However, before you rush headlong to the nearest ballroom dance studio, you need to determine exactly whether you are ready for your child to study in it. So what needs to be taken into account?

Ballroom dancing is a real art, but at the same time it is also a sport. Yes - yes, sports ballroom dancing is recognized as an official sport, so dancers are not only artists, but also athletes at the same time. And children involved in ballroom dancing develop not only creativity and artistry, but also dexterity and endurance.

In addition, in ballroom dancing, as in any other sport, the spirit of competition is very high. That's why he plays enough serious role in shaping the character of the child, teaches him to be purposeful and hardworking, set goals and achieve them - in a word, helps the child grow into a purposeful and strong personality.

Since ballroom dancing is a real sport, like all other types of it, it requires a fairly serious approach. If you want your child to practice ballroom dancing professionally, be prepared for the fact that, as in any other sport, the price of success can only be frequent and lengthy training and the most serious approach and attitude to business, both on the part of the child and and from the parents.

Of course, before deciding to send your child to the ballroom dancing section, you need to know exactly what they are. So, ballroom dancing is divided into two programs:

1. European program. The European program includes such dances as Foxtrot, Slow Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango, Quickstep.
2. Latin American Program. The Latin American program is the most incendiary and includes such dances as cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive and Paso Doble.

In addition to these two areas, there is also sports rock and roll - a rather heavy and complex dance, a kind of mixture of the most complex sports exercises with elements dance moves. In addition, there are also elements of folk ethnic dances.

Why is ballroom dancing recognized as a sport?

Not so long ago, ballroom dancing was considered only one of the directions in art, and today it is recognized as an independent sport. Why did this happen? This fact is explained very, very simply. Ballroom dancing requires dancers to display exactly the same qualities that are inherent in real athletes: dexterity, endurance, dedication, daily hard work, and the like. Below are the main criteria that made it possible to recognize ballroom dancing as an independent sport:

• Physical strength.

In ballroom dancing, there are a huge number of very different complex lifts, similar to those that can be seen in figure skating. By the way, it was from ballroom dancing that many of the main supports used in figure skating were borrowed. And for their successful implementation, remarkable physical strength is often needed.

• Flexibility of the body and coordination of movements.

In order to move freely on the parquet without getting lost when performing dance lines and figures, the partners must have well-developed coordination of movements and flexibility of the body. By the way, these qualities are necessary in most sports, and not just in ballroom dancing.

• Musical ear and sense of rhythm.

Since we are talking about dancing, it is quite natural that both partners should have an ear for music and a sense of tact. Otherwise, they won't be able to interact properly.

• Endurance.

Endurance is very important for dancers. And this is not surprising - all ballroom dancing competitions are held in several stages - from the qualifying round to the final round. And in each round, the performing couple must perform five dances, which last an average of two minutes each. Agree that it is easy to imagine the level of stress on the body of the participants. But the life of dancers is not only performances, it is also regular exhausting hard many hours of training.

• Strict discipline and ability to work in a team.

Ballroom dancing, by the way, is a team sport. Moreover, the team can consist of not only two partners. The largest ballroom dance team consists of 16 people, that is, 8 couples. Judge for yourself what the level of discipline of dancers should be in order to successfully interact with all members of the team at once.

Clothes and shoes for ballroom dancing

When deciding whether or not to have ballroom dancing in your child's life, one cannot ignore such an aspect as financial side question. Ballroom dancing is one of the most expensive sports. And it's not even about the cost of ballroom dancing, although it is not cheap enough. However, the most expensive are the ballroom dance costumes for children.

In addition to the fact that the child needs at least two training suits and a pair of training shoes, they also need performance suits. You can buy training costumes in stores specializing in the sale of dance clothes. However, with costumes for performances, the situation is a little more complicated - they have to be sewn only to order. And this applies to both boys and girls. And the cost of such a suit can vary greatly - starting from several hundred dollars.

And since in our article in question about children involved in ballroom dancing, parents should be reminded that the performance costume will last for a maximum of one year. After all, children, unlike adults, grow up very quickly, growing out of expensive costumes.

In addition to all the above nuances, one should not lose sight of such an expense item as trips to competitions. Not only will you have to pay fees, you will also have to pay for travel to the venue, accommodation and meals. And this is also a considerable amount. It is much wiser to assess the financial capabilities of the family in advance than to inform the child later that you have no money. Believe me, this will be a severe disappointment for him and a strong blow to the child's psyche.

At what age to go to the floor?

So, the decision is made and there will still be ballroom dancing. And here another question arises - at what age should a child be sent to a ballroom dancing studio? It is rather difficult to answer it unambiguously. On the one hand, in ballroom dancing, as in any other sport, in order to achieve results, it is necessary to bring a child at the most tender age. And on the other hand, for children who have not reached at least five or six years of age, it is quite difficult to correctly perceive and evaluate the requirements of the coach.

There are ballroom dancing studios that accept children from about three to four years old. However, before you take your baby there, really evaluate his strength. If the baby is not yet able to concentrate his attention, coordinate movements and gets tired quickly, you should not rush things and give him to a ballroom dance studio.

However, in the event that the child is sufficiently developed to perceive the coach's commands, has a good memory, the ability to coordinate his movements well and has ear for music, you can try and give the crumbs to the dance. However, experts still say that the optimal age to start ballroom dancing is six years old.

The principle of the coach's work with children

Of course, parents are interested to know how the work with children is carried out in the ballroom dance studio. So, your child has been accepted into the ballroom dance studio - what's next? As a rule, at the beginning of the training, the trainer will Parent meeting, where parents will be announced a list of what their child needs to purchase for further training.

During the first year of classes, children most often dance alone. Children are initiated into the basics of dance secrets. At this stage of training, the task of the trainer is to teach children the basics of rhythm and choreography, as well as basic movements in ballroom dancing. The basics of the main dances are studied - Cha-cha-cha, Slow Waltz, Jive, Quick Step, as well as some auxiliary dances, such as Blues, Polka, Disco.

In the second year of study, when the children are 6-7 years old, the coach puts the children in pairs. In training, children begin to learn to perform the same movements that they learned last year, but already in pairs. It is in the second year of study that children begin to take part in the first ballroom dancing competitions in their lives.

Ballroom dancing competition

In the second year of study, when the children are already placed in pairs and go to their first competition in their lives, they begin their performances in the “Beginners” category. Judges of the competition have a little more leniency towards such kids than towards the rest of the participants - after all, they are not only beginners on the floor, but also the youngest in age.

In the event that the year went well, and a couple of young dancers showed good results, she is awarded dance class"E-4". In this class, children take part in four ballroom dance competitions: Quick Step, Slow Waltz, Jive and Cha-cha-cha. Children's dance couples who have been assigned such a class are already considered full-fledged athletes. They participate in various types competitions, both in class and in open groups at children's competitions in ballroom dancing, in the group Children - 1.

In the event that in the current year at least one of the dancers in a couple turns ten years old, the couple automatically falls into the next age group "Children - 2" in order. In this group, the competition is already much more serious than for kids. Moreover, those couples who, by the time they move to the group Children - 2, have reached class D, which means that children dance not four, but eight dances at the competitions, have a big advantage: 4 dances from the European program - Slow and Viennese Waltz, Tango , and Quick Step, and 4 dances from the Latin American program - Rumba and Jive, Cha-cha-cha, Samba.

Children take part in ballroom dancing competitions in the class Children - 2 only two years old. As soon as one of the partners in a couple turns 12 years old, the couple is automatically transferred to dance group Juniors - 1. In this age group children dance ballroom dances almost according to the adult dance program. And the requirements of the judges for such couples are also very strict - as for adults. In addition, in this age group, the requirements for appearance dancers - to their shoes, costumes and hairstyles.

Of course, far from all the children who come to the ballroom dance studio, Alexander Berezin or Victoria Rudkovskaya will grow up. However, in any case, ballroom dancing lessons for children will not be in vain. The elegance and grace of your son or daughter will allow them to always remain in the spotlight!

Ballroom dancing will help you acquire good manners for your children. No wonder during the time of the nobility noble families included ballroom dancing in the compulsory education and upbringing of their children. And even now ballroom dancing does not lose its popularity - it is considered prestigious if a child dances.

What does ballroom dancing give a child.

• Sports ballroom dancing helps to develop plasticity, coordination of movements, posture.
• Ballroom dancing contributes to the development of rhythm and the aesthetic component of life.
• A child who goes in for dancing develops the leg muscles and muscles of the body, the plasticity of the hands. During classes, all muscle groups work, which contributes to the development of coordination, stability, allows the child to be flexible, enduring and dexterous.
• When practicing ballroom dancing, the child receives the correct physical development, it improves the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Dancing children have rhythm and plasticity and they have proper breathing.
• A dancing child has a correct beautiful posture and gait, an athletic physique and the ability to move confidently and beautifully. If the child has an incorrect posture, then ballroom dancing will help correct it. Dancing children are distinguished by an easy and smooth gait, even if ballroom dancing is a hobby.
• By learning ballroom dancing, the child will receive great opportunity not only to dance, but to exquisitely express their emotions.
• Ballroom dancing is a tool of self-expression, and also contributes to the composure and responsibility of the child.
• Ballroom dancing teaches children to discipline, helps to coordinate thoughts and actions, contributes to the education of a gifted, hardworking, creative and physically strong personality.
• Being engaged in ballroom dancing, the child will learn to listen to music, acquire rhythm and learn to express impressions of music with meaningful movements, according to his age, i.e. everything that is so necessary for education and proper development child.
• Also, ballroom dancing is beautiful view sports that contribute to the formation of the right aesthetic taste in children due to: good choreography, bright dance costumes and good music.
• A dancing child will easily find his life path, will enjoy the performances and the flowers and applause received. Such a child will always look stylish, study well and love art.
• It is also worth noting that in addition to the development of physical form and aesthetic education, ballroom dancing will help shy children to relax and gain self-confidence, as well as help to overcome many complexes.
• The dance program includes not only European and Latin American programs. In the classroom great attention is also given to teaching the basics of etiquette, the ability to present and keep oneself. In a few months of classes, the child will have noble manners.
• It is also important that dancing children improve their mood, and they are charged with positive energy. Such children will not spend all the time at the computer or lying on the couch in front of the TV, you will not worry about where they are walking now because they will be doing sports ballroom dancing in training.

So what is the best age for ballroom dancing?

• Some experts say that the most suitable age to start ballroom dancing is from 4 to 5 years old. They argue this by the fact that at this age the child already perceives necessary information, he can be taught to listen to music and he can perform physical activities.
• And others are sure that children can perceive information from the age of 6. They argue this by insufficient coordination of movements and the rapid fatigue of children from monotonous actions. Also, it is difficult for children to remember the names of figures in dances.
• Most parents also believe that a 4-year-old child should start with folk dances, gymnastics, etc., classes that can prepare a child for ballroom dancing, for which he can be given from the age of 6.
• But there are parents who bring their children to ballroom dancing from the age of 4. They talk about the fact that children begin to dance well between the ages of 7 and 8, and until that moment they get physical activity, attend ballroom dancing competitions and absorb all this atmosphere.
• Most children's dance schools and studios accept children from 4 years old and over. Therefore, it would be useful for parents to know that when giving a child to dance, it is necessary to take into account the level of his development.
• Children under the age of 4 will have difficulty in ballroom dancing. They will quickly get tired, and also such children have poorly developed coordination and they do not know how to concentrate their attention. However, if you see that your child has sufficient development, perceives music, can listen to a coach and has a good memory, then you can send him to classes even at this age.
• But experts agree that the most optimal age for ballroom dancing will be 6 years of age.

European program.

If we consider the European program, then the most beautiful and elegant dance in it is the slow waltz. This dance has the longest history.

It appeared in the XII-XIII centuries and throughout its history was supplemented with elements of various European folk and court dances. The slow waltz gained its greatest popularity in the 19th century. Our generation knows several types of slow waltz, which received its differences through the influence of the traditions of the countries where it was danced: waltz-boston, figured, viennese and slow waltz.

Also worthy of mention is the tango dance. In the European program, this is the most emotional and very effective dance. He has a pronounced rhythm and a clear step. The birthplace of the dance is South America, from where it came to Europe in the 20th century. But the Europeans smoothed it out a bit original dance because some elements of it were considered indecent. The tango distinguishes from other dances of the European program with an imprinted decisive step, all other dances have a smooth step, flowing from the heel to the toes. Tango suits confident and determined people.

The European program ends with two foxtrots - slow and fast (from the English "quickstep" - a quick step). Two varieties of the foxtrot appeared in the 20th century and instantly became popular with young people.

The slow type foxtrot in the modern variation is considered complex - it is based on fast and slow steps, and these movements are performed to even music. This dance is characterized by a change in the intensity of movement and a change in direction, which requires certain skills and good coordination. It is precisely because of this that entry level V dance school this dance does not exist.

And here is another foxtrot - a fast one begins to be studied at the very first lesson. This dance is sparkling, lively, it contains elements of jumps and jumps. And if the couple dances harmoniously, then from the side the dance looks like a “flutter” on the floor.

Energetic program - Latin American dances.

Dances from the Latin American program are very emotional and energetic. They are characterized by fast tempos, dizzying spins and fiery melodies, which makes them more popular than the waltz or tango.

The most famous Latin American dance is the samba. The birthplace of samba is Africa, from which the dance came to South America, and gained immense popularity in Brazil and, out of general enthusiasm, got to the carnival. This dance is the most incendiary of Latin American dances, fervent and rhythmic. It consists of a springy step with a simultaneous turn of the hip. Watching the dance, the audience themselves begin to dance.

The second equally rhythmic is the cha-cha-cha dance. It is based on elements of movements from rumba and mambo. This is a young dance since it appeared in the middle of the twentieth century. Thanks to the light and rhythmic music of the dance, a relaxed atmosphere is created, accompanied by expressive movements of the hips, which gives some zest to what is happening.

All Latin American dances have one distinguishing feature- fast pace. The most unusual for Latin American dances is the rumba. This dance is very beautiful, it is permeated with feelings and has some elements of eroticism. Rumba is a fairly easy dance to learn - it is based on a simple basic movement and slow music. But you can dance it only by putting your soul into it. Each couple dancing rumba seems to tell about their love story.

This dance appeared in America in the sixteenth century and was already popular in those days, but immediately received a ban, as it was considered immodest. Now the rumba has a standard look, which, in principle, does not affect its popularity among dance fans.

Have you ever tried on the role of a cape? Yes, you read that right, the role of the cloak. The paso doble dance is a bullfighter performing at a bullfight with his invariable attribute of a cloak, the movements of which are conveyed by the dance. The main difference between this dance and other Latin American dances is that the main partner is here, and the partner has a supporting role.

And at the end of the Latin American program, a jive performs. This jumpy and sparkling dance will appeal to fans of rock and roll. It is as incendiary as cha-cha-cha or samba, has similar movements and tempo to rock and roll and appeared in Europe during the Second World War. As a result of its simplification, not a single dance came out. These dances gained incredible popularity on dance floors in the middle of the 20th century, including rock and roll.