Benefits of Ballet:
• Discipline of mind and body
• Coordination
• Grace and Poise
• Muscle Toning
• Alignment and posture
• Understanding Team Concepts
• Understanding and appreciating the art of dance
• Learning to be a good audience member
• Exposure to classical music
• Love of dance
Health Benefits:
1. Strength- Dancers build muscles by forcing muscles to resist against a dancers own body weight.
2. Flexibility- Dancers strive to achieve full range of motion with their muscle groups.
3. Endurance- Dancers train muscles to work hard for long periods of time without fatigue.
4. Sense of Well-Being- Dancers interact socially with peers which is shown to increase confidence and improve social skills.
5. Coordination and Balance: Dancers train both fine and large motor muscles through repetitive floor progressions and center floor work.
School Benefits:
1. Discipline- Dancers achieve success in the classroom through hard work and practice. This work ethic transfers over into the classroom.
2. Respect- Dancers are expected to thank instructors at the end of each class. In addition, dancers are taught to say thank you when given a correction.
3. Creativity/Discovery- Dancers are taught a dance curriculum but are often asked to express what they feel during a choreographed piece. Sometimes the students movement is so unique and inspiring that the teacher adds the movement to the piece.
4. Enhanced Concentration- Dancers perform small combination's at the end of class. Each choreographed section must be picked up quickly in order to move on to the next 8 counts. Once mastered, students are challenged to perform these combination's facing different sides of the room as well as performing each combo in geometric shapes.
5. Learned Listening Skills- Dancers must listen to the teacher to succeed in class. Examples include barre work directions, floor stretches, across the floor progressions, and class combination's.
6. Confidence- Dancers increase their self-esteem each time they master a step in class. Students continue to build esteem by performing at local performances/recitals. Hence, students are confident giving school reports and interviewing for jobs and colleges.
7. Fitness- Dancers develop motor skills, coordination, and balance in the classroom. These skills are transferred into P.E classes and are applied to fitness tests.