Is Ballet For All Kids?

Ballet is a wonderful extracurricular activity for kids. However, as a parent you might wonder if ballet is right for your child. Is ballet for all kids? In short, absolutely! Ballet is a wonderful activity for children of all ages, abilities, and passions.

The International Ballet Academy is committed to making ballet accessible and enjoyable for dancers of all ages and abilities. We offer a variety of classes because we truly believe ballet is for all kids.

There are significant developmental and social benefits of ballet for kids. As parents, dancers, and professional instructors, we want to make these benefits available to all.

Here is why ballet is for all kids:

Ballet Offers Developmental Benefits

While not every child will desire to become a professional dancer, every child can benefit from early childhood ballet classes. Ballet offers many developmental benefits including:

• Exposure to music patterns which improve math skills
• Practice with choreography which helps motor planning and memory skills
• Strengthening joints and muscles
• Learning social skills and following instructor directions
• Understanding work ethic through practice improving dance skills
• Improved memory, coordination, and cognitive skills
• Core strengthening and core stability improvement
• Mastering gross motor milestones
• Improved confidence
• And more!

Regardless of your child’s short or long-term dance ambitions, ballet classes offer significant benefits. One of the most amazing benefits of the International Ballet Academy is our online platform for learning.

Whether your child naturally excels or requires a bit more practice to master skills, they can confidently learn in the comfort of their own home. Even the shyest child can confidently learn and master ballet without fear of others watching.

Adaptive Ballet – Ballet Classes For All

As mentioned, we truly believe ballet should be available for all. In addition to our Creative Movement classes designed to be Caregiver and Me, and our Primary Ballet, we offer Adaptive Ballet.

If your child has interest in ballet classes but you’re concerned if our other classes are a good fit, our adaptive class might be for you. Children take our adaptive ballet class for many reasons, including but not limited to:

• Developmental Delay
• Cerebral Palsy
• Down Syndrome
• Congenital muscle concerns such as hypotonia or hypertonia
• Autism
• Limited mobility
• Intellectual Disability
• And any reason why they feel another class may not be a good fit

If you have questions about our adaptive ballet class, please contact us. We truly believe ballet is for all kids!

Ballet Is Great For Athletes, Boys, And More

Some children are very into athletics such as football and soccer. There are people who incorrectly assume ballet is for girls only. This is far from the truth. Some also assume if a girl enjoys other sports, she may not benefit or enjoy ballet. That is also false.

In fact, many professional athletes take ballet to improve their skills for their preferred sport. Ballet improves:

• Motor planning
• Balance
• Core stability
• Strengthens joints
• Improves coordination

All of which can be extremely beneficial for a variety of sports.

Whether your son is an avid athlete, they simply enjoy dance, or both, ballet is a wonderful activity for boys and girls of all interests.

Some myths persist, but boys who take ballet build incredible strength and skill. For boys concerned about being the only male in a class, our online classes can help build their confidence in beginning ballet.

 Ballet Is For All Kids Because Movement Is Vital For Cognitive Development

As parents, we want to make sure our children are developing and meeting their milestones. Physical movement is vital to helping kids develop cognitively. Physical movement and cognitive development go hand in hand.

When kids take ballet classes, whether Creative Movement early on or Primary later, the movement aids in their cognitive development. This then assists them in later years as they’re mastering reading, writing, math, and more.

In an era where car travel, screen time, and long school hours demand much of our time, signing up for a ballet class for kids is an excellent way to keep kids moving. Best of all, the International Ballet Academy is a virtual academy. No matter how packed your schedule, your child can benefit from ballet classes.

Ready to get started? You can register today and help your child reap all the benefits of ballet.