Surviving Back-to-Dance
Believe it or not, August is just around the corner, which means that autumn is on the horizon. With back-to-school comes back-to-dance, and here at Miss Colleen’s we know what a difficult time that can be for young dancers and dance parents alike. In this blog post, we share some tips and insights on surviving back-to-dance.
If you live in Rockville Centre and are interested in enrolling your child in a premier dance academy, get in touch with Miss Colleen’s Elite Dance Centre today. We offer group dance lessons for children ages two through 18 in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and more. We are taking extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety during COVID-19, so you can rest assured that you and your dance will be safe during this unprecedented time. Read on to discover handy tips and tricks for surviving back-to-dance then reach out to our dance studio in Rockville Centre!
Start Slow
No matter whether your child spent their summer on the couch watching Netflix or was practicing their favorite hobby at one of our summer dance intensives, transitioning from the relatively care-free days of vacation into their packed school year schedule may be a challenge. Both their bodies and minds will need to readjust from spending most of their time relaxing to studying for school and practicing dance. Make sure that your young dancer starts slow, especially when it comes to high-impact moves that could cause injuries, such as jumps. Remind them that there will be plenty of room to work their way up, so there’s no shame in reworking some beginner moves.
Stretch and Strengthen
Again, your dancer’s body will need some adjustment when it comes to the often rigorous demands of their dance education. Incorporating stretching not just inside the dance studio but also at home can make the transition much easier and reduce the risk of injury. Every night have your dancer do a few gentle stretches as part of their bedtime routine to rebuild strength in their feet, toes, legs, and ankles.
Get Organized
Before back-to-dance begins, you’ll want to make sure that you have all of your child’s dance gear in order. Grab a pen and write down a list of all necessary items, making sure to take note of items that you a) need to purchase and b) need to repurchase because they no longer fit your child. It’s not unusual for kids to go through growth spurts over the summer, so pointe shoes that may have fit like a glove last year may now barely fit on their feet! To avoid stress, don’t wait until the last minute to go shopping, and make sure that you keep all of your dance supplies in an organized area of your child’s closet or bureau. You will be given a list of what gear and accessories your child needs when you register them for class, but here are some things you may want to grab in addition:
- Water bottle
- Protein bars or other healthy snacks
- Extra tights and leotards in case of tears, runs, stains, or excessive sweating
- Hairbrush, comb, elastic hair ties, barrettes, bobby pins, and hairspray
- Towel for wiping off sweat
- Deodorant!
- Hand sanitizer
- Antibiotic wipes
Get Inspired
In our last blog post, we discussed seven of the most famous ballets of all time. To get your dancer excited for returning to the studio, we suggest watching at least one of these ballets with them; many are available to stream for little or no cost online. We also previously shared lists of great dance books for children and young adults. Get some of these titles from the library or a bookstore and share them with your child to get them excited about the dance year ahead. Full of great writing, captivating pictures, and plenty of practical information about dance, these books are sure to inspire.
Review the Year Before
This one is especially important; before back-to-dance begins, sit down with your child and discuss with them what they think they did well and what they could improve on in terms of their dance practice last year. Go over the ups and downs of each performance, being sure to discuss areas for growth. Help them make a list of healthy habits and things to work on that they can aim to implement in the year ahead. Remember to do all of this with a positive attitude! This isn’t about criticism but helping your child feel excited about ways they can challenge themselves.
Make Back-to-Dance a Breeze at Miss Colleen’s!
At Miss Colleen’s Dance Centre, our staff of professional dance teachers are here to support you and your child when it comes to surviving back-to-dance. If you have any questions about any of the tips above or back-to-dance in general, feel free to reach out to our Rockville Centre dance studio now. Also be sure to check out our fall schedule to see our class offerings for autumn 2020. We look forward to seeing you and your young dancer in our studio soon!