Whether you danced over the summer, took some time off, or a little bit of both, the new dance year is upon us! Season 16 is bound to be an exciting one! Here are some tips on preparing for the upcoming season.
Give yourself time to adjust to a new routine
Just as kids need time to get in the swing of back-to-school routine, the same goes for dance.
The first few weeks can be exhausting as kids navigate the balance between school and extracurricular activities. Help your dancer out by establishing a routine at home before the school year starts.
You can start small by having them wake up at a certain time each day instead of sleeping in, or adding a few extra responsibilities around the house to help them gear up for the transition from summer to fall.
Start being active and stay active
If your dancer has taken a summer off from sports and dancing, it’s never too late to jump back on the wagon! You can start preparing for dance by doing stretches at home.
You can even make it a family fun activity. Bust out some yoga mats and go for it! Family yoga on the lawn, anyone? Once you’re in the habit of being active as a family, it’s a lot easier to maintain that routine.
Understand that the first month of dance is a learning curve
No matter if you’ve been dancing for 15 years, or if this is the first time your child is entering a dance studio, there is always a learning curve for everyone involved.
Teachers are constantly gauging their classes and getting to know their students. Parents will sometimes feel nervous letting a little one go to their first organized activity. Dancers will need time to adjust to a new level of learning. As teachers, we always say that we try to learn from our students as much as possible so that we can create dance class content that is both attainable yet challenging.
If your dancer feels that the class is too hard or too easy within the first couple of weeks, just stick it out! Everyone is different and there is a way for everyone to shine. It is your dance teacher’s job to help you do just that.
We are looking forward to an awesome 16th season of dancing together at Liberty Dance Center!
