Get Dancing: 10 Benefits of Dance Classes for Children

Published 18 December 2020 at 19:30

Tickikids Blog Abu Dhabi >  Get Dancing: 10 Benefits of Dance Classes for Children

As we firmly believe, learning does not just take place in the classroom. We all want our kids to benefit from a wider range of opportunities and sign them up to a broad range of extra-curricular activities and clubs. With a market full of conflicting entertaining options, many of our life decisions centre around a choice of schools, young people's sporting programmes and a variety of after school classes to broaden our kids’ horizons, discover new interests and pursue their passions.

There are four types of activities: Academic and Educational, such as languages, science and computing, chess or coding, and Art and Creative like dance, music, drama, crafts etc. More and more parents are looking for inspirational learning for their little ones and opt for performing opportunities – be it musical, theatrical or dancing.

Photo Credit: Master1305 from feepik.com

Out of all the activities you may choose for your child, we highly recommend enrolling them to dance classes. Whether for fun and fitness or a career in performing, dancing is one of the most enjoyable ways to get moving. No matter what style you consider, dance is for everyone: any shape, age or background. It is widely reported that dance has an important role to play in our lives – with classes to benefit body, mind and soul.

Through participation in appropriate dancing activities, children develop:

1. Physical Skills

The fitness and social benefits of dance are well documented, however it is of paramount importance for children to get the right introduction to dance. A love of dance from an early age is a positive step towards a healthy life that motivates little dancers to stay active as they grow into adults. Notably, structured dance classes develop children’s physical strength and increase their stamina, flexibility and coordination. Regular dancing helps lose weight, build muscles, maintain strong bones and even the way kids walk changes. Most importantly, dancing is so much fun for kids. As impulsive explorers, pre-schoolers enjoy an environment where they can jump, run, swirl, sway and spin. All the while, your child develops an awareness of their body and how it moves through space without even realising it.

2. Emotional Maturity

Weekly dance classes encourage not only fitness but also develop confidence and facilitate children’s healthy emotional development in an engaging manner. Expressing emotions through movement, kids recognise particular feelings like being sad, embarrassed, happy or angry, and it gives them the freedom to extend their understanding of the perspectives and emotions of other people. Some children struggle to express their feelings through verbal language or respond to others. And this is where dance can really help to show that feelings are universal.

Photo Credit: SeventyFour

3. Social Skills

Children love to play and learn together and that is why dance is a great way of helping even shy kids come out of their shell. As part of their session, little dancers are asked to work together both in pairs and groups. Dance places children from different backgrounds and often mixed genders in one room which creates an environment outside of their comfort zone. Dance is a natural method for being engaged in social interaction, achieving peer acceptance, making and maintaining friendships. That’s why it is particularly important in an early childhood period when children develop social skills beyond their families or caregivers and the ability to belong to a group.

4. Musicality

Movement and musicality go hand in hand, they are an intrinsic part of being human. Music makes us move. Encouraging children to dance to music develops sensitivity to sounds, melody and rhythm. Dance develops an understanding of the relationship between body movements and music, improves musical receptivity and increases a child’s sensitivity to rhythmic patterns, phrasing and intensity of music at any age.

Photo Credit: Africa Studio

5. Cognitive Thinking

The recent studies prove that through regular dance classes children exercise cognitive abilities and maximise their brain function. What does it mean for your little one? When a child engages in learning complex choreography and memorising movements, it challenges their focus. Such brain activity becomes a fantastic form of mental exercise. Pretty cool, huh?

6. Self-Motivation

Each child has their own individual summit of dancing achievements. By encouraging them to participate in festivals at the best level and to aim towards reaching their summit, you give your kids responsibility for achieving these outcomes and help them learn from their successes and failures. Winners breed a winning mentality and it equips them with confidence and enthusiasm to enjoy dance and an active lifestyle. This is a skill we use long into adulthood.

Photo Credtit: Antoniodiaz

7. Patience

Any parent can attest to the fact that children aren’t the most passive creatures in the world. It may seem strange but learning to dance requires the patience of a saint. Rehearsing similar or new moves helps children build an appreciation of patience, knowing that time and practice will eventually bring a mastery of their dance.

8. Creativity

Children learn to express themselves through movement and realise they can create shapes with their body and find rhythms with their feet. It helps them understand that their bodies are the best instrument they will possess for creativity.

Photo Credit: Photobac

9. Self-confidence

This grows with increasing ability in dance and provides a child with confidence and pride in their abilities. Also, as dance requires interaction with others this forces even the shyest child to engage with others.

10. Discipline

Dance has to be done regularly often requiring some self-sacrifice which builds discipline. As discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules, many dances require the following of prescribed steps and movements.

Choosing the best place for the children to train

The benefits children receive from attending dance classes could go on and on. And that raises another important question - what is the best place to get the most out of the dances? Whom can we as parents entrust our kids in this journey? There are so many different aspects to pay attention to when choosing the best place for a kid to attend! 

First and foremost, the location should be safe and well-equipped as we do not want our kids to get traumatized. 

Then, it is essential to make sure that the teachers have enough experience and qualification so they can instruct kids properly and make sure that kids do all moves and poses properly. And, of course, they should be able to engage kids in various activities, inspire and encourage kids and create a friendly environment for everyone. 

Universal Dance & Music Arts

Image Credit: Universal DMA

Parents from Abu Dhabi are in luck, as one of the best centers dedicated to dance and the arts opened its doors here in 2019 and it meets all the requirements of any thoughtful parent. 

Universal Dance & Music Arts is a Top Dance and Music Center that creates the perfect atmosphere to delve deep into the realm of dance. Here, kids and adults can try their hand at different dance styles and genres as well as challenge themselves in the dance activities. 

Universal DMA is a place where all members of the community can explore their creative sides in the most welcoming and warm environment. Both kids and adults can unleash their talents and, rest assured, they will receive all the support that they need.

What classes are conducted here?

Here, a wide range of dancing classes is conducted:

• Kids’ Classes (Ballet, Hip Hop Kids, Capoeira Kids, Latin Kids and Teens)
• Latin Dance Classes (Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Cha Cha Cha, etc)
• Free Style Dance classes (Twerk, Afrobeats, Burlesque, Chair Dance, Hip Hop Dance Classes for both Kids and Adults, etc.)
• Piano Classes
• Vocal classes

Teachers of Universal DMA encourage parents to bring kids as there is no such thing as too early to dance, so here kids can start their dancing journey at the age of 3 and above. The training schedule of the classes always adjusts to the age of little dancers to make sure that kids make age-appropriate exercises. 

Who are the teachers of Universal DMA?

The driving force of the Center is Jane Egbe, fondly called Ginger by her friends and peers. She is a professional dancer with many years of teaching experience. Ginger got the most out of various professional dance schools worldwide - in Nigeria, Russia, and UAE. Her passion and dedication to dances like Salsa, Bachata, kizomba, Latin and Ballroom dances, Zumba, and Capoeira have led her to the prize places at various Championships like Pro-Am Latin and Ballroom Championship and Crown Cup, Dubai.

And her knowledge and experience ignite a love of dance in everyone, young and old!

Universal DMA often conducts free sessions of various dance classes, so you can put them to the test and see what kind of dance your kid likes more. So take advantage of this option and enroll your kids in the class!

Contacts: tel. 0504075795.

Socials: Instagram, Facebook.

Location: Al Niyadi Building, Airport Rd, Abu Dhabi.