64 THE QUEENS COURIER • DANCE • SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
dance
Styles of dance for kids
BY COURIER STAFF
editorial@queenscourier.com
While all styles of dance are equally
benefi cial, it is important to learn what
type of music and movements they like,
especially as they get older, to determine
which style of dance is best.
A variety of dance styles exist, which
will make fi nding a class for your kids
much easier. Some of the most popular
dance classes for children include:
Pre-Dance/Music and Movement –
Exclusively for young children and their
parents, these classes are an introduction
to dance and music while allowing
young children to become comfortable
with body movement and helping them
develop coordination and creativity.
Louise Benes, Director of the Louise
Benes Dance Company in Richmond
Hill for 35 years, starts children at age 3
with Creative Movement classes, which
are basic body movements, teaching
them how to stretch, jump and become
more aware of their physique.
Ballet – Considered the foundation
of dance, ballet uses precise movements
and encourages discipline in body and
mind. It increases strength, coordination
and fl exibility. Ballet also requires proper
posture that will stay with children as
they leave the studio.
Maureen Gelchion at the Astoria
Dance Center has been dancing for 27
years and feels it’s most important that
kids take a class in something they like,
but ballet is a good starting point because
they look for proper techniques.
“In ballet, you learn proper posture.
Your muscles get developed so your core
is so strong it can do whatever is asked of
it,” Benes said.
Jazz – Th ese classes are set to fun,
upbeat music and there is much fl exibility
in the type of movements kids will
perform. Jazz incorporates improvisation,
allowing kids to use their creativity.
Tap – Th is high-energy form of dance
requires kids to move their feet and
“tap” in time to the music. Tap develops
rhythm and memory more than anything.
It is fairly easy to get good at the
beginner tap steps, and like most things
it gets more diffi cult the better you get.
Hip-Hop –these classes are set to popular,
current music. Creative children
enjoy its fl exibility as it incorporates
rhythm, memory, creativity, strength,
and attitude.
Ballroom – more popular with kids
over seven and teens, ballroom dancing
is well known for its cutthroat competitions
in styles like the foxtrot and rumba.
Irish – Irish dancing is famous for its
fancy footwork combined with a straight
upper body. In this style, all of the
movements are performed from the hips
down, and classes are generally set to
traditional Irish music such as jigs and
reels.
Modern – this style of dance can be
thought of as a master’s level jazz class to
further develop their coordination and
balance. Th is is a particularly technical
style of dance that will help kids develop
a more personal style.
Latin – Usually for kids seven and up,
this encompasses the cha-cha, rumba,
salsa, and the mambo. Latin dance is
great exercise and can teach kids the cultural
appreciation of music.
African – Kids are introduced to
African songs, music and drumming
during classes. Kids of any age can get
involved as there are a variety of levels
and types of African dancing from which
to choose.