There’s lots if information out there about the benefits of dance for pre-school children and adults and for mental and physical health, but what about our young people? Today we’re going to have a look at our secondary age students, how they can benefit from dance, what may be a barrier to accessing dance, and what we at MESH Ballet can offer for this age group.
Firstly, lets talk about what’s happening to our Tweens and Teens as this is a time of rapid change for young people. Their bodies are growing taller and changing shape and they might get somewhat clumsy as they learn to negotiate their longer limbs. They’re learning to understand abstract concepts and the varying shades of grey between the black and white of life. They’re beginning to understand other people’s viewpoints, whilst still believing they know best of course! They’re beginning to develop their individual identities and find their tribes, seeking closer relationships outside of family and pushing boundaries.
But what does this have to do with dance?
Our classes are not just about learning dance techniques, but also about fostering the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth of our students.
Young people will develop strength, flexibility, and coordination. Through engaging dance routines and exercises, we aim to enhance physical fitness, coordination, and body awareness, enabling young people to get to know their changing bodies and develop a healthy relationship and understanding of what their body is capable of.
Young people will also have the opportunity to improve their cognitive skills such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving abilities through choreography and creative movement. In addition, our dance classes provide a supportive and inclusive environment where students can develop their social skills, teamwork, and communication.
We also understand the importance of emotional well-being in the development of young individuals and will create a safe space where students can express themselves, boost self-confidence, and cope with emotions through the art of dance. Furthermore, dance can boost your young person’s confidence and self-esteem. It provides a platform for self-expression, allowing them to showcase their talents and creativity. Dance classes also help in relieving stress and improving mental health, as they provide an outlet for emotions and promote mindfulness.
Young people will have the chance to connect with other passionate dancers, make new friends, and build lasting relationships. At MESH Ballet, we believe in fostering friendship and teamwork, bringing together people with similar interests to find your tribe. Always achieving our best together!
So what’s stopping you from coming?
We hear from a lot of young people who may have started dancing at an early age and stopped for one reason or another, and now regret this decision. Or maybe they never started in the first place and would like to start now, but don’t know how to begin. So here are some of the reasons we’ve heard over the years as to what’s stopping young people from dancing and what we can do to overcome these.
“I’m too tall / short / thin / fat / stiff / bendy / etc”
To this, we say: Nonsense! Anybody that can move any part of their body can dance. There is no specific shape / size / flexibility to qualify. Admittedly some things will be easier for some people than for others, depending on their physical makeup but most things can be worked on to make them achievable. Dancing is about enjoying yourself and putting in the effort to get out of it what you want or need.
“I’m too old to start / I won’t be with my friends”
You are never too old to do something you enjoy! At MESH Ballet we have adult dancers that have never danced before coming to class to learn something new. One thing we do well is enabling people to achieve their very best – and this will be different for everyone. Having beginners and advanced dancers in the same class is not a new concept for adult classes, and our new Open Level classes bring this model to our young people. These classes cater for all abilities together with exercises and dances suitable for beginners to more advanced dancers. This allows experienced dancers to be reminded of technique and core skills and allows newer dancers to see what is possible with hard work.
“I don’t want to do exams / performances / competitions”
Ok then. No one is going to force you to! However; we also think it is so important for students to have something to aspire to, something that they can work towards and achieve. Dance exams, performances and competitions give students realistic aspirations that they can achieve on a regular basis. It takes effort to do well in any exam or performance and in working hard towards these students are learning self-discipline and the art of dedication to a cause. These are invaluable skills as young people enter their GCSE or A-Level years at school, or even the work place. If they know how to apply themselves to their dancing to achieve a good grade or score, they can transfer this skill to their schooling to also do well in their other exams.
“I don’t want to wear the uniform”
Our Open Level classes do not have a uniform, however, we do have guidelines for appropriate clothing for class. Wearing appropriate clothing ensures dancers are dressed correctly to enable teachers to see the alignment of their bodies while dancing, whilst also ensuring their clothing is safe and practical for dancing. Wearing loose or inflexible clothes or items with heavy zips for example, can be unsafe and inhibit the ability to properly participate in class. We ask that young people wear close fitting clothing, eg leggings and a vest top, so that the teacher can ensure the movements are performed correctly, reducing the risk of injury.
“I can’t get to Robin Hood’s Bay”
Yep, we all know the busses are a pain! And, although we have a beautiful hall in RHB where we’ve been since the very first adult ballet classes in 2016, we’re bringing classes to Whitby from September! We are moving our Thursday nights to The Green Lane Centre so young people will be able to join us straight from school for ballet and contemporary classes. Our tap classes will remain in RHB for the foreseeable future on Monday evenings.
“Dance is really expensive”
Of course there is a cost attached to dancing but we always try and keep this to a minimum to enable as many people as possible to access our classes. But what are you paying for when you pay for a dance class?
You’re paying for the expertise of a professional teacher to ensure you are learning in a healthy environment. This involves the teacher regularly updating their own knowledge and practice by taking courses and attending development sessions.
You’re paying for a safe and suitable environment in which to dance. No one wants to dance on floors that are uneven, in a room with drafts or leaks, or with no heating.
But, most of all, you’re paying for the opportunities that dance provides to develop attributes that will serve you well throughout your life. One dance dad, Shad Martin, wrote a blog post about what his daughters get out of dance. He wrote:
“So if I am not paying for dance what am I paying for? I pay for those moments when my daughters become so tired they want to quit but don't. I pay for those days when my daughters come home from school and are "too tired" to go dance but go anyway. I pay for my daughters to learn to be graceful. I pay for my daughters to learn to take care of their body. I pay for my daughters to learn to work with others and to be good teammates. I pay for my daughters to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don't get that part they hoped for, but still have to work hard at the part that they received. I pay for my daughters learn to make and accomplish goals. I pay for my daughters to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create something beautiful, and that success does not happen over night. I pay for the opportunity my daughters have and will have to make life long friendships. I pay so that my daughters can be on stage instead of in front of a screen...”
So, yes, there is a cost attached to dance classes, but it pays for so much more than you can put a price on! Worth every penny if you can make it work.
Our young people have formed a wonderful friendly, accepting, and fun group over the years and it’s lovely to see their development and their support of the younger members of the group.
So here’s a big cheer for our Tweens and Teens as they negotiate their way through their changing bodies and lives and develop into wonderful adults achieving their best together!
