The days are getting longer — and hotter! Kids are getting excited about the end of school and parents are getting nervous about it. From brain drain to boredom, many parents across the country are worried about what their children will be doing over the summer months. Fred Astaire Dance Studios want parents to know that summertime is a great time to learn something new and ballroom dancing offers a lot of benefits.
Summer is prime time for a new skill
Studies show that kids lose as much as two to three months of math and reading skills over the summer. Does that mean summer should become another semester for your student? Not necessarily. A lot of experts believe exposing your child to a new hobby or activity can work just as well as pacts of extra spelling and math. And shouldn’t summer be fun? At Fred Astaire Dance Studios it’s part of our basic teaching philosophy: learning how to ballroom dance is always fun! We work with students of all ages to help them reach their goals — and make new friends in the process.
Aaron and Daniela dance on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.
Think your child is too young to ballroom dance? Consider this: Fred Astaire was reportedly four years old when he started dance lessons. He was only 10 when he had his first professional appearance.
Dance gets kids moving
Young students compete in Latin Finals.
Here’s one of the cool things about learning to ballroom dance: not only are you engaging your mind, but you’re moving your body as well. No parent wants kids to sit at home on the couch all summer. Unfortunately, it seems to be happening more often than not. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in the United States the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s. Data shows that nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people have obesity. Ballroom dancing is a low-impact aerobic activity that burns fat and can boost your metabolism. In just 30 minutes of dance, you can burn between 200–400 calories. The health benefits of ballroom dancing are well-documented, and your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios is happy to encourage young people to develop a life-long love of this healthy habit!
Manners make the man (and the woman)
An appreciation of proper etiquette is a side benefit to ballroom dancing that many people don’t realize. Asking permission, smiling, meeting someone’s eyes — these are all skills associated with ballroom dancing that will help young people throughout their lives. After your child begins ballroom dance classes, you might find them standing up straighter and moving with more grace and coordination overall.
Preparing for prom
Let’s face it. How many young people go to their first school dance petrified? Maybe they stand against the wall all night long, wishing they could join in the fun but just too afraid to make the leap. Ballroom dance lessons at your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios can give them the confidence they need to go from wallflower to WOW! The skills learned in the studio definitely transfer to the junior high gym. Your child will feel more at ease with themselves and develop a sense of accomplishment that will motivate them from the Homecoming Dance to homeroom.
A young couple dances like everybody is watching at prom.
Class is in session
Contact your local Fred Astaire Dance Studio to find out more about classes in your area. Maybe a group of friends can take classes together. You’re never too young (or too old) to learn to dance like a pro.
