Lizzie is at a very magical age. Her world is alive with princesses and dragons. The line between make believe and reality is blurred – anything is possible.
And her favorite way to express her joy and enrapture in her make believe world is through singing and dancing.
She has watched the extended version of the Scarecrow’s “If I Only Had A Brain” on YouTube countless times. So many, in fact, that she has the song memorized and she is getting there with the choreography.
Her other favorites to dance to include Disney’s “Enchanted” and The Wizard Of Oz’s “Lullabye League” from Munchkin Land.
I want to capture this energetic love for the arts and teach her the basics of dance, team work and give her some good exercise. So I looked into the option of joining our local dance studio.
Then I hesitated. Among tap, ballet and jazz, they teach hip hop. I’ve seen those hip hop moves, the girations of the hips and chest.
Oh my goodness I sound like a mom in the 50’s before Elvis appeared on TV.
But come on, I do have a point.
At what age is it appropriate for young girls to thrust their hips and shake their butt? Is it ever appropriate? I want Lizzie to learn dance so she can have a skill and get a part in musicals some day – but to do that does she have to learn hip hop?
Yes, I think I am biased against a form of dance. I know, it is our pop culture and to be relevant and well-rounded she ought to learn all forms of dance.
I just don’t agree with that. But then again, it isn’t like they are giving her a stipper’s pole and teaching her how to use it. (Although I remember a dance studio in another state did try that!) Hip Hop moves are taught with beats and counting.
Sigh.
That is how torn I am. I can see the other side of the argument and really want to enroll Lizzie this fall. I know she won’t learn the “sensual” type moves till she is older so I have a ways to wait. But this was on my mind….what do you think?
donna says
good grief. let her take dance. it won’t hurt her at her age. ask my nurse friend they do nothing in the classes. you need to go to them and watch a class… she needs to get out and get excecise. make friends… you might make some new friends too.
Annie @ Mama Dweeb says
LOL!! I love how much you have changed since I was a kid mom. You never let me do anything remotely “worldly” – even watch Beauty & the Beast or Clarissa the Teenage Witch.
And what is this “you might make new friends” bit? I have TONS of friends as a La Leche League Leader, involved in my church’s women’s Bible Study and the Attachment Parenting Play Group in town.
heather Diemer says
BTW, it’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Clarrissa Explains It All. Two different shows…lol. you crack me up Annie
Annie @ Mama Dweeb says
LOL Heather!! Sheesh, I don’t know how I got that so mixed up. Well, I wasn’t allowed to watch Nickelodeon either, so Clarissa Explains it All was off limits too. hehehe
chari says
I used to take ballet when I was young and loved it. I don’t know if my mom had the same reasoning for not letting me do the other forms of dance (now I’m curious and want to ask her!), but I wouldn’t be surprised if that is why.
Just let her take ballet! If we have a daughter I really want her to take ballet (hubby for some reason is still against it). Ballet is a very graceful dance and the other forms of dance are just so unfeminine.
Also if she takes hip hop or something else then she’ll be dancing to more newer secular music. Ballet is pretty much all classical…no worries there.
Annie @ Mama Dweeb says
I really hope I can find a ballet only class around here. I am going to go look, but so far all I have found within 1 hr driving distance is a dance company that teaches all forms of dance. Which also means the kids don’t learn one form really well……and I don’t like that either…..but I am definitely going to research it more. I bet I am overlooking something 🙂
katie says
My daughter is 8…and I honestly would have for her to take the dance classes that include hip hop. Her little friend who is 7 has taken them…and taught Betsy these “moves” and honestly, I am not a fan. If I were to enroll Betsy (which I probably should) I would enroll her in any kind of dance class except hip hop (or modern or whatever you want to call it).
Luckily for us, the dance place offers classes without hip hop. Maybe yours does too.
Josh the husband says
There is at least one girl in our Sunday School class that takes these dance classes. It is kind of annoying to me that a 7 year old is (interrupting class) dancing instead of sitting. She’s 7, she can’t sit still, I get it. However that is not the issue, it is more that she is dancing by putting her hands on her hips and using some more ‘adult moves’. Maybe she took some optional classes that showed that to her, but I can’t imagine her parents enrolling her in a special “Learn how to impress your friends with your hips” class.
On the flip side, what the parents let them watch may be more of what the issue is. One of her two of her friends that she comes to church with, hasn’t been taught those moves in dance class, but she already knows some of them. Thanks Glee. Her other friend who does not get to watch ‘racy’ T.V. shows has no idea whats going on with these dance moves and her dance involves skipping in place while clapping her hands in front and then behind her back, which puts her Sunday School teacher in a much less uncomfortable place.
Bethany says
I agree with the ballet statement. If you still want her to develop grace, strength, AND friends 🙂 then ballet is perfect. Also, there is “contemporary” ballet that utilizes more “common” dance moves and is still pretty safe.
Jill says
Yeah I’m not impressed with little kids doing ‘hip thrusts’ which are clearly sexual in nature. I know it’s just a form of expression, but you probably wouldn’t show a kid R rated movies, either, and that’s just a form of expression, too. Some things they don’t need to know or think about.
Jenn says
My very religious friends are struggling with the same thing right now…..the immodesty of dance class for young girls (their daughter is 3). I think they’re more concerned with the leotards (I don’t think they’ve given as much thought to the content of the lesson…eek). I only have boys (but we go to a mom-and-me dance class), but my opinion on it is this: Our kids are at this magical age where the only things they are exposed to is what we want them to be (under 5, no schooling yet).
So just take your time and find a dance class you like. Don’t worry, in a few years it’ll be her begging to take hip hop b/c all her friends are. And BTW, go ballet. I took it for 12 years…….it’s classic, and will teach her about discipline, grace, and form.
Annie @ Mama Dweeb says
I didn’t even THINK of the outfits! Oh there is a whole other issue. Most of the time I don’t have a problem with the costumes, but then there is that one dance with halter tops on 10 year old girls that makes me hesitate.
I am really looking forward to ballet – I found a dance studio that teaches strict ballet! And you are right, the discipline, grace and form can’t be matched!
heather Diemer says
I agree with you Annie. There’s a local tax company and the other day they had a 10 year old boy dressed as Uncle Sam and a 10 year old girl dressed as lady liberty and the girl was dancing, in my opinion, very suggestivly. She was batting her eye lashes and giving the “sexy eye”. I found it kind of disturbing. When I was 10 I would have never known to dance that way. I was too interested in playing outside and reading.
i think ballet and tap would be fun for her. I took ballet when i was younger but when we moved back to the states I stopped and I wish I hadn’t.
Annie @ Mama Dweeb says
Yes, I know what you mean! I did just find a dance studio in town that teaches ballet only!! I am so excited! The youngest you can begin “pre dance” is 4, so I think I will enroll her this fall. I always wanted to do ballet as a young girl, I think Lizzie will like it too.
Sonia says
do they teach all the dances in the one program? I would not put my kids in hip hop either.. I can’t stand that type of music or dance! You aren’t the only one! We have separate classes for each here, its a the local community center though, not a dance studio.. not sure if that makes a difference or not.
Jenny says
Annie and Josh – I totally agree with you. Hip hop – not appropriate. Honestly, when the girls get older, tap and jazz are also pretty questionable (or at least they were when I was taking lessons). I loved ballet – studied it for 13 years. And I agree with Jenn – it will teach her a lot of good things. The one thing I would caution you about with ballet is that should Lizzie really enjoy it and do it long-term, you’ll want to really watch out for injuries (torn cartilage and such can happen gradually) as she gets older. I hope she has a blast! Miss you guys!
Jenny Georgio-who says
I’m going to agree with your mom. 🙂 Let her take the class. Hip hop isn’t all about hip gyrations. They also use their hands, feet, arms, and legs. The hips aren’t always involved.
You should sit in on a class before you enroll Lizzie and see if you like it or if you feel very threatened by it still. I know she is your little girl and you don’t want her to be corrupted but this is dance class, not a devil worship course.
I think she’ll enjoy it!
Annie @ Mama Dweeb says
I totally get what you are saying. As I said in my post, I know they aren’t handing my daughter a stripper pole or anything. And while I could sit in on a class, I don’t feel as though I need to. This dance studio performs every year at our university pep rally and every time I get to see what the dances are like they are teaching the girls. I’m basing my distrust on their moves from watching them perform once a year for the past 5 years.
Now another dance studio that my cousin was in taught jazz and hip hop without nearly as many suggestive moves. I watched every single performance of hers from when she was 4 years old till she graduated high school. I wish I lived closer to her town so Lizzie could enroll in that dance studio. I think the way you teach hip hop moves really makes a difference.
No, I think I will enroll Lizzie in ballet, and if she doesn’t like it we will try gymnastics.
Frantic Holly says
I think you’re on the right track Annie. As someone else said Jazz was a little on the edge when I was in class and that was *ahem* 18 years ago. If they only offer the combo class talk to the instructors/director. If they see enough interest in a ballet class only they may just introduce it.
Oh and the outfits. At Lizzie’s age the parents should be getting a say in the outfits. My last dance recital was the end for me because Ms. Jan put us in outfits my mom thought was inappropriate at the age of 16.