As a parent to three active young people, two of whom are dancers, I wanted to take this moment to share three easy tips on how to support your youth in taking online live dance classes.
1. Prioritize
As grown-ups, if we believe in the power of the arts, the benefits of creativity, and physical activity, then we will communicate that to our young people and they will see the benefits also. Ever worked hard to organize something for your child and they seemed to be indifferent and not value your efforts? (Please tell me I’m not alone in that!) By communicating that you are prioritizing online dance classes, it will encourage your dancer to be committed to participating and getting the most out of them.
2. Place
That is just a simple way of saying, space to move. These classes require movement, but you’d be surprised that you don’t need that much space! Remove a piece of furniture here or there. We chose to rearrange a space in our home temporarily because my dancers had multiple classes per week.
Five to six feet square will be plenty of space. The benefit of live online classes is the teaching faculty are experienced in helping your student accommodate to the space that they have. What is important is recognizing that dance place/space will help your dancer make the most of these classes.
Give your dancer ownership of that space. Make sure that they’re picking up any toys or anything that would be a distraction (and also a safety hazard), so they have room to move safely. This includes communicating with siblings and pets to avoid the “dance-zone” during class time.
3. Plan
It can be really hard to plan during this time, but registering your dancer ahead of time can address the cybersecurity concerns that we have as parents. Preregistering for a dance class enables you to get a safe link that is either monitored (giving individual access) for the dance class or password protected. This keeps dancers safe in accessing online live dance classes.
Also, plan ahead by having your dancer log on 15 minutes before the start of class. This allows you to iron out any technical hitches. Maybe the last person that used the computer muted the sound or turned it down? Planning to login early ensures the dancer is fully ready and able to embrace the entire dance class because all of those technical issues are out of the way.
I encourage you to visit KeshetArts.org to find Keshet’s current online live class schedule. We have something for all ages and abilities. Classes include a free weekly Online Dance Party and age-group classes in Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Afro-Brazilian and Samba, and Improvisation! Registration is ongoing, and don’t let finances be a barrier. Scholarships are available to ALL.
Parents, we can do this! Moving youth = healthier youth, and that benefits the whole family!
Before I get to see you in person at Keshet Center for the Arts, keep dancing!
P.S. Pre-recorded dance classes for all ages (including Creative Movement and classes for ages 4-5 yrs) and abilities can be found on Keshet’s YouTube channel here.
