As the Director of The Berwyn Ballet school, I wanted to take a moment to discuss an essential aspect of your child's ballet training: the frequency of classes. At our school, we prioritize providing the highest quality instruction to nurture your child's love for ballet while also cultivating their technique and artistry.
One of the most common questions we receive from parents pertains to the ideal frequency of ballet classes for their child. While attending ballet class once a week is undoubtedly beneficial, I want to emphasize the significant advantages of enrolling your child in multiple weekly classes.
Consistency is key when it comes to mastering the intricate techniques of ballet. Attending class more than once a week not only allows for more frequent exposure to instruction but also provides essential reinforcement of concepts and movements learned in previous sessions. This regularity plays a pivotal role in the development of muscle memory, strength, flexibility, and overall proficiency in ballet technique. If you compare it to, say, mathematics, we understand that having one weekly math class at school would help a small amount undoubtedly, but a daily class is what helps them to understand the concepts more fully and continue to be promoted to the next level. If they miss a lot of classes, they are not fully ready to grasp the concepts that will come next because everything is built upon a solid base.
In addition to benefits in the classroom, taking multiple classes will develop skills that are transferable to all aspects of a child's early and adult life. Studies show that ballet has neurological benefits and creates pathways that increase cognition and emotional intelligence. There is superior spatial and body awareness, visual acuity in memorizing a series of complicated patterns, mathematical analysis when counting complicated music, emotional intelligence to portray different roles, and rapid decision making and problem solving to name a few. I often tell our students, ballet will help you to become anything you want and excel at it.Â
Furthermore, taking multiple weekly classes enables our instructors to provide more personalized attention to each student. With smaller class sizes and additional instruction time, our faculty can offer tailored feedback and guidance to address individual strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement. This focused attention fosters accelerated progress and growth in both technique and artistry.
In the context of student advancement and promotion to the next level, consistent attendance and dedication to multiple weekly classes are crucial factors. As our curriculum becomes progressively more challenging at higher levels, a strong foundation built through regular training becomes increasingly essential for your child to excel and thrive in their ballet journey.
In addition to the technical and artistic benefits, dancing year-round to include summer training also provides significant injury prevention advantages. The consistent engagement of muscles and the development of proper alignment and technique reduces the risk of injuries commonly associated with dance. By maintaining a regular training schedule, your child not only enhances their skills but also safeguards their physical well-being.
I understand that scheduling additional classes may present logistical challenges for some families, but I urge you to consider the long-term benefits that multiple weekly classes can offer to your child's ballet education and development. Our commitment to providing a supportive and enriching learning environment remains unwavering, and we are here to assist you in finding a class schedule that best suits your child's needs and aspirations.
At TBBS, recommendation letters on the number of classes to take for the school year and summer program are sent out bi-annually. This is unique to your child and in accordance with ABT developmental guidelines. Please review these recommendations and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. Communication is key to your child's success.
As we are in the midst of summer planning and approaching registration for our 2024-25 school year, we are considering ways to help your child get the most out of their dance education by offering a variety of options to fit their needs. Please stay tuned for some innovative programs and accessible options for the Fall, and please be sure to check out all of the exciting offerings we have this summer, including our new Character classes and Contemporary classes.
Thank you for entrusting us with your child's ballet education. Together, let's continue to nurture their passion for dance and empower them to reach new heights of excellence in their ballet journey.
